Drew Jackson
Alan Wyllie
Cara Wyllie
Steve Gilfeather
Brian Penman
Jim Waddell
Graham Wyllie
Willie Corrigan
Andrew Jackson (Jnr)
Fiona Jackson
Susie Stevenson
Sandra Dear
Irene Morris
Jim Wyllie
Brian Lobodzinsky
David Goldie
John Kirkham
Jimmy Taylor
John Meechan
Martin Dand
Evelyn Dand
Senga Jackson
Mo Christie
Stewart Masterton
Davie Paterson
John Forsyth
Sharon Forsyth
Alan Duncan
Andre Hawryliw
John Macintosh
Lindsay Wyllie
Sandra Wyllie
Base Camp Notes
The Altguish Hotel has improved greatly since the club last stayed there in 2003 on
the occasion of Martin Dand’s Last Munro. In those days the place was owned by a
foul-mouthed chaotic identikit version of one Basil Fawlty (tall, thin and barking mad).
For example, who will forget his Sunday morning quip when a passing group of
Americans stopped for breakfast as offered by the sign outside, and were greeted
by, “Breakfast! Breakfast! What do you think this is, a f***ing hotel? F*** Off!” By
comparison, Basil Fawlty was quite sane and the perfect host.
Anyway, on this occasion the hotel was friendly, clean and well organised: the ideal
venue for a Last Munro. With so many attending, we virtually had the hotel to
ourselves, especially on the Saturday night. The food was particularly good and in
quantity, and the new owners (from London) could not have been more
accommodating. The Aultguish is now highly recommended. Many thanks to Drew
and his family for organising an excellent weekend, and especially for providing the
celebration dinner on Saturday night (which went on well into Sunday morning).
Weather Notes
A bit of moisture in the air but thankfully no rain. Minimal wind but extensive cloud
cover. Warm and overcast at lower levels with mist on the tops. The water level for
the often difficult crossing of the Abhainn a Gharbhrain was relatively low.
Preamble – Friday
Many folk went straight to the Aultguish on Friday, although a few intrepid souls did
take in some hills en route. For example, David Goldie climbed Little Wyvis and Liath
Mhor a Ghiubhais Li. However for most, major bar action was joined early and went
on well into Saturday morning. Andre was the last to arrive, having taken in the twin
Corbetts of Ruadh-stac-Beag and Meall a Ghiuthais , underestimating badly the time
and effort required on these difficult hills (definitely too much for one day).
Ode to Drew’s Last Munro (by Jimmy ‘McGonagall’ Taylor)
Friends, note this date: 28th September,
For it will forever be a date to remember,
When the Eight Miles High, as was their wish,
Assembled at the Ault-gu-ish.
All were fit and raring to go,
To help our Drew to climb his Last Munro.
They waded the Gharbhrain and climbed Faochagach Top,
Where gasping for breath they came to a stop,
Then waited a minute despite their great thirst,
To allow our Drew to caress the cairn first.
Then all clapped their hands and loudly did cheer,
And out came the bottles of wine and of beer.
Corks popped and flew from Champaign,
As they raised their glasses again and again.
Health and safety went out of the door,
As they staggered about and drank more and more.
Now if you would like to hear the end of this,
Or learn of something that you may have missed,
You’ll have to search and ask for the sober one,
For you’ll learn nothing from one who was pissed.
The photographs show that everyone had a fantastic time, with all credit to Drew
for organising the festivities and the Aultguish for providing.
The only known climber on Sunday was again David Goldie with Sgurr Breac and
A’Chailleach. Following behind somebody else, David was surprised when they
disappeared completely, and even more surprised when they reappeared from
behind the rock he was relieving himself against. Poetically the individual turned
out to be the local area manager for Scottish Water!
Postscript
Everybody will be aware of the tragedy that was encountered on the ascent when
we came across the heart attack victim of another party ascending Am
Faochagach at the same time. Widely reported in the media, the following letter
subsequently received by Drew says it all:
Thank you for your support and exceptional assistance on Am Faochagachon
Saturday when you came across my great friend Donald Graham who had
collapsed on the hill. The memory of the efforts you and your party took,
particularly John in trying to resuscitate Donald, and alerting the mountain rescue
services will remain with my brother Ken and myself for ever.
Donald suffered a heart attack but I know that his wife Kathy and his sons
Alasdair and Mark take great comfort from the fact that other hill walkers were
there to try and help him at the end.
It must have been a traumatic experience for you and all of the other members of
your party on what should have been a day of celebration for you in compleating
the round of all the Munros, but in a way Donald, who walked the Pentlands
every week and had also summated 185 Munros, will have been happy that he
was not alone and that he was in the company of such a large group of fellow hill
walkers.
Donald was a Lewis man and there was something fitting that he was taken to
Inverness on board the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter.
Can you pass this message to everyone who was on the hill with you on
Saturday with a heartfelt thank you from his wife Cathy and his sons Alasdair and
Mark.
Mike and Ken Todd
It just goes to show that every day is special and needs to be taken to full
advantage, especially on the hills, as you never know when it will be your “Last
Munro”.
