Almost the last meet til….well, who knows? I'm writing this in the middle of the Covid 19 lock down and suddenly the opportunity to get rained on in Scottish woods feels like something I'd fight werewolves for. So anyway, there we were up in Scotland from February 13th to 15th on the inaugural Richard Payne Meet, renamed to commemorate club member Richard Payne who was tragically killed by an avalanche in the himalayas in the spring of 2019. I think we all felt a little odd on this meet, because at the same time as we were having fun in the hills, we were remembering Richard, who loved the winter meets. Anyway, this is how it went:
As is pretty standard with Scottish winter meets, it coincided with a juicy storm which limited our plans a bit.
However a couple of club members managed to sneak in an extra day at the start…..over to Rob….
"Mike and I headed up early, we had all sorts of options but in the end only got away a day early.
We booked into the same hut (as any club member can do) and arrived about 10 but were not alone. The morning brought
some discussion about where to go but it turns out we
both parked in the snowbowl car park on the ski road and headed into Lurchers CRAG, the path should be easy but fresh
power made it hard work, we avoid the Charlamain Gap and were treated to a close up view of rescue helicopter practising.
It took forever to get to the bottom of the crag as we foolishly didn't drop low enough and had to traverse a huge boulder field.
We eventually found a few lines that looked ok but time was getting on, the lads from the hut were gearing up at the
better-looking line. We debated waiting but took the parallel line following variable ice till rope stretch called a halt.
Mike led through in blazing sunshine and blue skies, we were overheating! We topped out and past the other team soloing out of
the gully and headed back, into the could and some compass work took us back (down a would-be skiable but potential avalanche slope)
to the van, hut and company.
Turns out the best day of the trip by miles and a nice route about II/III (LEFT BRANCH) in places but a long walk in,
and don't forget your helmet, going back to the car just delays things! "
Back to the main meet…..On Friday the main problem was high winds so Rob, Mike, Peter and Aoife decided to go walking from the ski centre, however the road was closed so they walked through the forest past Glenmore Lodge, had lunch in Ryvoan Bothy then over Meall a Buchaille. Dave Liz Carmen and Simon drove round to Lecht to find some shelter from the winds and walked up a corbett…Carn Ealasaid. Simon claims they even found a bit of sunshine in between light rain and steady wind. As for me, I decided to wander round the Rothiemurchus Forest to Loch Eillean getting lost/practising my nav and was completely oblivious of the wind down in the trees, whilst others went biking/walking
Friday night brought the usual completely excessive group meal, then on Saturday morning we got up to find the weather had really turned foul, with persistent driving rain and wind. Liz Simon and Carmen headed up another hill, apparently this one was a Graham (no, me neither) called Carn Glas-Choir, sheltering in an estate hut when the wind got too unfriendly. Mike, Sarah and Rob walked through the Rothiemurchus Forest to Loch an Eilean and back, then shopped in aviemore for shiny things. Meanwhile me, Pete E, Ann , Dave Jayne and Ana headed out the other direction into the soggy forest and even had a very wet picnic in the woods until we eventually decided enough was enough and retired to the Insh Watersports bar where we also lured Karl and things eventually ended in singing.
On Sunday those sufficiently dedicated went out for a morning run along the River Feshie and reported fresh snow and sunshine. (Callum, Sarah, Pete W and Aiofe). David Carmen and Simon headed back via Drumochter planning to climb a couple of Corbetts but changed plans a bit due to heavy snow, they eventually managed to thrash a path up to the Sow of Atholl and at 803m were only just able to stand upright on the summit plateau.
So although the weather was pretty challenging, we made the most of it, had some enjoyable if weatherbeaten days and the usual huge sociable meals and banter in the evening. Just as well if you consider what was waiting just a month or two away…..here's hoping it won't be too long before we can get out again. Here's a few photos from the meet….
A few
