20 – 22 September 2019
September is a month where you could expect to get pretty much any weather. Luckily for the club the weekend picked for the meet this year was warm and sunny.
Saturday saw three different parties leave the hut heading for different goals (plus a fourth party who had stayed at more luxurious accommodation). Berenice and Andrew were joined by Justyna to head up Sgurr Choinnich and Sgurr a Chaorachain. Bruce, Iain and Marcus headed for a scramble on Liathach. Greg meanwhile persuaded Sandy, Rosie, Toni and Janis to join him up An Ruadh Stac. Me (Dom) and Amy headed up Slioch on a warm sunny day. After everyone’s journeys all returned to the hut, me and Amy arriving just in time to see Justyna before she headed home. Given the warm day and the fact the sun hadn’t set yet it was decided the loch looked a good place to finish the day. Some (me and Amy) were more prepared (or wimpish) and donned wetsuits before going in. Others took a more traditional approach to swimming enjoying the cold water on their skin (for a much shorter time). The heavy rain the week before ensuring the September sun had not done too much to raise the water temperatures.
Berenice produced a delightful stew for the diners that evening, and we soon got round to discussing plans for the next day round the fire before the Dobble cards were brought out.
Sunday promised to be another good day and a variety of plans were hatched. Berenice continued her bagging mission heading to Maol Chen Dearg, not a popular choice for those who had done the neighbouring hill the previous day. Greg left early to bag a corbett from StrathConnon close to the hut but a long drive round to start point of walk. Fionn Bheinn above Achnasheen was an easy target for those worn out by the previous day’s exertions. The rest (including the author) heading for a planned two corbett day behind Beinn Eighe. On reaching the first viewpoint where both summits were visible (Ruadh Stac Beag and Meall a’Ghiuthas) it was decided who ever wrote the Corbett book had strange ideas about joining peaks and that Meall a’Ghiuthas alone would make a much more sensible walk for the day. Ruadh Stac Beag being much better linked with the other summits of Beinn Eighe. This shortened the day and ensured we managed to return to the car park just as the rain began so avoiding getting wet.
- Report by Dom
