Assynt and the Turkish Steam room IV

Last weekend Ed, Scuz and Mark headed north in search of dry weather.  After a visit to the new chicken carryout (in the old kebab shop) in Inverness (which did an excellant burrito), we drove up to Lochinver and had a great walk along the track into Suileag bothy under an almost full moon and semi clear skies.

The next day after a less than alpine start....

we headed up to Suilven

here the AMC twins were spotted

after visiting both summits we headed back to Suileag to pick up our sleeping gear

After lunch we headed back to the car and drove round to park near the top of the pass to Unapool.  We then marched with full bothy gear - 10kg of coal is one way to slow Scuz down (a bit).  By now the wind and rain had caught up with us and daylight was fading...We went up the Waterfall path to Bealach Bhuirich and from there, against Ed's better judgement, we took the shortest route, down a 300m steep heather slope avoiding cliffs here and there.  By now it was pitch black and pouring rain,  nothing like a bit of excitement on the way to a bothy!
But eventually, we, or at least me, staggered into Glencoul bothy aka 'The Turkish Steam Room' and got the fire going.

Reading the bothy books we realised that it was 11 years to the day that Ed had got Adam down to his underwear in the inaugural Turkish Steam Room trip.  Once settled in, Ed the Bothy Chef King, got to work and produced his usual excellant meal washed down with port and whisky.

The next morning we left this great place, and because of the high winds walked out round the loch rather than ascending the Stack of Glencoul as planned.  For once we took Ed's advice!

A cuppa and oatcakes and cheese at Glendhu bothy was a welcome break on the way out and the hitch along the road to collect the car was even more welcome.

Mark

More New Year photos....

New Years Day walk on Meall na Teanga and Sron a Choire Ghairbh. Scuz and The Goat hitched a ride to the start point with Yvonne and Chris. Scuz and The Goat completed their planned route of two Munros and got a lift home. Yvonne and Chris completed both Munros and survived. So everyone was happy!!

Very steep snow and spindrift on the final ascent of Meall na Teanga required axes, crampons and goggles. The wind had calmed a bit by the time we got to the summit of Sron a Choire Ghairbh so we descended the NE ridge over Meall nan Dearcag back to the car.

 

Invergarry New Year

A few wet and windy days were spent at Invergarry Lodge over New Year.  Up to 29 people ate, drank and most even went up some hills.  The weather was however fine for forest bike rides.

Judith and I met up with Ed and Scuz at the abandoned house/bothy at Garrygualach after a great ride through the forest to the south of Loch Garry.  WARNING - if you are passing the 'Beasts of the Forest' don't try cycling at them full pelt - they don't like it - do they Ed/Scuz?

Room with a view or open plan living - take your pick.....

 By the Friday night the Meet numbers were down to a more managable 12, and a very enjoyable evening was had by all.  But please no more cheese!

 Steve, Dave and Steve certainly seemed relaxed enough

Invergarry Lodge made a great New Year Meet venue for a large party.

Mark

Mark and the Swedish Blonde...

The Scottish hills and lochs are full of mythical creatures and legends; the Grey Man of Macdui, Nessie and Morag, the ghost of Ben Alder Cottage, and last but not least the elusive Swedish blonde bothy goer. Never actually seen, but occasionally referred to in bothy logs.
 
Up until now that is, may we introduce 'Maxim',  Mark even got his hands round her...............and for an evening she was the 'light' of his life.

 After a night with Maxim, What better than a wee stroll up classic hill.

Alas Maxim did not accompany us to another bothy for Saturday night.......leaving Mark only with sweet dreams.

Text and pictures by Ed

A Wee Wild One

Last Sunday saw John and Ann finally escape DIY hell for a blast on the hills. Unfortunately it really was a blast. As we got further up Deeside it became clear that anything on the bigger hills was out due to the combination of very high and gust winds, and it being a lot snowier than we had imagined. All of that, plus the need to replace Ann's disintegrating skis, led us to the ordinarily short dander up Craig Leek above Invercauld.

The pictures tell most of the story. Billowing spindrift and wading through knee-deep powder were the main features that made such a small hill feel much more of a day out. The cuppa while we waited for the binding to be fitted to the new skis was seldom more welcome. 

Starting out

Bit of a winter wonderland lower down

Barely over 400m but starting to get tricky

And windier still...

The sun came out for the summit view

Into the wind on the descent, goggles on!

 

Not a bad weekend in Glencoe

Photo from Ed of a trip to Glencoe last weekend

Another Sunday Walk

Last week’s wintry weather caught out a team of AMC Sunday Walkers who arrived in Inverey to find their plans for a bike-assisted bagging trip thwarted by tracks covered in refrozen snow and ice. Bruce, John & Ann instead opted for a walk up the only reachable Munro, Carn Bhac. 

 

Starting out

The going on the track was predictably slippery but the rest didn’t look too bad, with only a healthy dusting of snow visible. This early confidence was misplaced, as the hillside we ascended was covered in deep deep heather, hiding quite a bit of snow. A bit of a flouter followed, and it felt like a very long time before we reached the thin heather and firmer going of the higher slopes.

 

A rare bit of easier going on the first ascent

View north into the Cairngorms

After a welcome elevenses we trekked around the ridge from Top of the Battery to Carn Bhac, where we glimpsed in the distance the only other people we were to see all day.

First lunch was a bit rushed in the biting northerly wind and we were soon off west to follow the long undulating ridge that runs north before curving round back to Inverey. 

 

Approaching Carn Bhac

Despite being into the wind and having areas of breakable crust, this section was very pleasant as by now the sun was getting low and the light was fantastic. All day we seemed to have been under clear skies while all around was cloud. Then the sun set and it got very cold, but before long we were back at the cars after a good recovery from what looked like a doomed day out.

Breaking Crust - Yuk!

Panorama of the Cairngorms

Beinn a Bhuirid just before sunset