The most overwhelming event in recent club history has been Marion’s death at such young age. Gordon and Sue comment below so I have not much to add save to say that it was good to see so much emotional support at the funeral. People who love the outdoors are in many ways, as a result of their independent and competitive natures, awkward customers but underneath there is also a lot of genuine affection for their fellow humans.

It is with great personal sadness that I have to report the sudden death of Marion Evans. She was traveling back from the Club's Burn's Supper at Kinlochleven when she was involved in a collision with a bus and car traveling North on the A82 near Luss. Her daughter Kirsty, who was traveling in the rear of the car, survived with only minor injuries.

Marion was one of the Club's youngest members and brought a delightful vitality to those who knew her. Her enthusiasm was infectious and even on the poorest of days Marion would be guaranteed to enjoy herself. Her activities with the Club were restricted, but never regretted, by the arrival of Kirsty and Sunday was the first day she had been on a hill since early in her pregnancy. Those who accompanied her on the traverse of Buachaille Etive Beag all spoke of how much she had enjoyed herself. Dennis and I met them off the hill in Glen Etive and transported them back to their cars. Over a drink in Kingshouse Marion played with Kirsty tickling her and blowing raspberries on her tummy. Kirsty reveled in her mother's attention. It is comforting to remember her that way. Marion's dedication to Kirsty was complete. She loved her dearly and never stinted from providing the best. Only the week before the crash she purchased a new car seat, since the previous one was now too small. It is probably this action that saved Kirsty's life. Kirsty will be looked after by her Grand Parents (Eric & Christine Wilson) in Stranraer. I will miss her at the indoor meets where Kirsty's heckling of the speakers was a regular feature. She commented without fear or favouritism.

If anyone wishes to write to Marion's Parents their address is Tall Trees, London Road, Stranraer.

Gordon

I know that Marion's parents Christine and Eric and her brothers Robbie and Andrew were touched that so many club members were able to make the funeral service on Monday 4 February. A special mention to Gordon and John who both spoke so fittingly at the service. The family suggested contributions to the charity Trees for Life. A donation was made by the club on behalf of all members. We are hoping that in due course we will know where the money is spent so that Marion's family including Kirsty and others can visit the site in the future.

Sue

As many of you are aware the committee has established a fund to help the Glasgow Glenmore Club to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2004. Unfortunately there seems to be some confusion as to the purpose of any monies collected in advance. The Fifty Fund is intended to subsidize the publication of a book detailing the Club’s history. This will involve a large payment to a publisher in advance. Members who then purchase the book will do so at a reduced cost. The fund will not subsidize any social events. This would be unfair as, inevitably, there will be some members who are unable to attend. If at the end of the anniversary the Fifty Fund has any surplus this will be put to the benefit of the club and its members, perhaps through the purchase of new equipment.

The committee is aware that the establishment of the fund and its potential uses are areas of concern to some members. It is our intention to ensure that the monies raised are used to mark the clubs anniversary in a fitting manner. If you have any concerns regarding the matter please speak to any member of the committee.

Gordon

 CALLING ALL COMPLETED PEAK BAGGERS AND LIST-TICKERS

I hope to contribute a chapter for the Anniversary Book on the history of Munro and other mountain completions by members of the Club. If you qualify for a mention in this opus, by virtue of ascents of all Munros, Tops, Corbetts, Grahams, Donalds or whatever, please send me your details. These can include names and dates of first and last summits, notes on repeat rounds, and any claims to noteworthy aspects of your peak collecting.

Please pass this message on to any former members you are in touch with who should be included. Also, if you finish a hill list in the next two years or so, remember to contact me and keep the information up to date.

David Foster

The Trust was formed in 1983 it takes its name from John Muir the Scot who was the first person to call for practical action to safeguard the world’s wild places. Peter Willimott works with the Trusts local Glasgow and West of Scotland Group, he will give an illustrated talk on the topical issues facing the Trust, including land reform, access and national parks. The Trust does useful work, which we all benefit from, so please come along and support the evening.

