I loved it, I had a great day,
I found it all very well organised, met everyone at the start point, arranged for cars to be dropped off at finish and then got started on the walk just after 10am. The tops were in mist at this point and everyone hoping that it would lift, which it did. Had a fantastic day with stunning views. It was so nice to meet everyone and hear of all the different backgrounds and interests. Obviously I was a bit apprehensive of meeting everyone and whether or not I would be able to keep up but, it all went great, even although there was a variety of fitness levels it all worked perfectly. Everyone was so nice and friendly and welcomed me, I felt at ease immediately.
Then at the end of the day to have a well earned refreshment and discuss the day was so nice and relaxing.
I would certainly like to come along on walks again but due to usual time issues this may not be too frequent but I would love to join the club if this sort of membership would be considered.
Sincere thanks for a wonderful day.
Kind regards
Diane
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Half way - only 141 to go!
On Sunday Ron, Jimmy and I set off to join the Glen Affric Walking Festival. We met at Morvich just after 8am. Jimmy and I had stayed overnight in the motorhome to avoid an early drive. By 8.30am we had tied the rucksacs onto the roof of the landrovers and 16 of us headed off to Killilan and privileged access all the way to Iron Lodge.
Our aim was to climb Mullach a Dheirgain, one of the Glen Affric hills. It was a clear dry day, with high cloud and a lovely cooling breeze. On the way up the ridge we stopped to discuss orchids and kestrels, and higher up watched a golden eagle circling over the ridge.
We reached our summit in good fettle and the ridge infront of us was just too tempting not to carry on. A leisurely stroll along the ridge, and a final pull of 300m steep ascent saw us on Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan, our second munro of the day, and my number 142. Reflecting on this number makes me think of many wonderful days and experiences I'd never have had if not for munro bagging. Ticking a list may not be everybodys cup of tea, but it has taken me to some wonderfully wild spots.
We continued to give us a circular walk back to the track. We are told that we passed several munro tops, but skirted round them (too late in the day for any more ascent). My GPS logged the trip as 20.9km, 1449m ascent, taking 9 1/2 hours but my legs tell me it was more than that! A quick cup of Jack's homemade soup in the motorhome before heading home finished off another excellent day on the hills.
Our aim was to climb Mullach a Dheirgain, one of the Glen Affric hills. It was a clear dry day, with high cloud and a lovely cooling breeze. On the way up the ridge we stopped to discuss orchids and kestrels, and higher up watched a golden eagle circling over the ridge.We reached our summit in good fettle and the ridge infront of us was just too tempting not to carry on. A leisurely stroll along the ridge, and a final pull of 300m steep ascent saw us on Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan, our second munro of the day, and my number 142. Reflecting on this number makes me think of many wonderful days and experiences I'd never have had if not for munro bagging. Ticking a list may not be everybodys cup of tea, but it has taken me to some wonderfully wild spots.We continued to give us a circular walk back to the track. We are told that we passed several munro tops, but skirted round them (too late in the day for any more ascent). My GPS logged the trip as 20.9km, 1449m ascent, taking 9 1/2 hours but my legs tell me it was more than that! A quick cup of Jack's homemade soup in the motorhome before heading home finished off another excellent day on the hills.Saturday, 4 June 2011
Stob Coire Easain
Summer is here, and it's time for the silly hat. I'm sure most Lochaberites have done these two hills before, but they were new to me. The weather was excellent, if a little too hot! Super views all round.
Friday, 3 June 2011
Hillwalking in Ireland
Scottish hillwalkers will feel at home in Ireland - the main mountain range, The Macgillycuddy's Reeks is very similar to much of our own territory. It's situated just a few miles from Killarney which I used as my base.
The SMC recognise 10 peaks here over 3000 feet, and I set out to climb them over 2 days. It was quite a windy period (May 2011) and there were days with heavy rain, but I was fortunate enough to choose two days when the sun shone and the winds died down.
My first day was on a walk known as the Coomloughra Horseshoe where the main excitement is the rather exposed ridge between Beenkeragh (1010m) and Carrauntoohil ( at 1039m, the highest in Ireland). Along the way one needs to scramble over The Tooth (sometimes called Knockoughter), and the top photograph shows the connecting ridge with The Tooth in the middle, and Carrauntoohil on the left. After that it's an easy traverse to Caher and its West Top, making 5 "Irish Munros" in all.
After a few days waiting for the wind to subside I set off to do the other 5 peaks on what is known as the Eastern Reeks. Starting at Cronin's Yard (a small farmyard with a tearoom) I clambered up The Bone, to Maolan Bui, headed out to Cnoc an Chuillin and then enjoyed the ridge on the way to the aptly named Big Gun. This part of the ridge reminded me a bit of The Saddle. From The Big Gun it was only about 400 metres to the final peak, Cruach Mhor but I found it really tricky with huge slabs which all seemed to lead you out to precarious downclimbs which I didn't feel comfortable with, so it took rather longer than anticipated. Apparently the walk is much easier tackled in the other direction.
