Meet Report

13th to 15th October 2023 - Inverardran Cottage Crianlarich, Crianlarich

Its always a pleasure to visit the Ochil Mountaineering Clubs comfortable hut in Crianlarich. The club let us have the whole hut after the initial 10 places were quickly oversubscribed.

Saturday

It was a beautiful autumnal morning with the frost being scraped from windscreens. We made our way to a variety of venues.

FionaC, Alan & Kate headed off to the Graham Beinn Donachan in Glen Orchy with Allan and Kate. Long but beautiful walk in through the forest to the sound of stags roaring. Lovely views on the hill. However the tussocks on our descent route weren't pleasant and the path started as a bog and then got worse finally disappearing altogether in head high bracken. It then got even worse when the bridge we needed to get back to the car had disappeared. Some seriously off piste walking and a deer fence ascent got us out of trouble. Arrived back at the car at 5.50pm.

Nicola, Hamish and Martha went up Cruach Ardrain, Beinn Tulaichean, Beinn a'Chroin, Beinn Chabhair & An Caisteal as a run. They enjoyed great views, lovely ridges and a nice dusting of snow.

Cruach Ardrain & Beinn a'Chroin were popular, Mike, Fiona, Alison & Sarah were doing the circuit where the topics of conversation included the pronunciation of "Vole" (who'd have known). Judit & Richard also enjoyed the circuit.

Andrew & Chris made a speedy ascent of the nearby Ben More & Stob Binnein.

Kenny combined Meall Odhar with a reassuringly expensive coffee & scone.

Sunday

It didnt look quite so nice on Sunday but the forecast wasn't dire. After cleaning up the hut we headed back up into the hills.

Martha, Alison and Kenny went up a wee Graham, Sgiath a Chaise above Strathyre. 

Fiona & Mike went up Stob a' Choire Odhair with good views and only a small shower.

Kate and Allan went up The Stob from Monachyle Glen. There was a large landslide of rock and a few large trees that had to be crossed both ways. Pecan tart and hot drinks in Mhor 84 fortified the drive home.

Andrew instigated the walk of the weekend with a traverse of the Ben Lui 4. 

A great social weekend and better than expected weather.