The Carn Dearg Mountaineering Club

June Weekend Meet Report

Systems Administrator — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:34:30 +0000

June Weekend Meet Badralloch Little Loch Broom Saturday dawned with beautiful blue skies…..and no wind. Those of us camping didn’t hang about long outside! The midges even made it into the toilets which at least kept the queue short! Sevenof us (Neil, Sandra, Colin, Chris, John, Catriona & Paul) headed for An Teallach. We left a car at each end of the ridge & planned to finish at the pub in Dundonnell.

The going was easy on the way up with lots of banter & frequent stops for second breakfast in the heat. We soon hit the first of the “interesting bits” of the ridge. We kept to the main ridge line and all enjoyed some fantastic scrambling and amazing situations. On the last top we had a nice surprise meeting up with Tony, Moira & Jess who had come up from Dundonnell. Excellent views over to the Summer Isles & Suilven. We finished the day with drinks in the beer garden at the Dundonnell hotel.

Back at the hut, we met up with the others. Phil & Grant went to bag a couple of the Fannichs (Sgurr Breac & A’Chailleach). Alan & Jim made an unusually early return from a big day doing the Beinn Dearg 4. We were also joined by Neil & his son Gavin who had a great day going up a Corbett, Beinn Airigh Charr from Poolewe. More good banter in the hut in the evening interspersed with people disappearing into the midgy sauna, or kitchen as it is otherwise known.

On Sunday most folks split off to do their own thing. John, Catriona & Paul opted for a spot of cllimbing at a crag at Gruinard Bay. Some nice Vdiff routes & excellent views. Phil & Grant went off to do a spot of mountain biking. Excellent Weekend! (Paul)

Theft at Linn of Dee car park

Systems Administrator — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:29:05 +0000

There’s been quite a few reports recently of theft from cars parked overnight at Linn of Dee car park even when no valuables were visible.

Steall Bridge

Systems Administrator — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:23:32 +0000

Plans have been announced to repair the wire bridge over the Water of Nevis at Steall, Glen Nevis. The bridge has been closed since one its cables snapped on Wednesday 26 May. The bridge links the Glen Nevis property,owned by the John Muir Trust, with land owned by Alcan.

May Weekend Report - Isle of Rum

Systems Administrator — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:50:28 +0000

Eight of the group left on the Friday lunchtime ferry in lovely weather with great views, and happily this lasted the whole weekend. We were so lucky. On the way over amongst other sea birds we saw puffins and a minkie whale. That afternoon some of us did a tour of Kinloch Castle, which unfortunately has been shortened after the intervention of the BBC Restoration programme and the health and safety experts deeming some of the rooms too dangerous for visitors. The campsite has new showers and a covered sitouterie and plenty wood for a campfire - a bargain for £5 per night. The bar (originally the gun room of the castle) was a fairly lively place that night with the Aberdeen crowd entertaining us with their singing and playing. The crows round them stole Sandy’s breakfast from the bag (a string of raw sausages)!

The Saturday ferry brought Kenny & Donna, JoJo and his friend Mike but the Friday arrivals were raring to go and set off without waiting for them. Davie, Alan and Trish (the oldies) decided to take the day at a leisurely pace while Jim, Neil and Sandy (the youngies) sped off at a faster pace in order to do “the circuit” of Hallival, Askival and Trallval, meeting up with Kenny and Donna doing the same and returning via the Coire Dubh track to Kinloch which they did AND had time to sunbathe on the tops . Brian climbed Ainshval from the Dibidil path. Richard went off to climb Orval to test his new bypass and resurfaced hip and both passed with flying colours. JoJo and Mike went to Barkeval while Colin enjoyed his mini cruise round Eigg, Muck and Canna leaving Mallaig at 2.30 and arriving at Rum at 7.30pm. A fabulous day was had by all.

On Sunday Kenny did a solo ascent of Fionchra on the south side of Glen Shellesder, meeting on the top Alan, Jim, Dave, Brian and Donna, all who were en route to Guirdil bothy. Leaving them on the top he traversed southwards to Orval, then westwards to Sron an t-Saighdeir before descending the long southeast ridge to Harris and the Bullough mausoleum. He took the easy way back to Kinloch having been offered a lift! Some of the others went to Kilmory, some did the circuit and some went for cycle rides around and about. Much of the road had been upgraded/regraded making it much more user friendly. Another wonderful sunny day with more great views - 2 golden eagles 1 sea eagle, geese, wild goats, ponies green butterflies and of course deer. And no midges.

On Monday, all except Donna embarked on the ferry to take the cruise to Canna and Eigg before returning to Rum. Donna shot down to Harris to see Monica’s tomb and made it back to the jetty with time to spare, these posties can certainly move. Jojo and Mike stayed on Rum before heading to Skye the next day. We had sleet showers on the boat on the way home - our timing was perfect. (Trish, Jim, Kenny)

Here’s some pictures courtesy of Jim http://www.flickr.com/photos/22776031@N05/sets/72157623920333597/

Club discount evening

Systems Administrator — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:12:48 +0000

Tiso Dundee Spring club discount night is being held on Tuesday 2nd March 2010 6.30pm - 8.30pm. Up to 20% off!

