Several days before this weekend, the weather forecasters were doing their best to worry us, by forecasting serious snow for the weekend, at the start of an unusually cold winter. You’ll have to read the rest of the logbook entries for the season, to find out if we really have extreme conditions. Anyway, soon after dawn on Friday morning, the snowflakes began falling.

This seriously inconvenienced Liz Maitland and her passenger Liz Asher, as they set off up the side of Loch Lomond aiming for a Corbett in Glen Roy. By Tyndrum jack-knifed lorries were strewn around, and a diversion via Oban was needed. The Corbett was abandoned and instead ‘Liz bought a Paramo jacket at Fort William’. Note the accurate phrasing here : one Liz actually wanted the jacket, but not having a credit card on her, persuaded the other to pay for it!

By midday the snow eased and melted. By late evening almost thirty people had arrived safely, and were enjoying the warmth whilst listening to the gale lashing the rain onto the windows.

Saturday was notable for strong winds. Several groups sensibly decided on low-level walks round Lochan na Hearba. Here the wind was blowing significant proportions of the loch across the path in waves at the far end. Everyone’s seaside training of dodging waves came in handy in this rather unlikely location. Gill & Arthur enjoyed ski-mountaineering on the lower slopes of Meall na h-Aisre.

The other groups all started uphill. The snow was patchy and wet, obscuring large puddles at the bottom, changing to a crusty outside near the summits. The wind was still galeforce, blowing rain, sleet and snow into faces. Each group reached a point when they were happy to retreat downhill. This point was below the summit, for all groups. Summits that defeated Glenmorons were Meall na h-Aisre, Geal Charn & Beinn a Chlachair. Most people passed quite a long convivial evening in the bunkhouse.

Sunday was calmer, and Walter arrived from Carrbridge. A few people decided that their exertions on Saturday were sufficient for the weekend, and returned home. Meall na h-Aisre was successfully visited by three people, and the two Liz’s achieved Friday’s aim of Carn Dearg in Glen Roy. Harrold, Connie and Elspeth went up Cruban Beag, Hugh and Chris E went to The Fara. 

The Sow of Atholl was a popular choice for ten people. The weather was very cold : leading to crisper conditions underfoot/underwheel lower down. It was much calmer, and views at Corbett level were clear. John McP successfully shot a snowy scene for the Christmas web page. As usual, a great weekend. Monica

Back to Logbook Contents Page