As I was driving to pick Roger up at Shotts to get to this meet (which in theory was the quickest way; and, indeed, might well have been if all the central belt was not on the move at the same time) I was listening to Michael Rosen on Radio 4. He was puzzling over the inability of human offspring to copy certain lifeskills from their parents, with special reference to putting dirty dishes in the dishwasher, instead of leaving them lying. I can imagine that all parents listening to this basked in a glow of fellow feeling for some time afterwards. But I am sure there are other traits in our children that are quite as incomprehensible to us; why, for example, am I the only one in our house who can refill an empty toilet roll holder?

I mention this inexhaustible topic in case Glenmorons find themselves again in need of distraction from the kind of weather we experienced on Saturday; moist segueing to wet, mist level almost as low as the top of Colin’s head, but yet not so bad that you could in all conscience go and do your Christmas shopping in Fort William, at least not if anyone was watching. As it was, the necessity of catching the 8.05 am train concentrated the minds of the majority of those staying at Tulloch Station Bunkhouse to such an extent that the weather was hardly noticed.

Roger Dean, Dave Watson, Sue Johnstone and Gordon Dykes climbed Beinn na Lap and Chno Dearg from Corrour before walking back to the hostel, cowardly omitting Stob Coire Sgriodain on the grounds of it being a bit damp. Mary Cox, Liz Maitland, Gill Cook and John Donnelly got off at Rannoch station to walk up Meall na Meoig of Beinn Pharlagain.

Back at the hostel, Henry Perfect, David Foster, Stella Lowther, Dave Reynolds and John McPartln went off to conquer Stob Coire Sgriodain and Chno Dearg, Dave Broadfoot and Mary Hill climbed Beinn a’ Chaorainn, Dave Webster, Isobel Freeman, Hugh Bourhill and Malcolm Kennedy ran up Beinn a’Chlachair, Geal Charn and Creag Pitridh, while Kate and Alan Stewart, John Anderson and Ann Dean had a good circular walk over two Carn Dearg corbetts.

The last-named party called on the breakaway group at Aite Cruinnichidh Hostel, ostensibly to make sure they were okay, but really to swank about the meal the wardens were preparing for them at Tulloch Station. Phyllis and James Smith, Colin and Monica Farrow, Rei and Graham Quinn, Connie and Harold, Chris and Dave, Jimmie Stevenson and pal, Garrey and Rosemary were all ensconced there, and had enjoyed various outings in the wet. The drawbacks of their hostel were a very restricted kitchen area, and a fiendishly camouflaged step in the living area, guaranteed to maim unwary Glenmorons. Connie had already fallen foul of it.

The next day was crisp and cold and sunny, with a sprinkle of snow on the tops. John McPartlin, Henry Perfect and the Deans scrambled up the zig-zags at Glencoe; Kate and Alan, Hugh, Dave, Stella and John Anderson went up the third Carn Dearg in two parties; Dave Webster, Isobel, David Broadfoot and Mary climbed Carn Liath; John Donnelly, Gill, Mary Cox and Liz Geal Charn and Corrieyairack Hill; Malcolm and Dave Watson went up Ben Dearg, while David Foster soloed Beinn Teallach.

The Tulloch Station hostel could not be faulted as a venue, except that the mattresses had more lumps than was strictly necessary. The meal provided by the wardens was very good, consisting of meat and vegetarian lasagnes and a hot fruit pudding. Malcolm insisted that he was a fish-eating vegan, so relished a lovely bit of salmon. The famed charm of the Glenmorons, however found its Waterloo with the two wardens. However much we tried to engage them in witty repartee and genial conversation, they remained stonyfaced, but polite, to the end, patrolling the kitchen relentlessly to make sure no-one put a tea bag in the bin reserved for banana skins.

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