Sunday 12 January Crianlarich Meet. Written by David Harrison

16 club members turned up at the Rod and Reel Car Park, Crianlarich and split into two parties. Alice Mitchell led 9 folk up Ben Chaorach (818m).These were David Harrison, David Foster, Elizabeth Maitland, Jill Cook, Alison McLaren, Dave Watson, Mary Cunningham, Malcolm Kennedy and Janet Gaywood.

Brian McDaid led another 5 towards Beinn Chvirin. These were Ruth Keighley, Madeline Easton, Hugh Bourhill and Carol Proudfoot.

Brian’s party were going to climb Ben Chvirin but decided in view of the driving rain and wind to walk to the foot of Ben Lui and return to their cars for refreshment…………………….

Alice’s party moved on to the site of the old Church yard at St Fillans and commenced the climb of Ben Chaorach. Although the rain had abated whilst we prepared to set off, it quickly returned, compounded by a brisk wind.

Whilst walking up the hill, I was befriended by a lady club member who wanted to try out her new survival tent and I was most honoured to be asked if I could assist her with its erection once we were on the summit. After much conversation amongst the members, who no doubt caught up with all the gossip, we finally reached the snow bound summit.

After we selected a suitable spot to deploy the survival tent (right in the teeth of the howling gale and rain) we carefully pulled the tent out of its bag. The yellow tent immediately ballooned out and nearly took off in the strong wind. As we both grappled with the tent, the tent owner managed to wrap herself into the tent and sit down on one inner corner. I also attempted to get inside to fully test it’s practicality but hadn’t realised that this palava had attracted the attention of two other male members of the club who during the ensuing melee, managed to beat me in the rush to get inside the tent leaving me in the driving rain. There didn’t seem to be much conversation from within although I was informed that it was warm and very cosy inside.

The yellow apparition in the snow was no consolation to the other members of the party who looked on with amazement as they became ever more drenched in the freezing rain and wind. Alice meanwhile was becoming very concerned about her group and decided to lead the remainder away to return down the hill.

I eventually managed to persuade the happy trio to return to reality and leave their cosy shelter.

After returning to the cars, the majority of the members went to the Green Welly Shop for tea whilst others had a pressing requirement to visit B&Q………….