This is described as one of SHYAs rustic hostels. There is no vehicular access – we go by train from Bridge of Orchy. It is about 1 ½ km from Corrour Station to the hostel along a track. The hostel sleeps 20, pillows and blankets are provided, but you should bring your own bed linen (or sleeping bag). We can get in to the hostel from 5 pm on the Friday evening and should leave by 12 noon on the Sunday.

Transport – trains leave Bridge of Orchy at 10.42; 15.04 and 20.40, the journey takes 30 to 40 minutes. (I expect that most people will be getting the 20.40 train)

On Sunday trains leave Corrour at 18.27 and 20.48 (there are no other services).

Shared cars to Bridge of Orchy will be arranged in the usual way.

Costs – we have booked the whole hostel, providing we fill it, the cost will be £9.50 per person per night. The rail fare is £4.20 single.

Booking as this will be a popular meet with limited space, I will start taking bookings on Friday 15 Feb. The full amount of £19 for the 2 nights will be due by 28 Feb.

Beautiful Sutherland is our Easter destination. Inchnadamph Lodge is situated at the southern end of Loch Assynt, with Ben More Assynt and Conival on the doorstep. We have booked 32 of the hostels 44 beds; the cost is £32 for the 3 nights. Bedding is provided. A deposit of £15 will be required to secure your booking by 8 March. If there is a lot of demand we may be able to take some of the other beds if they are available, the only other nearby accommodation is at the Inchnadamph Hotel.

" The early Munroists – what Munro’s Tables doesn’t tell you. "

Dave Hewitt of The Angry Corrie fame , gives an illustrated talk about those walkers and climbers who completed rounds of Munros pre-1971 , this being the point at which the published list of names passed the 100 mark. He's managed to track down a lot of information about who completed where, who knew who, who's missing from the list and so on -as well as old photographs of these pioneers from the days when
Munrobagging didn't involve endless paths and when trekking poles and guidebooks were just a twinkle in young Cameron McNeish's eye. It promises to be a very interesting evening.

Meet at the wee car park just past the Bridge of Balgie junction in Glen Lyon @ 9.30 (577468). Fantastic opportunities for all sorts of Munros , Corbetts etc. Maybe even some snow left over ? ! or will it be sunblock and sunglasses ?! or both ?! Let me know if you are going.

"FURTH - Bewildered of Blanefield seeks the Meaning of Life. " You are promised a rambling and incoherent rant, aided (mebbies aye, mebbies naw), by a randomly assembled collection of out of focus slides, some of which may contain mountains, some of which may be furth. It could turn out pompous and portentous, but let's hope not. ( all John’s words not mine )

Last visited in 2000 ,I think, for a Burns Supper weekend , we return to this well appointed bunkhouse in Monarch of the Glen country, with a vast array of hills of all sizes all around you. Last time a bunch of us were forced by the wind to crawl around one of the tops on all fours before beating a hasty retreat , but hopefully the weather will be kinder to us this time. However, it would probably be a good idea to bring your crampons and ice axes anyway. There are two family rooms and three bunkrooms , holding 34 Glenmorons in all ( 33 if you exclude me as organiser ) . There is a pub/hotel only 400m away. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag / duvet . As for directions , don’t make the mistake that Tim and I made and go down all the way to Loch Laggan before having to double back, but just turn left off the A9 at Dalwhinnie on to the A889 where you will find the bunkhouse 8 miles down the road on the right just before the Monadliath Hotel. Cheques to me for £22 payable to Glasgow Glenmore Club will get you a place. See you there.

A great ooportunity to visit the unique island of Rum, to traverse the Rum Cuillin or just enjoy the shearwaters and other wild life. The club has chartered a ferry to leave Arisaig Harbour at 8 pm on Friday 3^rd of May and to collect us at 8.30 a.m. on Monday 6^th May returning to Arisaig at approximately 10 a.m. Cost £8.00. 20 places are booked in Kinloch Castle Hostel, cost £13.00/night and 10 places camping (facilities 1 toilet and a standpipe). Cost £1.50/ night. To book a place, please send a cheque to Gill Cook to cover accommodation and ferry price. (£47.00 for hostel, or £12.50 for camping.

