L

O

M

O

N

D       

Kinlochewe training weekend     23rd-25th April 2010

Gordon, Andy, Donald, Brian L, Pat, David, Alan, Laurie, Derek

Friday   -    The advance parties sped north through the non-stop rain to their rendevous at Achnasheen station. With the prospect of low cloud and loads of snow wimps Andy and Alan were all ready to chicken out and head for the bunk house (pub) but were shamed into action by the sight of  David, Pat and Brian geared up and  raring to go. As hills go Fionn Beinn isn't one of the most exciting but it is a munro and there is always the added excitement of having your blood drunk by the three ravens. Being English, Andy and David were safe from the ravens so we took our minds off the plod up the lower slopes with a bit of banter about it being St Georges day. Just as we reached the snowline we disappeared into cloud  and had to dig out map and compass to find our way. Near the top we encountered slopes of older harder snow but luckily the angle wasn't too steep.  After a short break at the summit for photos we enjoyed a fast run down to the cars.

A short drive down the road the Kinlochewe bunkhouse looked a bit run down from outside but inside it was 'cosy' with everything we needed. Once we had settled in we headed for the hotel next door where we enjoyed a bar supper and sampled the excellent local brews, Red Cuillin and Isle of Skye. Derek kept us entertained by texting an endless stream of dodgy jokes and even managed to take us in (briefly) with a message that they had forgotten Gordon. Before long the pranksters arrived (with Gordon) and the beer flowed at an ever greater rate. Our rather ample hostess seemed to be a bit worried that we might drink away our money and demanded that we settle up for the room nights.

Back in the bunkhouse (no I wasn't staggering Gordon!) we suppered on toast and tea before retiring to a relaxing night of snoring, trips to the loo and frequent door banging.

Saturday

We should have been up and away early but it takes time to come round after a 'good night'. When we finally looked out the clouds had lifted and the Black Carls of Ben Eighe definitely looked like they meant business with their steep snowy slopes. After cereal, toast and loads of tea we felt more like it and finally got under way well after 10. We had finally agreed that we would head together towards Slioch and then split up. Alan decided to go with Gordon, Laurie and Donald into the Fisherfield wilderness but plans were vague to say the least. The glen that cuts across east of Slioch is a real delight with a string of waterfalls but we got a real fright a little further up when Rosie nearly got swept away trying to cross a raging burn. Alan was afraid he might be next and opted to cut up into the coire on Slioch to join the others.

Luckily the others had just reached the coire ahead of him and Al had a bit of fun phoning Andy and pretending he was still with the others only to pop out from behind a boulder. Together we cut left along a good path up to a wee lochan where we had lunch. Steep slopes led us to the upper coire where we made for the summit. Standing on the rim of this coire is like looking out from the ramparts of a castle and the views are stunning in every direction - the Torridons, Applecross and into the Fisherfield forest and Fannichs. From the top we returned by the fine narrow ridge on the north side. Easy slopes led us back to the Coire and back to Loch Maree.  The track back along the lochside is always further than you think but although we hadn't had a big day it was good to get back to the bunkhouse. To provide some excitement Derek suggested a small wager on when the other would get back.

Wild, rough, unpredictable and dangerous - no, not Laurie! -  I mean the Fisherfield forest!  After Alan saw sense and left them the intrepid trio motored up the Glen to Lochan Fada where they decided that munro bagging in the snowy wastes was best left for another day. The south bank of the loch proved rough going but soon they found themselves traversing below the stunning buttresses of Beinn Lair. Laurie said later that Rosie had been crying when she lay down. After a traverse round to the stalkers path they climbed Beinn Lair itself. They cut directly down to the Loch at Furnace and then still  had the long tiring walk back along the wooded shores of Loch Maree ahead of them. Some very weary legs finally staggered back at about 7.15.  Derek won the bet but they were back earlier than we all thought. Rosie emerged as the heroine of the day.  Go on Laurie - you run it in your 90's!

This year Alan and Andy served as chefs and we were soon sitting down to a fine meal of tomato and basil soup followed by pasta with vegetables in a creamy sauce served with salmon. Andy had selected a very nice red wine with subtle hints of Pat's week old Blondie tee shirt and Gordies trainers which slid down very smoothly. We were now relaxed enough to enjoy Pat's quiz which we treated with our usual seriousness.  (Derek was cock a hoop when his team won.)