New Website - Blog Discontinued

We have a new website, Check it out for the latest club news and information as this blog is no longer in use.

 http://www.eightmileshighmountaineeringclub.org.uk/Index.asp?MainID=16880

Discontinuing the Blog

The blog will no longer be updated as the club has a new website which can be found by the link below.

http://www.eightmileshighmountaineeringclub.org.uk/Index.asp?MainID=16880

Thanks

Drew's last Munro, Aultguish, 27th to 29th September 2013

Attending
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”.

The Meet Report Onich, 2nd to 4th August 2013

Attending
Andre Hawryliw
John Blackwood
Jim Wyllie
Alan Wyllie

Base Camp Notes
The Alex McIntyre Memorial Hut is firmly established as a favourite with our club: not
too far from the Central Belt and with easy access to a lot of brilliant hills. Under
these circumstances it was perhaps surprising that so few of our club were in
attendance. It was even more surprising that no other clubs were in attendance, as
has often been the case with this large hut (sleeps 16). All the Eight Miles High
members present were able to have a bedroom to themselves (there are 5). It must
be the time of year with so many people away on holiday. There was no warden.

Weather Notes
Fairly wet and windy on Saturday with a lot of showers and the very occasional and
short sunny interval. On Sunday morning the sun broke through and the weather
improved considerably into the afternoon.

Hill Notes – Saturday
 All first rendezvoused at the Ice Climbing Wall in Kinloch Leven for morning
coffee and a decision on the day/weather. It was wet and nobody was that keen!
 Messrs Wyllie, Wyllie and Blackwood (sounds like a dodgy firm of solicitors)
went on a low level walk to explore the Blackwater Reservoir and Dam. The last
major ‘Navvy’ built project in the UK, the dam is 27m high and 914 m long, and was
built in the early 1900s in what was then very rugged and almost inaccessible terrain.
Therefore built by hand, along with some 6km of concrete aqueduct and nearly 13km
of steel pipe in four parallel pipelines, there were many fatalities, most of whom are
buried in a small cemetery near the dam using concrete grave markers.
 Andre Hawryliw climbed Glas Bhein from Kinloch Leven village, going out
along Loch Eilde Mor. The south side of the loch was particularly wet.

Hill Notes – Sunday
 Messrs Wyllie, Wyllie and Blackwood timed their departure so that they could
stop in Perth to watch their team (Hearts) play away at St Johnston.
 Andre Hawryliw climbed Mam na Gualainn (another Corbett) from the edge of
Loch Leven in steadily improving conditions.

Eight Miles High Low Down

The Meet Report

Glen Doll, 2^nd to 3^rd March 2013

Attending

John Kirkham

 Martin Dand

John Meechan

 Andre Hawryliw

Jake Brewster

 Drew Jackson

Jimmy Taylor

 Graham Wylie

Base Camp Note One

This will probably be the last time that the Eight Miles High uses this Carn Dearg Hut as a splendid new wooden building is taking shape along side, leaving Andre drooling at the prospect of hot showers! The hut’s Dundonian owners must be experts in obtaining grants and other assistance from the likes of the Lottery Commission as the photograph shows that this will be a very grand hut.

Doubtless when the new hut is ready (probably in the summer) it will be considerably more expensive to hire than the old one, which we used with its character and history (estate agent speak for degenerate décor and a leaking roof). It is alleged that the current hut has already been condemned more than once, and the owners are clearly avoiding any cash expenditures on it. For example the roof is obviously storm damaged and leaking, but there are no repairs, just a large army surplus tarpaulin held down with ropes and log weights. The cold dry weather was therefore a blessing, whilst the log stove soon warmed the place up, assisted by the electric fire and other comforts that John Kirkham brought with him.

Base Camp Note Two

Friday night was whisky night for the cleek and Jimmy Taylor must be on the pills again (not the Holstein Pils) as he had to be helped to bed (although he soon sobered up when Martin offered to remove his trousers for him).

Base Camp Note Three

Martin and Andre were seen in the bushes with their trousers down. When challenged they claimed to be applying Ibuprofen Gel to their knees. Might be better to form a three legged hill walkers club as it’s Martin’s left knee and Andre’s right that are giving trouble (but Andre would also have to wear ear defenders).

Base Camp Note Four

The bizarre conversation (even for the Eight Miles High Club) on Friday night drifted on to the depressing subject of piles and bowel cancer. Later Martin wondered off and lost John Meechan’s head torch, whilst John is not sure if he wants it back.

Weather Notes

Excellent. Cold and dry with occasional sunny intervals which were longer in the morning. The snow cover had been quite deep but was now partially thawed in the glen. Still extensive, deep and icy on the hills and paths.

Hill Notes – Friday

• John Meechan and Graham Wylie went climbing in Winter Corrie. Poor conditions forced them back from Diagonal Gulley and they almost got to the top of Backdoor Gulley before fear of being benighted also drove them back. The climbing was on narrow snow and ice covered ledges, and even John Meechan admitted that conditions were desperate and dangerous. The retreat entailed an abseil and Graham was devastated to abandon his brand new and largest (£10) sling for the purpose (but still preferable to being benighted).
• Everybody else travelled on Friday with the first members of the club arriving at about 4pm in the afternoon.
  
  
  

Hill Notes – Saturday

• Graham Wylie and Drew went to attempt B gully in Corrie Fee but poor conditions made them descend and head to the easier A gully before coming down by the Shank of Drumfollow
• Messrs Brewster, Kirkham and Taylor (aka “The Cleek”) went for a “wee dander” around Glen Doll, getting to the Clova Hotel first.
• John Meechan went for a walk and met the Cleek in the Clova Hotel
• Martin Dand climbed Driesh (but not Mayar), via the Kilbo Path. Very icy conditions on the path meant that he wore his crampons for the whole day, not bothering to take them off on the summit.
• Andre Climbed Broad Cairn from Jock’s Road, returning via Bachnagairn and Moulzie. This had not been the original plan, but the weather was clear, the snow extensive and firm, and he did not bother looking at his map once on the plateau until it was too late and he had gone too far.

Hill Notes – Sunday

Nothing! The club is getting soft! Due to other commitments the members all had to get home on Sunday morning, which was a pity as it promised to be another excellent weather day.

Hi all,  i've done a couple of articles in the last month or two. heres a link in case you've missed them.

http://grahamwyllie.blogspot.co.uk/

remember if you have any of your own then email them to me and ill post them up.

Cheers

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).