Friday 9 – Sunday 11 February 2024

For our February meet around a dozen people headed to the bright lights of the Alex MacIntyre hut in North Ballachulish to see what Lochaber had to offer. It turned out to have plenty. (And we packed mood lighting too.)

On the way over on Friday evening, half of us stopped off at the Highland Cinema in Fort William to catch the premiere of Calling Of Arunachal, a kayaking film featuring some immensely impressive rapids and scenery in northern India.

Saturday dawned with the hills dusted with snow and the promise of an improving forecast for the day. So teams set of to climb Beinn a’Chrulaiste, Beinn a Bheithir and Ben Nevis. Others went for a walk in to Glen Duror bothy. And one party even managed to fit in a spa afternoon.

Almost everyone made it back to the hut in time for dinner. Unfortunately, those who didn’t were the weekend’s volunteer chefs! Technology and team work came to the rescue for the main course and a delicious vegan bolognese was dished up. Alas, the chef de patisserie didn’t send on instructions! So the, tasty, vegan sticky ginger toffee pudding was finally served sometime after 11pm!

Sunday saw a few hardy souls set off for more hills, Stob Ban and Mullach nan Coirean, whilst others drove home via the Falls of Lora near Oban to watch the kayakers playing and then stopped off for a trail run around Fearnoch Forest.

• Report by David Matthews