Come along and voice your opinions and vote for next year’s committee. Gill Cook has served her three years as an ordinary member so will be standing down but as things stand at the moment all other members are willing to stand again.

Weekend 24^th,25^th, and 26^th of May 2002 Arran

A weekend’s camping at the Glen Rosa Camp Site, 2 miles from Brodick and a perfect location to set off from when exploring the Arran hills and ridges. Cost £4.00/night (facilities 1 toilet). Friday ferries leave Ardrossan 6 pm and 8.30 pm. Monday ferries leave Brodick 1.50 pm, 4.40pm and 7.20 pm.

Summer 2002

There have been 2 meetings to discuss the summer 2002 trip, The centre for this holiday will be in the Gavarnie/Gedre valley (Pyrenees – French side, south of Loudres), and we still have to decide on a campsite. There are lots of possibilities for day walks and hut to hut trips, with the Ordesa Valley (Spanish side) not very far away. Flights go from the UK to Biarritz, Toulouse or more directly to Loudres. A number of people have already booked the Ryan Air flight from Prestwick via Stansted to Biarritz. Public transport (train and or bus) can be got from the arrival airports to Gedre. Alternatively you could drive through France or get the ferry to northern Spain.
Dates Saturday 29 June to Monday 15 July.

If you require further details or would like to be included on the circulation list for further information/date of the next meeting etc, please contact Dave Webster 956 1882; Gill Cook 956 5976 or Sue Johnston 959 2217.

"We float the Zhupanovsky River, its meanders twirling us so the Zhupanovsky volcano is now ahead, now behind us on the horizon. From the river’s edge, stone birch march their lonely way up the hills, white skeletons \against a veil of rain. Only a golden fringe remains of their canopy now in late September. Splotches of mountain ash brighten the evergreens here and there. Bear trails come right down to the water. Big tracks in the mud. My companions and I cluster around the table in Vadim and Nina’s cosy cabin, a table crowded with six kinds of salmon …."

Frith Maier, Trekking in Russia and Central Asia, The Mountaineers, Seattle, 1997, 297.

Go to Moscow and then head east for 9 time zones and you’ll find yourself in Kamchatka. You could, of course, equally well go to the bottom right hand corner of Alaska and head west for two or three times zones to end up in the same place! The Kamchatka peninsula is narrowly attached to Russia on its eastern seaboard. It is a wild and remote land of "multiple tiers of geysers", valley bottoms "punctuated by boiling mud cauldrons, azure blue pools and steam vents", volcanoes known as " sopka" that regularly spew smoke and erupt from time to time, one of the world’s largest concentrations of grizzlies and "unparalleled botanical diversity".

We are co-ordinating a small group (8-10 people) trip to Kamchatka for summer (probably August/September) 2003. It is early days in the planning process as yet but we envisage that the round trip will be 3-3.5 weeks and that it will involve trekking through and up the geysers and volcanoes. The volcano ascents are all non technical. The highest we are likely to climb is just over 3000m although the biggest one in the region is 4750m. It is likely that there will be a substantial element of backpacking. We are looking at possibilities for porterage but don’t hold out much hope (the Russians are tough, you know). Our best guess at the cost is £1500-£2000 all in. We do not plan to be eaten by a bear, fall into geysers or get in the way of erupting sopkas.

If you think you might be interested in joining the group and would like to find out more, please do get in contact with us.

Chris Huxham and Dave Crowther

A full-time Executive Officer will shortly be appointed to assist with the voluntary work done, but the M.B.A. are still looking for a volunteer for the post of Treasurer.

Due to vandalism, Manquhill bothy (close to the Southern Upland Way) is no longer available until further notice. On the same theme, other mindless vandalism and theft has been reported at Culra and Larig Leacach bothies.

A slide show, showing most M.B.A. bothies and with script has been prepared by an M.B.A. member and is now available without charge to any member who has a "suitable audience". Full details are available in the current M.B.A. newsletter, as well as list of slides required to complete the collection.

This newsletter, as usual, contains some interesting articles about visits to bothies. The next newsletter (March 2002) is likely to give full information about work parties over the summer. As usual, the current Newsletter is now available from the Club Librarian.

Harrold Thomson