So that concluded my 2 days in the Reeks. Before that I'd meandered around Ireland, bagging the other 3 "Munros" , Lugnaquillia, Galtymore and Brandon Mountain, perched way out on the Dingle peninsula, but they weren't really very exciting.
Incidentally, Trail magazine in this month's feature claim that there are 14 peaks over 3000ft, but the odd one is just a little bump on the Eastern Reeks ridge which I passed over in any case.
The second photograph taken from the summit of Cnoc na Peiste shows the ridge leading to The Big Gun (right) and Cruach Mhor (Left) with the very large cairn , and little shrine built by a local.
Ireland is a good destination for a holiday, a bit expensive but that's improving, and weather very similar to our own. Go on, try it !!
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Club Walks – Where is our Commitment and Organisation?
There was a time when members of this “small friendly Lochaber based club” would turn out regularly in any weather and do a walk in or on the hills, even if it was not the hill on the programme. This was because they “shared a passion for the local countryside, the Scottish hills…”. They enjoyed being outdoors, and each other’s company.
Sadly, these days are long gone. The Nevis Hillwalking Club has moved on and the majority of the active members have different priorities. On Saturday 28th May, Gerry and I turned out for the Glen Shiel day. The forecast was not good, and once again, there was nobody at the meeting places, the Fort and Spean Bridge. There was no coordinator rostered for the day to ring for information. In view of the cold wet and windy weather forecast for the west, we decided to do one of “eastern alternatives” that had appeared on a previous programme, Creag Dubh at Kingussie. It was a good sunny day, very cold but with only the occasional shower.
Soon after starting the walk, Ralph phoned to say he was waiting for other members in Glen Shiel. I explained what had happened. He had been staying in the area for a few days. Had we known this we would have gone to Glen Shiel.
It is clear, that with fewer people turning out regularly and no regular social events, information about Club activities is not being passed around. A coordinator for each walk day is more essential than ever. For what it is worth, the information I passed on to the new committee was as follows:
The 14 coordinators on the list were emailed asking them to name their preferences for the 2nd Quarter programme that had just been circulated. There were three replies:
Norman Wares volunteered for June 5th, Ben Lomond. He will meet members at Rowardennan Pier.
John Burton’s first choice was June 25th, Aviemore.
Stuart Moralee was not able to give a specific day but would coordinate at short notice if he were available.
Since then:
I have volunteered for 3rd July, Glen Spean.
Gerry Gilbert has volunteered for 9th July, Glencoe.
Andrew Gilbert
Sadly, these days are long gone. The Nevis Hillwalking Club has moved on and the majority of the active members have different priorities. On Saturday 28th May, Gerry and I turned out for the Glen Shiel day. The forecast was not good, and once again, there was nobody at the meeting places, the Fort and Spean Bridge. There was no coordinator rostered for the day to ring for information. In view of the cold wet and windy weather forecast for the west, we decided to do one of “eastern alternatives” that had appeared on a previous programme, Creag Dubh at Kingussie. It was a good sunny day, very cold but with only the occasional shower.
Soon after starting the walk, Ralph phoned to say he was waiting for other members in Glen Shiel. I explained what had happened. He had been staying in the area for a few days. Had we known this we would have gone to Glen Shiel.
It is clear, that with fewer people turning out regularly and no regular social events, information about Club activities is not being passed around. A coordinator for each walk day is more essential than ever. For what it is worth, the information I passed on to the new committee was as follows:
The 14 coordinators on the list were emailed asking them to name their preferences for the 2nd Quarter programme that had just been circulated. There were three replies:
Norman Wares volunteered for June 5th, Ben Lomond. He will meet members at Rowardennan Pier.
John Burton’s first choice was June 25th, Aviemore.
Stuart Moralee was not able to give a specific day but would coordinate at short notice if he were available.
Since then:
I have volunteered for 3rd July, Glen Spean.
Gerry Gilbert has volunteered for 9th July, Glencoe.
Andrew Gilbert
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Last Two Weekends
Andrew sent me the following contributions intending them to be walk reports. But you cannot have a walk report without doing the walk -
No walk - No report !
So here they are, in the club blog -
Saturday 14th May 2011 – A day on Skye missed
The forecast was awful and three members were on a course at Glenmore Lodge. Andrew G., Gerry and Wesley turned up at the Fort. Unfortunately, I had injured my hand and it wouldn’t stop bleeding so I decided to go to A & E to have it stitched up. Wesley went on alone to Spean Bridge but texted to say that no one else was there either. He decided to go bird watching instead of going to Skye.
Later, Gerry and I decided on a short walk to the C.I.C hut and back. Almost there at about 14h00 two guys overtook us, one of whom enquired “Are you doing both of them?”. “Both of what?” I asked. “ Both Munros” he said. I explained that we were enjoying an afternoon stroll. The pair pulled ahead and I pondered their assumption that the only reason for walking in the hills is to bag Munros. Sad really.
