Greetings Dear Member!

I hope this newsletter finds you well and hopefully not too drenched from all this rain.  I hope you find some summer weather for any climbing adventures and look forward to hearing about them!

Many thanks to Sandy and Jeremy for their meet reports. 

Vicky Stewart

Secretary

July 2002

Past Meets

26-27^th April:  Lagangarbh, Glencoe

Members Present: Donald Ballance, John Porter, Sandy Donald, Richard Jewell, Jo Thurlow.

After pressure on the allocated hut spaces followed by a series of last minute call-offs five members finally met up in the Kingshouse.  I guess this must be due to an unfavourable weather forecast that promised more rain and dropping temperatures than sunshine.

After a late night and subsequent long lie in the morning we rose to see the last of the Braes of Fife MC ‘tigers’ depart the hut into the prevailing weather – low clag and showers with traces of sleet.  In JMCS style we leisurely breakfasted before making ready and implementing plans made the previous evening (yes, the previous evening).

The ‘DJS’ team headed west for Ardgour in brightening weather that gradually revealed snow covered hills glistening in golden sunshine.  At Corran we just made the eleven ferry on a low spring tide and crossed on the new roll-on/roll off (built 2001) before turning south for Glengalmadale. Standing by the car in brilliant sunshine, but in a chill wind, we surveyed the half snow covered surrounding hills while Donald programmed his GPS and checked his summits map.

On noon we commenced our ascent of the steep ungrazed slopes of Beinn na Cille, admiring as we went the rich carpet of spring vegetation, as we aimed for the start of the ridge that would lead us round the horseshoe.  This proved warm work for we soon overheated but were rewarded by improving panoramas across Loch Linnhe, where we identified numerous landmarks.  Making good progress we were soon well above the snowline and within ninety minutes had reached Beinn na Cille (652m), a ‘Graham’, I understand.  Continuing in a northerly direction with clear 360° views we identified a snow covered Rum Cuillin to the west and various other landmarks from new perspectives.  On Fuar Beinn (766m), a Corbett, Donald announced it was 2160m to the next summit while I reckoned on 2000m by visual appraisal so we pressed on for Creach Bheinn (853m), another Corbett, ploughing through the soft fresh snow, at times over the tops of our boots, where Donald announced his map reading was actually 4.8m out by his GPS.  Obviously a minor misjudgement in reading the eight-figure grid references from the map, but either way John or I were dazzled by technology (probably not surprising!) as he flicked through the various GPS’s modes.

I would be fibbing if I said the weather was perfect all day for we did briefly experience some overcast skies, about fifty snowflakes and a chilling wind but all were short lived and of little consequence leaving us truly a superb day as we monitored the black threatening clouds rolling by to higher surrounding hills.  Descending from Creach Bheinn we pressed on for Maol Odhar (794m) at the head of the horseshoe, dazzled by the reflection off the snow and wishing we had brought our sunglasses and cream.  For the aero buffs we found remains of an aircraft by the summit cairn.  Slipping in the wet soft snow we descended down the long gentle ridge over Meall nan Each (591m) back to Glengalmadale and the road in six hours forty minutes.

Having changed we headed to Corran where thankfully Donald ignored the water bound lamp posts lining the slipway and proceeded to join the ferry where the ramp, due to the high spring tide, reached the main road– and we had seen both extremes today.   Thereafter it was homeward bound a little tanned.

As for the ‘RJ’ team they headed to Bridge of Orchy by car, cycled to Victoria Bridge then headed cross-country through Glen Kinglass to Loch Etive where they half walked/cycled through soft muddy terrain before continuing up the length of the Glen Etive.  We met the ‘RJ’ team by chance peddling heads down the last mile to Lagangarbh but their facial expressions illustrated the efforts of their long demanding route, especially as they were operating on half rations!

Written by Sandy Donald

7-8^th June:  Lagangarbh, Glencoe

Attending; Jeremy Morris      Guest; Dee McCarthy

Rather a poor turnout to this one.  The Glen Nevis crags were dry, sunny and free from midges and other climbers on Saturday – on Saturday night there were only two others in the hut.  Rainy Sunday, joined some friends bouldering in the Lost Valley.

Written by Jeremy Morris

31 May – 3^rd June:  Arran

Members attending;Claire Gilchrist, Juergen Kauffman, Jo Thurlow, Jeremy Morris, John Porter, Smurf (London Section) Lucila Martinez

Guests; Dee McCarthy, Isobel Gowers, Stuart ?

While others were celebrating with the Queen her 50 years in office, and all the great achievements of Britain under her during the last half century, we sneaked off to Arran to do a bit of climbing and get pished.  The advance party gathered at Central Station on Friday evening in various states of organisation – a sprint finish by Juergen and Lucila ensured they caught the train, clutching their belongings after their rucksacks had exploded.  The London contingent was met in the bar on the boat, and the others gallantly agreed to carry their bags on the bus to Sannox while they cycled – unfortunately no guarantee was given that the bags would get off the bus at Sannox, and a green (or was it purple?) rucksack completed a tour of the island (without an island rover ticket) before it was retrieved by a sleep-deprived Jo the next morning.  A brief stumble up the glen found a perfect flat campsite with just enough breeze to keep the midges off, and good radio reception.  The latter could be confirmed throughout the weekend as the JMCS representatives of four different countries listened to their teams’ World Cup fates.

Saturday dawned bright and windy – Jo, Jeremy and Dee went for a long boggy walk to do the South Ridge of Cir Mhor (Original, having missed the queue for the Direct).  A found fleece, a lost hat, nausea and vomiting were features of the climb.  Juergen & Lucila caught all the footy games on the radio, and explored the nearby wave-lashed coast.  Isobel, Smurf & John went for a long boggy walk and a traverse of the A’Chir ridge, demonstrating quality route-finding and balancing skills in the strong winds.  Claire and Stewart started off for a cycle round the island, but encountered headwinds throughout (?), and returned via the string road after completing the north half.  We all gathered in the balmy evening to compare sunburn and watch the sunset from the pub beer lawn.

A general mood of apathy prevailed for a while on Sunday, the only mountaineering activity being undertaken by Claire, Stewart & John who made a round of Glen Sannox.  A fine sunny windless day to start with, the others went swimming & rock pool-fishing on the shore, or cycled to Lochranza.  All parties got caught in the heavy rain which prevailed in the afternoon - this encouraged all but the hardiest to return on the Sunday evening ferry.

Written by Jeremy Morris

                                                                                MEETS 2003

January 10/11               C.I.C. Hut, Ben Nevis (6 places)

              24/25             Mill Cottage – Burns Supper (whole hut)

             

February7/8                 Blackrock Cottage (whole hut)

              28/1               Inver Cottage, Achnasheen (whole hut)

March    14/15             C.I.C Hut, Ben Nevis (6 places)

               28/29            Lagangarbh, Glencoe (8 places)

April      11/12              Ling Hut, Torridon (10 places)

   25/26            Milehouse, Glenfeshie (10 places)

May        2/4                Bank holiday – Jura – to be confirmed.

              16/17             Lagangarbh, Glencoe (8 places)

              23/26             Coruisk Hut, Work Meet

June        6/7                Strawberry Cottage, Glen Affric

               20/21            Mill Cottage (8 places)

Information about meet convenors will be present in the next newsletter.

Meets 2002