Friday 15 – Sunday 17 September 2023
As my first Club meet since Inverey in June, I had been anticipating this weekend for quite a while. Torridon is one of those special places that never tires, even though my visits have been so numerous now that I need to be reminded of some of the walks that I have previously done. Handily, Greg can always be relied on. Watching the forecasts, a consensus emerged for a very good Saturday, but with less optimism for the other days. As such, my sights settled on either Liathach or Beinn Eighe, and when Kevin had put up a plan in the Discord thread, I had been very happy to commit to joining him on Liathach. The discussion continued from Discord in to the pub on Thursday evening indicated some other interest for this hill and some for Beinn Alligin.
No one managed an activity on Friday and there was a stream of arrivals from about 4pm. Finding the hut cold, Kevin managed to walk to the shop in time to buy a bag of logs. The stove was appreciated by those arriving over the next few hours, especially as the main bag of logs was delayed in Dundee by a puncture that Greg did eventually get fixed. The wood situation was quite frustrating as there is a big heap of rotting wood behind the hut, but nothing to chop it up with. With the usual pattern of late cancellations and the reallocation of spaces, the eventual complement was ten people in the hut and four campers. This is pretty much the limit of the small kitchen and the limited seating in the dining/social area. With this minor criticism, the facilities are excellent. Comfortable mattresses, adequate showers and a well equipped drying room.
The weather on Saturday turned out to be pretty much as forecast. A sunny morning with cloud building over midday, a gentle breeze and autumnal temperatures. Andy set off for Beinn Alligan, intending also to explore various lower peaks to the west of the Munros. Andrew and Ruth hitch-hiked off planning the full traverse of Beinn Eighe. Kevin, Sandy, Yasmin and I departed for a west to east circuit of the two Liathach Munros. Iain cycled south to bag remote hills beyond Bealach na Ba. Greg, Elena, Andrae and Anton headed for the Horns of Alligin. Steph and Ian were left sorting out their kayaks, with a rumour that he was heading to Greenland.
For our route on Liathach, the crux is the Am Fasarinen scramble and this did generate some anticipatory discussion. In the event, helped by the dry sunny conditions, it was easily managed by all, although, as with a lot of such things these days, there is more to it than I remembered from days past. At times, our main obstacles were the many people, dozens, going in the opposite direction. This aside, I much prefer the way that we did it as most obstacles are ascended. The pleasure of the scramble was added to by the many superb, clear views that gave ample opportunities to “name that peak”. All-in-all it was another classic day in Torridon and, hopefully, the good company will facilitate me still remembering it in twenty years time, but I make no promise.
With lots of long days taking full advantage of the opportunity, it was a relatively subdued evening, mostly filled by dining. Greg provided the communal veggie chilli that did the trick, and for those still with room it was followed by fruit crumbles.
Sunday was overcast with rain likely sooner rather than later. Consequently, there was a bit of limited low level activity before folk headed back east.
- Report by Chris Butcher
