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27th April 2007 - Invercroft, Achnasheen Attendees: Neil Reid, Robert McMurray, Colin McGregor, Anne Bain, Monica Dean, Dan Meadows, Andy Carver For some (the president) this meet was a revelation – you CAN get to Invercroft without getting your feet wet! Friday was spent lighting the fire and making plans for the morrow, which seemed to centre on a massed ascent of the Cioch Nose in Applecross, with only Dan and Anne abstaining. In the morning, then, which dawned clear, fair and promising warm, Dan and Anne went off to do Beinn Liath Mhor, while the rest of us finalised plans for the Cioch. It was, after all, a biggish route, and there were, after all, five of us, so first thing to be decided was that an early start was necessary … after breakfast, of course, and some dithering, naturally, and a bit of discussion etc. In short, the usual BFMC alpine start prevailed, and we were at the foot of the route in time to stop everything for a spot of luncheon before doing anything so energetic as climbing. Monica made use of the pause to try several different combinations of short/long trousers, while Neil did his usual reappraisal of what exactly he was doing here anyway. Eventually, somewhere about 2 p.m., Colin set off upwards, leading Neil and Andy, followed on a separate rope by Rab and Monica, the whole train for the first two pitches being held up by some elderly gentlemen. Speed climbing? What’s that? For those who have not tasted the delights of the ‘Diff to end all diffs’ (even though it’s now graded severe), suffice to say that it may well be worth doing – and if you can do it without using a knee at the start of the chimney pitch, then by his own admission you’re a better climber than one of us who shall remain nameless. Anyway, Colin said later that he only inadvertently brushed the rock with the knee, but that sounded like revisionism to the rest of us. Much jollity was felt when we reached the top of the climb, only to be dashed as we realized the top of the climb was a long way from the top of the mountain, which had to be traversed to get back to the cars. Neil ensured that a decent pace was maintained though, and held back until he could see the first star in the night sky before condescending to finish the route. We dined later than normal on Saturday – unlike Dan and Anne who apparently finished their hill at a decent hour and enjoyed a timeous tea before spending a lonely evening wondering if their snoring had driven the rest of us away! Celebrations were muted because of general lassitude, and most, if not all, of us woke on Sunday without a hangover. Much discussion and prevarication ensued before a general consensus that we should repair to one of the crags near Contin. Unfortunately there was no decision about which specific crag and there was much driving about before we finally located each other and repaired to the foot of the upper Scatwell Slabs (or some such name), where we all had to lie down in the sunshine for a time. Some sporadic activity took place from time to time, with most top roping a VS rib led by Robert, and some (everybody but Dan and Neil) trying a short E2 (or something) with varying degrees of success. Then it was time to lie down again before reluctantly heading home after a weekend of superb weather and good climbing. How jolly. NR
Wearing the BFMC uniform - now obligatory on all club meets
Rab and Monica at the top of the first pitch of Cioch Nose, Applecross
Doing the awkward 'Egyptian' move on the chimney pitch (2nd) Cioch Nose, Applecross
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