Preston Mountaineering Club

Newsletter extracts

The Crianlarich Meet 30/31 January 1999

Beep, Beep, Beep ….. Jeremy's alarm went off, it was 4.00 am. The first two groups set off into the still dark day, one heading for Ben Nevis and the other to Glencoe. Three hours later saw the rest of us emerge from our cosy sleeping bags to ready ourselves for the day.

The avalanche warning for the weekend was given as 4, which is pretty high. The walking gang split into two with Pat, Martin, Keith and Sheena heading for the Black Mount Munros and Gordon, Laura, Tony, Liz and young Tom for the two local Munros, Sgiath Chuil and Meall Glas. Having Tom along was great as we were able to use him as an avalanche poodle on the dubious looking snow slopes (but don't tell his mum!) As we set off the day got better and better and we had brilliant views of Ben More (or Ben Humungous as it's called by PMC) ringed by low cloud, its summit poking through into the blue sky. The snow made the descents fun, especially when Tom fell through and got stuck up to his arm-pits. Laura laughed so much that she also fell through and got stuck! The deep trough between the two mountains didn't look too bad on the map but the deep snow and almost 1,000-ft re-ascent took its toll on us all and we were crawling by the top. The cloud rolled in giving map and compass an airing, but it soon cleared for an easy descent over snow-covered heather to the cars.

The guys on the Ben paid heed to the avalanche warnings and stayed out of the gullies and stuck to the faces and ridges. Dave, Mick, Barry and Mike made ascents of The Curtain (IV) and Ledge Route (II). Dave heard an avalanche go off in a nearby gully and rapidly inserted a few extra bits of gear into his belay as a result! Tower Ridge fell easily to Jonathan and Stuart. In Glencoe, Dorsal Arete on Aonach Dubh saw a successful ascent by Dave and Howard, and Curved Ridge on the Buchaille was claimed by Jeremy, Alan, Steve and Jason.

Sunday was a poorer day weatherwise with low cloud hanging over the area. Gordon, Tom, Tony and Laura went to attempt Stuchd and Lochain in Glen Lyon, but snow prevented us getting over the pass. A retreat was made and Beinn Bhreac-Liath, a Corbett above Tyndrum was bagged. Pat, Martin, Keith and Sheena visited Ben Vorlich by Loch Lomond side, which ended up a harder day than at first envisaged.

Jeremy, Alan, Mike and Barry did Dorsal Arete in Glencoe and reported that conditions were much better than the previous day had been. Dave and Howard took in Curved Ridge and thoroughly enjoyed the day. The rest of the climbing group took to the flesh pots of Fort Bill and Nevis Sport. The weather unfortunately had deteriorated as the weekend went on but all in all a pretty good meet with good attendance courtesy of the Ochils Mountaineering Club Hut.