Friday 7 – Sunday 9 October 2022

This year we managed to open the gate!! And with the careful selection of two vehicles and kind owners volunteering, negotiated the track without major incident. Three had already opted to cycle – myself, Heinke and Sandy braving the dark and the rain showers. All very similar to 2018….

Apart from issues with the petrol powered water pump (not the first going by the log book) resulting in fetching buckets from the river all weekend, it was a great stay with a warm fire and great food – thanks to Susan.

Oh, hills, yes they did feature as well, Saturday had promised to be reasonably good (but Sunday certain to be horrible) and 10 of us set off towards An Socach in a fit of optimism, with sights set on Carn Eige and beyond. The first couple of showers dampened spirits a bit, but 7 persevered, Iain and Paul plus Andrew extra Munro – and Top – bagging on the way to Beinn Fhionnlaidh. It was not a day to hang around and the rain set in steadily shortly afterwards, moving through phases of feet dry and happy, feet damp but warm, feet getting colder and wetter, socks reaching saturation point, finally ploughing straight on through bog and rivers to get back to the hut with welcome fire and Mac ‘n’ Cheese after 10.5hrs out.

Sunday seemed OK at first but the weather front soon arrived and late morn we headed off, three of staying us cycling around Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhoin. Wet but enjoyable, then following the others seeking out warmth and refreshment on the way back down the A9.

• Report by Iain