Attending
Davie Paterson
Lindsay Wyllie
Drew Jackson
Mike Paterson
Graham Wyllie
Stevie Gilfeather
Apologies
Andre Hawryliw (it became Nick’s ’official’ 30th Birthday Weekend in Glasgow)
Base Camp Notes
Given the popularity of this superb remote location it was perhaps surprising that only six members of the club decided to go ‘cottaging’. Perhaps some members were afraid that other pastimes were involved in cottaging! Perhaps it was because the car parks in Glen Affric were going to charge that scared off the more tight-fisted members (the payment machines were certainly installed but not yet functional). Perhaps it was one of those weekends when all sorts of other activities coalesce, and excuses included a splinter group going off to climb “Wee Hills” on Jura, plus a number of family events, not to mention football and the Hearts. Despite the lack of washing facilities, Strawberry Cottage is comfortable, well appointed and highly recommended, and at this time of year the dreaded midges have yet to appear (cottaging midges were a problem here in the past when only the truly desperate would venture to the out-house toilet and only when dressed like Darth Vader).
Weather Notes
The pictures prove that the weather was excellent: very cold and clear with just the occasional “blattering” by heavy snow showers, which added greatly to the scenic early spring beauty once they had blown past.
Special Note One
The use of foreign words and phrases is permissible in Scrabble (Saturday night) provided that they are in reasonably common usage in the host language. For those still wondering, “Quo Vadis” is Latin for “Who goes there”, something like a sentry’s challenge, and also a famous American film from the 1950s. In turn this degenerated into a more complex discussion/argument on the merits of progressive rock: Foreigner versus Status Quo (do you follow the dubious ‘logic’ of the conversation?).
Special Note Two
Two cars were taken in on the land rover track to Strawberry Cottage and parked just short of the bridge over River Affric. This was a sensible choice as it enabled the cottagers to enjoy a healthier diet by not having to carry in supplies: that is, beer and wine rather than whisky and vodka. (What was that bump in the (Saturday) night when a nameless person fell off the couch?)
Special Note Three
Mike Paterson is turning into a second ‘Bald Eagle’. Stomp, stomp, stomp around the cottage in the wee (get the meaning) small hours of the morning.
Hill Notes – Friday
Drew Jackson & Stevie Gilfeather РCarn nan Gobhar from the dam at Cannich via a boggy path, following an early(ish) departure from Fife and brunch at the recently re-opened caf̩ by the station in Dalwhinnie. Reaching the summit about 4pm they were treated to excellent views in clear air, especially of Sgurr na Lapaich, a temptation that they had to resist (with much lamentation from Drew) as they were committed to rendezvousing in the pub at Cannich at 7pm with the other cottagers, who were driving up in the afternoon. Even more temptation was resisted by the collected cottagers who amazingly only spent half an hour in the pub before moving on to Glen Affric itself.
Hill Notes – Saturday
Messrs Jackson, Gilfeather and the two Patersons – Mullach Fraoch-choire using a boggy trail up a ridge from Glen Affric, crossing several deer fences along the way. The views of Ceathreamhnan, Mam Sodhail and the Conbhairean Group were outstanding. En route a memorial cairn was found to Michael Matthews, the youngest Briton to ascend Everest (age 22), but unfortunately killed on its descent in 1999. The continuation to A’Chralaig looked fantastic but had to be abandoned 150 metres from the summit because of jagged pinnacles, unpredictable snow, and clear evidence of avalanches (more complaints and much lamentation from Drew). Four somewhat disappointed climbers returned to Strawberry Cottage, although that journey was enlivened by the amusing sight of ‘The Captain’ (maritime, aka Davie Paterson) attempting a river crossing with some difficulty (it’s the attraction of water).
Lindsay Wyllie – Sgurr Gaorsaic, a Corbett at the top of Glen Affric, approaching the Bealach an Sgaime which leads into Kintail. A walk up the attractive glen, followed by a steep ascent/descent under snow to get there and back again.
Graham Wyllie – A mammoth expedition of almost nine hours which involved skirting round from the Bealach Coire Ghaidheil to Beinn Fhionnlaidh then over to Mullach na Dheiragain before cutting over to the col below Stob Coire na Cloiche and returning via the Alltbeithe path.
Hill Notes – Sunday
No hills climbed, just the longish drive back to Fife, ready for work on Monday (ugh!).
