Loch Ness YH
47 members, family, friends and guests had a great time at the Loch
Ness hostel over New Year. The weather was fair, dry and cold..... it
snowed slightly on the 2nd and although the days and nights
were freezing there was little snow- even on the highest Munros.
Most folk arrived on the Monday night; the lucky ones to heated dorms
– the rest of us had to keep doors open and pray for a warm draught.
The warden had sold me on the concept of the wooden chalet annex on the
shores of the loch... but I wished I’d seen the brochure first. It was
certainly colder than the main building. I don’t think there were any
complaints about my potentially controversial room assignments.
Tuesday saw everybody out enjoying the brilliant sunshine. Jimmy,
Jon, Alison, Ian&Airlie, Alan & Caroline and Gill MacLean tacked
the Corbett Carn A’Chullin in Glen Doe – south of Fort Augustus.
Fred and Mary caught them up once Fred had finished his second full
breakfast. Another local Corbett –Ben Tee- was climbed by Gordon, Sue,
Cora, Eilidh, Francis, Sally (+ bump) and Andrew McP. Ingrid, Arther and
David Foster had bikes and went off to a remote Monadliath Corbett Carn
na Saobhuate – or something like that- but came back empty handed I
think – blame the bikes. Harrold, Connie and Ruth went to Meal na h’Eilrig
from drumnadochit. Hugh and Lena (our guest visitor from Tipperary/Zurich)
went to Glen Affric and took in Tom a’Choinich and Toll Creagach –
Lena’s first and I think not last Munros. Chris H and Dave C with
their friends Phil and Martin went to the Loch Lochy Munros – Meall na
Teanga and its dancing partner. The lure of finishing a day in the hills
with pints, tea and soup in the Cluanie proved too much for several
members. Garrey, Rosemary, Gill C and John Donnolly did a one way
traverse over Ben Loinne from the Cluanie dam whereas the extended Dean
family, John & Enid McP, Dave Webster and Isobel went up Ciste Dubh
and Am Batach.
The evening saw the traditional ceilidh dance, with party poppers at
the bells courtesy of the newly arrived Perfects and perfect timing of
the bells by Eilidh. 70’s numbers took over after 1 and the nights ‘stars
in their eyes award’ went to Harrold and Connie for their Mark Bolan
impersonation – they really do like to boogie.
New Years Day. Traditionally a slow start but several members were
off like the proverbial rat up a drain. Most notably the Deans – off
to emulate Hugh & Lena in Glen Affric. Arthur, Ingrid, David F, Phil
and Lena did the ‘Graham behind the hostel with the unpronounceable
name’ – Meall Fuar Mhonaidh – . A later starting group of
Caroline, Alan, Chris, Dave and Elspeth also tackled this one too. The
Fort Augustus corbett was repeated by Dave W, Isobel, Hugh, Gill C, John
D, Garrey and Rosemary. I did enjoy walking with Garrey in the
Monadliath- there just aren’t any rock outcrops he can ask hard
geological questions about. Didn’t stop me doing a bit of arm waving
though!. A large group did a one way walk along the Great Glen cyscle
route from Drumnadrochit back to the hostel. I believe this group
variously comprised Jon B, the Thomsons, Perfects, McPs, Craddocks,
MacLeans, Bryces,& Stevensons. For the second day in a row every-one
back dry!
The communal meal was I think a success with three intercourse table
rotations. Thanks to everyone who cooked, served, laid tables, washed up
and made/distributed the table numbers. More dancing followed. Francis
said he’d never do the Duke of Perth again.
Thursday.... weather beginning to close in. Dave W and Isobel went
off to Ben Wyvis which true to its reputation gave us a bit of a
navigation epic in a white-out on the summit ridge. Carn Chuillim saw
another ascent – this time from the Deans, Chris, Dave, & Phil and
the by now familiar Meal fuar Mhonaidh got more ascents – this time
from Harrold and Jon and another group comprising Garrey, Rosemary, Gill
C and John McP. Meal na h’Elrig was popular again also –this time by
Alan, Caroline, the Bryces, Elspeth, Alison and Jimmy. The upper reaches
of Glen Sheil were visited by Sue, Cora, Gordon Fred and Arthur –
Sgurr nan Conbhairean and Carn Chluasaid.
A quieter evening followed with some experts still willing and able
to learn more complicated dancing. The rest played uproarious versions
of popular board games and John Donnolly proved he knew more about 1980’s
music than anyone else – oh to be so young.
Thanks to all who came and Happy New Year
Dave Webster
PS A wee note from Lena attached:
