After a beautifully sunny drive up North after work on Friday, the prospects for the weekend were looking good. As I drove across Rannoch Moor, the sun had only just set and it was already 11pm. Hurrah! Long sunny days – and way too many fantastic routes to choose from in Glencoe and beyond – what more could I ask for?
Rain? Whose idea was that? Whilst the rest of the country basked in the Bank Holiday sun, in true YAC style, we had managed to arrange for our own special wet weekend in Glencoe.
True enough, it wasn't actually raining when we got up on Saturday, but it was only a matter of time…
So, what to do? Nigel already had his tick list prepared and a little rain wasn't going to stop him, so off t
o the Mamores he went. Simon & Carmen had a rapid rethink of their planned rock routes and Peri, Ben, Margaret and myself stuck to Plan A – Buchaille Etive Mor.
Peri, Ben and I had Curved Ridge at the top of our list – it's years since I've done it, and would be a first for Ben & Peri. To save having yet another "What are we going to do, Carmen" argument, Simon & Carmen decided to tag along too, so off we went….
Curved Ridge really is a great route – a fantastic (and easy) line on a great mountain – what more could you want? Peri and Ben certainly seemed to be enjoying it! And despite the rather murky looking sky, the rain was holding off. The swirling cloud just making the whole thing feel more atmospheric.
Eventually though, the rain caught up with us and we finally reached the end of the ridge below Crowberry Tower in the pouring rain. Not to be put off, however, we continued up Crowberry Tower to check out the view, confirming that the inside of a cloud is the inside of a cloud. I imagine standing on the top of the Tower is quite exhilarating on a good day, but we could have been on any old pimple in the mist!
Before long we were at the top, and after a quick (and soggy) sandwich, the only way was down. A warm hut and copious amounts of tea beckoned. Who needs to be out in the rain? (Ben seemingly, who passed on tea to continue along the ridge).
An amusing walk down the tourist path, past the usual trainer-clad dawdlers and someone who appeared to have dressed up as a strawberry for the day (sadly it would have been too rude to whip a camera out, but she really did have to be seen to be believed) and we were soon back at Lagangarbh. Tea, food, planning, wine, beer, bed.
Sunday dawned…wetter than ever. Never mind, Peri, Margaret, Ben and I had already decided on the Aonach Eagach. Nigel was off to the Ballachuilish horseshoe and Simon & Carmen were going to get up Agag's Groove come what may.
A bit of car juggling (to leave Peri's car at the Glencoe YH) and we were back at Lagangarbh, having decided that, in order to ensure we made the most of the rain, we should walk all of the way along the ridge from the Devil's Staircase.
By the time we got to the ridge proper, the rain had truly kicked in. Looking on the bright side, as we slithered up and down the pinnacles, we saw only four other people (two of whom appeared to have turned back in horror, and the other two of whom were practising moving together with remarkable efficiency) – how often could you expect to get the Aonach Eagach almost to yourself on a Bank Holiday Sunday?!
As we finally 
dropped out of the cloud, the weather looked as though it was trying to clear…. and by the time we got down into the valley, we were dry enough to wander into the Clachaig for a pint or several (taking the opportunity to feel superior as, with approx three exceptions, the nearest anyone had been to a hill that day was the step up into the toilet).
Rather later than advertised, we arrived back at the hut to find Nigel gnawing on the table and Simon & Carmen looking edgy after having drunk about three gallons of tea. Tea, food, planning, wine, beer, bed.
More photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/halcrowfox/sets/72157618752927045/
It was actually dry, and even vaguely sunny, on Agag's Groove. The expected hoards hadn't arrived (they'd probably seen the weather forecast) and we had the entire buttress to ourselves. It couldn't last though, and the rain started as we were descending Curved Ridge (harder and not as much fun as going up it!) to decide on our next route. Which turned out to be the path back to the hut.
This weekend is looking a lot better, when I went to Rannoch wall, we had horizontal sleet.
Is this the Three Yorkshiremen sketch? I am just waiting for one of the older club members to comment "Horizonal sleet? Eee, you had it soft, when I went to Glencoe it were still glaciated!"
Our photos:
http://climbing.me.uk/Lagangarbh/index.html