This was the weekend for Dave Webster’s completion on the Saddle : saving a high quality hill for his 284^th. Munro required really good weather, and company, to make it memorable. Getting the people is the easier bit – the weather is more fickle, but choosing the summer of 2003 was a good omen. However, just to be certain, Henry arrived two days early and tramped through miserably wet and windy weather on Gairich, and then along part of the north Cluanie ridge, which meant Friday began to improve when he joined David and Stella for Fraoch Choire and Garbh Coire Mor.

The main contingent arrived on Friday night, the skies cleared and brilliant sunshine dawned on Saturday. The completion party comprised Dave ( essential), Isabel, Dave Broadfoot, Jill, Arthur, Henry, Liz, Carol, Alice, John Donolly, John Anderson, Ian McNab and Keith. The Forcan Ridge provided great scrambling entertainment for all abilities . On reaching the summit the now customary rituals were duly followed, principally the sacrifice of champagne and consumption of cakes and other highly nutritious food. Then after appropriate congratulations etc. it was decision time once more : for completist Dave the excitement was too much – or perhaps it was the champagne, and he slowly made his way back with Isabel and several others, stopping to enjoy the fantastic weather and views. But for Arthur and other stalwarts, it was time skip over Sgurr na Sgine and then check out Sgurr a’Bhac Chalois (885m) and its twin peak Buidhe Bheinn (885m). Arthur’s recent Corbett completion, it transpired, hadn’t included both tops but he assured us that with his engineering eye he had in fact previously summited on the higher of the two – whichever that was. So, he and a group including Keith, headed off for more excitement along the long flat ridge between the tops. Henry and Ian opted for the completion of the Saddle horseshoe which took another 4 hours – isn’t the affect of champagne amazing on progress ?

Whilst all the celebrations were creating a bit of a noise nuisance on the Saddle, Ann, Roger and Alan Dean were biking into Loch Mullardoch, sorry, along Loch Mullardoch, to climb An Socach, but the Saddle party didn’t see them return their waves. David and Stella opted for A’ Ghlas Beinn and, surprise surprise, a Graham called Carnan Cruithneachd ( the spelling makes up for the relatively low altitude). As David later told me ‘ this is a rarely visited and lonely peak’ which I think is a description he’s given to most of the Grahams he’s climbed.

Needless to say, there was much celebrating on Saturday evening and speculation about Dave’s next challenge but he wisely didn’t make any rash commitments, other than next day to climb A’Chralaig and Mullach Fraoch-choire with Isabel, Keith, Alice and Carol. On the other side of the glen, Henry and Ian covered the 4 eastern summits of the South Cluanie ridge, John Anderson and Liz summited Meall Dubh in Glen Garry, and David and Stella climbed Ciste Dubh. Insects were a real nuisance that day at all levels but you can’t have everything with that sunny weather.

Henry