AGM Wednesday 3rd February 2010 Albert Halls, Stirling

Systems Administrator — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:43:14 +0000

Following the postponement of the club’s AGM earlier this month the
meeting has now been re-scheduled and will take place on Wednesday 3rd
February 2010 in the Lesser Hall, Albert Halls, Albert Place, Stirling FK8
2QL. The hall will be available from 7pm with the meeting starting
promptly at 7:30pm.

The committee appreciate that having to venture out on a dark winter’s
night in February for an AGM may not be particularly appealing! However,
your attendance would be much appreciated and will help to ensure that we
have sufficient numbers in order to conduct proceedings.

Link to map below:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&source=hp&ie=UTF8&q=albert+halls+stirling&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=albert+halls&hnear=stirling&view=map&cid=16457741183752365591&ved=0CB0QpQY&ei=4rZcS7vRGIe6jAep5aGhCQ&z=15&iwloc=A

CDMC AGM postponed

Systems Administrator — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:37:54 +0000

Due to the current weather conditions we are expecting attendance at the AGM to be very low and have therefore taken the decision to postpone it. The weekend meet to Glen Clova may still go ahead but a final call will be made by the Meet Secretary tomorrow evening. I will contact you all again once a new date for the AGM has been confirmed which is likely to be end of Jan/begining of Feb.

Glen Clova weekend and AGM

Systems Administrator — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:42:14 +0000

The current snow situation is that you can get a car up to Glen Doll but both the club hut car park and the main car park are more or less inaccessible and it is a case of shoving the car anywhere. Walking conditions are described as snow wading and very slow going. Very low temps are forecast for the w/e. Given the current prevailing conditions the plan is that the meet is viable at the moment but a final call would need to be made on Thursday

The ice man cometh!

Systems Administrator — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 11:36:08 +0000

No, not the top of Cairngorm, this photo was taken whilst ski touring above Linlithgow in West Lothian.

A cool -16 in Glenmore on 28 December 2009

Top of Meall a’ Buachaille above Glenmore

December Meet Report

Systems Administrator — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 11:12:59 +0000

Finding the venue for this year’s Christmas meet presented some problems since Chris’s beautifully clear directions seemed to lead to a small mansion with no sign of a climbing hut amongst its outbuildings. By a process of elimination it worked out that the mansion must be the venue, and what a venue it was!! It boasted a cavernous dining hall, a huge and superbly equipped kitchen, labyrinthine corridors leading to well-appointed bunkrooms, and even a bar which, regrettably, had not been stocked.
Saturday dawned grey and overcast with much deliberation about who wanted to do what with who but eventually objectives were agreed upon and various parties set off. Jayne, Phil, Christine and Stuart decided to head for Bynack More. Jayne set a blistering pace never slackening as visibility soon fell, the air filled with sleet, snow and howling winds. After emerging onto the summit ridge with rime-covered rocks and snowdrifts the cairn was eventually reached and after a quick descent, due to Christmas dinned beckoning, the car was reached just as dusk was settling. Brian, Sue, Colin, Iain, Maggie, Charlie, Julie and Tony and Rhona walked from Nethy Bridge to Ryvoan Bothy then some went up Meall a’ Bhuachaille and Creagan Gorm also returning in the dark, while the others took a hair raising bus journey back to Nethy Bridge. Moira and Tony took the car to Glenmore Lodge and went up Meall a’ Bhuachaille from that side meeting the others on the hill. Paul, John, Catriona, Chris, Katie, Jane and Claire decided to head for the Fiacaill Ridge but due to high winds opted for the Chalamain Gap meeting Davy, Sandy and Neil on the way. There were many people at this meet and these are just a few of the Saturday plans – apologies for not capturing all of them.

On return to the Bunkhouse, turkeys, potatoes, parsnips and stuffing were being roasted to perfection in the kitchen’s huge ovens whilst enormous quantities of soup and vegetables simmered in pans the size of cauldrons. In the dining room, tables were brought together, decorated with festive coverings and laid ready for a
banquet. The meal was then served and, in a word, it was superb. Afterwards a small but highly skilled group of musicians appeared and the assembled company limped through highland dances on tired legs and sore feet. A Christmas raffle saw many a weird and wonderful assortment of prizes won and lost whilst a rousing chorus of
song told, amongst other things, of the delights of the “Wild West Show”.

On Sunday a variety of lower options including Loch an Eilein, Meall a’ Bhuachaille and tidying up the bunkhouse concluded a great weekend. All in all a wonderfully well-organised meet that was great fun and fantastic value – well done to everyone involved in putting together such a fantastic weekend!
(Stuart, Sue & Colin)