Shortly after this, I fell over and burst open the wound on my hand. I decided to go home to fix it, rather than return to A & E. They would not be amused. Should have just gone to Skye.
Andrew G
Sunday 22nd May – Another day missed
The forecast was awful, 90 mph gusts in the afternoon with blizzards on the summits. It was raining hard. Gerry and I found no one at Glencoe car park. There was no coordinator rostered to contact for information, and we had no idea whether other members would be meeting at Achallader Farm. We decided to stay in Glencoe and do the Two Lairigs, setting off clockwise in the Lairig Gartain, following Martine’s new path. Thick cloud in the glen cleared at the watershed, and we contoured around the spine of Buchaille Etive Beag, high above Glen Etive, with a fine view southward. Ducking below some crags we gained the Lairig Eilde path and were soon at another watershed.
A short distance further on we met a guy in shorts, coming the other way, the rain streaming off his cagoule. “How was it at the top?” he asked. “Cold, wet and windy, same as here” I replied, somewhat puzzled, and asked him where he was going. “Buchaille Etive Beag, that’s it over there isn’t it” he replied, pointing to the col on the south-east ridge of Stob Coire Sgreamhach. I realised he was assuming we were bagging Munros too, and pointed out the location of his day’s objective, looming above our heads. “I’ll just do Sgreamhach instead then” he said, “I need that one too. Where is the summit?”. He didn’t produce a map so I gave him brief directions and off he went.
Sad really, and a bit worrying. There are a lot of them out there.
Andrew G
No walk - No report !
So here they are, in the club blog -
Saturday 14th May 2011 – A day on Skye missed
The forecast was awful and three members were on a course at Glenmore Lodge. Andrew G., Gerry and Wesley turned up at the Fort. Unfortunately, I had injured my hand and it wouldn’t stop bleeding so I decided to go to A & E to have it stitched up. Wesley went on alone to Spean Bridge but texted to say that no one else was there either. He decided to go bird watching instead of going to Skye.
Later, Gerry and I decided on a short walk to the C.I.C hut and back. Almost there at about 14h00 two guys overtook us, one of whom enquired “Are you doing both of them?”. “Both of what?” I asked. “ Both Munros” he said. I explained that we were enjoying an afternoon stroll. The pair pulled ahead and I pondered their assumption that the only reason for walking in the hills is to bag Munros. Sad really.
Shortly after this, I fell over and burst open the wound on my hand. I decided to go home to fix it, rather than return to A & E. They would not be amused. Should have just gone to Skye.
Andrew G
Sunday 22nd May – Another day missed
The forecast was awful, 90 mph gusts in the afternoon with blizzards on the summits. It was raining hard. Gerry and I found no one at Glencoe car park. There was no coordinator rostered to contact for information, and we had no idea whether other members would be meeting at Achallader Farm. We decided to stay in Glencoe and do the Two Lairigs, setting off clockwise in the Lairig Gartain, following Martine’s new path. Thick cloud in the glen cleared at the watershed, and we contoured around the spine of Buchaille Etive Beag, high above Glen Etive, with a fine view southward. Ducking below some crags we gained the Lairig Eilde path and were soon at another watershed.
A short distance further on we met a guy in shorts, coming the other way, the rain streaming off his cagoule. “How was it at the top?” he asked. “Cold, wet and windy, same as here” I replied, somewhat puzzled, and asked him where he was going. “Buchaille Etive Beag, that’s it over there isn’t it” he replied, pointing to the col on the south-east ridge of Stob Coire Sgreamhach. I realised he was assuming we were bagging Munros too, and pointed out the location of his day’s objective, looming above our heads. “I’ll just do Sgreamhach instead then” he said, “I need that one too. Where is the summit?”. He didn’t produce a map so I gave him brief directions and off he went.
Sad really, and a bit worrying. There are a lot of them out there.
Andrew G
Friday, 20 May 2011
Mountain Aid Fundraiser - Schiehallion longest day event
Dear Hill Walking/Climbing Club
Our next fundraising event is drawing near, and we would appreciate it you could circulate the information to your members in the hope that some of them and their friends might join us for a midsummer get together to watch the sun rise on Schiehallion and raise a wee bit of money for Mountain Aid. We understand the pressure on everyone’s pockets these days and so are only asking for a minimum sponsorship sum of £50 – which will get participants a t-shirt as well as a sunrise toast and canapés on the hill!! A poster is attached and there is more information on our website at http://www.mountainaid.org.uk/events/midsummer where on line registration is available.
Mountain Aid Committee
Our next fundraising event is drawing near, and we would appreciate it you could circulate the information to your members in the hope that some of them and their friends might join us for a midsummer get together to watch the sun rise on Schiehallion and raise a wee bit of money for Mountain Aid. We understand the pressure on everyone’s pockets these days and so are only asking for a minimum sponsorship sum of £50 – which will get participants a t-shirt as well as a sunrise toast and canapés on the hill!! A poster is attached and there is more information on our website at http://www.mountainaid.org.uk/events/midsummer where on line registration is available.
Mountain Aid Committee
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)