Hello, Nevis Hillwalkers--is anybody out there??

Over the last four weeks, there has been an average of less than four members on each walk, with six being the most and one the least. Where is everyone? I know that we all have other responsibilities--work, family, etc., but numbers on walks seem to be falling away. As I have produced the last and current programmes, it occurred to me that maybe I have not given our members, you, what they want. If that is the case, then please let me know. If there are other reasons, then I, for one, would like to know them as well.

As a walking club, we need people to be walking, otherwise the club, your club, will slowly fade away.

Or could it just be the bad weather?--surely not, not Nevis hillwalkers?!

John Burton

Ben Chabhair

I couldn't make the club walk on Saturday, and was keen to get out on Sunday. The weather forecast looked good so I decided to do Ben Chabhair, which hurricane Katia had made impossible the previous weekend. Norman, Mike and Grant, a friend from Glasgow, came with me. It was a steep start from the farm up to the waterfall, and in the heat Grant found this hard going and turned back. It was a lot warmer than forecast, and it never did rain. It was windy on the summit, where we fed the tame ravens with bits of our ' pieces'. We decided to follow the ridge all the way back which was hard going and tiring. But it made a far more interesting route. Another excellent day on the hills.

One dry day and one wet day.

On Thursday morning I drove up to Spittal of Glenmuick and on arriving about 11am was surprised to see that there were over 30 cars in the car park. Obviously a popular place for walking up high or at low level. Set off from the car park heading for Lochnagar. On reaching the spot just below Meikle Pap I got a great view of the Lochnagar cliffs. Have posted a photo above to let you see Andrew what you missed on the club walk. Worth going back on a clear day.
Then up the steep steps before following the corrie ridge to the summit. Descended via the Glas Allt and the waterfall was in full spate then a walk north along  the Loch to the car. Great day and views.

Friday not so lucky. Drove to the car park from Braemar to Glen Tannar and cycled the first 9km then ascended Mount Keen. The rain started shortly after I began and just got progressively worse. On reaching the summit there was a gale force wind coming from the south and I made a quick retreat back down to my bike then to the car.
What a difference bewteen the two days weather wise and I guess you have to take the bad days with the good ones when you are ticking off the Munros.

Glen Lighe Bothy

Glen Dubh Lighe bothy has burnt down. For details please follow the link below
http://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/news-general-item.asp?item_id=299

Alan Moore

This weekend in Glenshee

A few of us are heading off to Glenshee for the club weekend away. We may be few in number but we have a great weekend of walking planned. If anyone wishes to join us for the day we will be tackling Lochnagar on Saturday and Ben Gulabin through to The Cairnwell on Sunday. If you do wish to join us give me a ring or send a text to 07740 698173 and I will confirm logistics.

 

See you on the hills soon!

 

Andrew B

Barbecue Munro Quiz

To add a little bit of amusement to proceedings at Sunday's Club barbecue, I devised a 20 question quiz which everyone got involved in. Gerry came out on top and graciously shared around the winning chocolates.

What amazed me was how difficult the quiz was - it's totally different compiling questions when you have the reference books in front of you to note down the answers.

Some participants left behind their answers sheets and I got a few laughs from some of the answers :

Q : Who wrote the Old Man of Lochnagar ?
A : Prince Charles - other answers ranged from The Corries,Paul McCartney,

to Robert Burns !

Q : What is the name of the demoted Munro at the Rest and be Thankful ?
A : Beinn an Lochain. Stuck for gaelic words one participant answered " Ben Blether " !!

Q : What is "Culicoides Impunctatus " ?
A : A midge ( or Highland Midge).

Some answers received :
" A rescue helicopter that arrives late " !!
"Something Nasty" !!
"A bacteria causing occasional diarrhoea " !!

Q : Which type of aircraft crashed on Beinn Eighe in 1952 ?
A : Lancaster

The best answer was " a UFO " - and this was suitably illustrated on the answer sheet !!

Thanks everyone for entering into the spirit of the event, and for the humour, which I greatly enjoyed.

My Last Munro – Sgurr MicChoinnich, 12 August 2011

Congratulations to Cris, who 'compleated' the munros on Friday. She sent me this report.


I had hoped to have completed my round of the Munros on Sunday (* see In Pin blog report from Les) but it was not to be. My next chance was on the Friday, just me with a guide. The mwis forecast seemed favourable with 80% cloud clear and light winds but of course Skye has to be different.

We set off from the beach carpark and were up in Coire Lagan in no time at all. We had a quick stop to put on waterproofs, it had started to drizzle, the wind was blowing strongly and cloud was on the tops. A quick drink of water and we were off again, up the south side of the Great Stone Chute of Sgurr Alasdair, cutting across to the other side below the crags and some ‘interesting’ scrambling! to emerge onto Collie’s Ledge. (I’ll leave those interested to look up Munro Magic etc for descriptions and photos as per http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/33308 ) All I can say is that I’m glad it was misty and I couldn’t see what was either below or above! I confess to couple of squeals * once when my boots lost their grip on wet basalt. My guide, Lochy, was excellent, keeping a good hold of me and positively hauling me up some bits. When we finally got onto the last stretch of the ridge, I was all for giving up but Lochy would have none of it. We touched the stones at the top (no time for photographs) then beat a hasty retreat back down to our rucksacks, a march along the ridge and down to the start of the An Stuc Screes where we had our first stop of the day. I had only enough time to take off my harness and eat half a sandwich before we were off again down the screes to the Lochan where we had a proper stop. By this time we were thoroughly wet in the now steady rain. Celebrated by sharing my flask of coffee and finishing off my sandwich. Then it was a quick sprint down to the car.

The choice of route for the day was to try to avoid the winds on the ridge, we were fortunate to get a lull, and the pace set was to ensure that we kept warm – Lochy even carried my rucksack and dragged me along on a rein so that we could get off that ridge asap – 4 ½ hours from start to finish. Certainly a day to remember – I think I might feel tired every time I think about it!

I would highly recommend Skye Hi guides to anyone like myself who is a little ‘rock shy’ and it is thanks to my guide’s stalwart efforts that I made it this time. My thanks too to all those whose company I have enjoyed on various other hills.

What next? Time to spare to join others in their quests and to explore the Outer Isles on my bike.