Eight Miles High Mountaineering Club

Eight Miles High Low Down
The Meet Report
Kirkton of Foss, 23rd – 24th November 2012

Attending
John Kirkham
Martin Dand
John Meechan
Andre Hawryliw
Irene Morris
David Morris
Jake Brewster
Drew Jackson
Jimmy Taylor
Davie Paterson
John Blackwood
Jim Wylie

Guests and Apologies
Steve Gilfeather called off (again) at the last minute to child mind for a sick wife.
Guests were Drew’s friend “Big” John and his friend Murray. The house is actually
owned by Big John’s in-laws, so technically the club were his guests, but either way
nobody was going to argue (or misbehave) as he is the only person that can make
the club’s own big(ish) Drew look relatively small (hence the sobriquet!).

Base Camp Notes
Base was a beautiful, large, comfortable, warm and well appointed country house
near Bridge of Tummel. With three toilets Jim was spoilt for choice, and the other
occupants were saved from bad odours
and his boots clanking about in the wee
small hours. Meanwhile three showers
meant that Andre thought he was in an
OCD heaven. With no television and late
nights spent around an open fire on
Friday and Saturday, as somebody
pointed out, it is amazing what people
can find to talk about (especially with
Martin Dand around). Of course alcohol
contributed a very significant degree of
eclecticism in the general banter. For
example one of the topics of
conversation was Irene’s real given first
name, which turned out to be Isobel (nee
Graham). Irene is actually her second
name, which she prefers. Another topic
(initiated by Isobel) was Jake’s hair
colour. As the attached photograph
shows, he was anxious to prove that he
has ginger nuts. The weekend was also
memorable in that Jimmy Taylor found
the hearing aid he lost here last year! He
now has two, one for each ear.

Base Camp Note Two
Check your boots! Leaving early for the Ben (see below), before John Kirkham was
even awake, John Meechan managed to set off with Kirkham’s base camp shoes.
Now Kirkham takes a Size 8 and Meechan a Size 10 (no organ/shoe size
comparisons please!). This forced Kirkham to use walking boots to drive his BMW
because he claimed he could not get the necessary control in oversize footwear
(more sexual analogies?). The really surprising thing was at the end of the day when
Meechan walked in oblivious to the fact that the shoes he was wearing were two
sizes too small. This must be a result of regularly wearing overly tight rock boots!

Weather Notes
Saturday was a brief spell of dry weather sandwiched between two periods of heavy
rain which caused severe flooding over much of the rest of the country. Expeditions
were therefore limited to that one day, and although dry, the weather was not as
good as had been forecast. Low cloud and poor visibility with only a few breaks were
the order of the day, the higher hills themselves being covered in soft deep snow to
make the going difficult in places. Loch Ericht is down there somewhere, honest!
However on the lesser hills the snow was not as deep (nor cloud so thick)!
This might explain the continued presence of the highland midge. Andre returned
from the hill looking like he had been to the dentist after something had bitten him on
the lip near a snow covered summit. Be warned!

Hill Notes – Saturday
John Meechan, Drew, Big John and Murray ascended the big one, Ben Nevis,
by the Ledge Route, which was a serious undertaking in the wet and snowy
conditions. Normally a scramble, roping up was prudent as a slip was all too easy.
They returned via the tourist route, cutting across by the lochan to their start. The
long drive from Foss demonstrated a considerable degree of dedication, never mind
the climb itself.
Jim Wylie and John Blackwood met up with Brian Penman, Rhona Fraser and
Robin Howie to climb Beinn Udlamain and Sgairneach Mhor in tough soft snow
conditions. Four people with 19 complete Munro Rounds between them!
Andre climbed the Corbett Stob an Aonaich More after cycling in from Loch
Rannoch. He was going to do Beinn Mholach, but turned back due to hard going in
soft snow on very rough heather and short time. The expected views of Loch Ericht
were disappointing (previous page) due to low cloud.
Irene and David climbed Beinn a Chuallaich from the B847. The photos above
were taken on this hill which seemed to avoid much of the cloud.
Davie and Martin climbed Ben Vrackie above Pitlochry (or the “mighty” Ben
Vrackie as they preferred to call it to counter adverse comments from others).
Jake and John Kirkham climbed Blath Bhalg, south of the A924 from
Pitlochry. Apparently the name means “Womb of Bloom”, possibly explaining the
many old derelict habitations on the moor to the north of this hill, which was
otherwise uninteresting despite great vistas all around (photo on previous page).
Jimmy had a ramble around Pitlochry and the Tummel river system, being
hazardously picked up from (or almost literally off) the A9 by Jake and John Kirkham
at the end, from whence they drove back to Glenrothes (in oversize boots).