Glencoe, February 2007

Graham Williams

This was Bryn’s meet, only Bryn was ill and couldn’t make it. Ten people did make the meet ensuring a full hut, half of whom were either called Tim or Clare. Is this a record? Anyway Blackrock Cottage is a splendid venue and when I arrived with Adam via an unplanned detour of Edinburgh’s city centre everybody else was settled in. Tim C had already had a day out on the hill and reported good conditions high up. With a good forecast Clare and Tim headed for the Ben, myself, Adam and Mike for Aonach Mor, Tim C, Tim H and young Michael for Stob Corrie nan Lochan, also the venue favoured by Clare and Philippe, whilst Carolyn headed out on her bike for Glen Etive.

There was less snow on Aonach Mor than any other time I’ve been to climb there. At the top some brave snowboarders and skiers were making the best of pisted

Mike and Adam at Cornice 

hard néve and ice. However the overhead conditions were superb and the snow was rock hard as we down climbed easy gully. A limited number of routes were in good condition. With Left and Right Twins busy we went for the third(?) of the twins, Forgotten Twin. It was in great condition with a surprisingly icy second pitch.

Cunning planning left us with not enough time to do a second route but enough time to get down to Fort William to watch the England vs. Scotland rugby game. We left the pub as quietly as possible in order to avoid a diplomatic incident.
Back at the hut we found that Tim’s C and H had had a great day on Dorsal Arete, Michaels’ first winter day out. Clare and Philippe had an equally good time on Boomerang Gully and Carolyn had a splendid time down Glen Etive. Last back were Clare and Tim who had done Number Two Gully on the Ben followed by the traverse round over Carn Mor Dearg, a fine effort.