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| 2nd February 2007 - Manse Barn, Onich Manse Barn turned out not to be very warm or cosy at all this year. Due to the inadequate heaters, there was a lot of standing up going on, with the excuse that "it's warmer up here". It was almost the opposite of Black Rock rules ("if you stand up, you lose your chair"). However, this cold weather after the mid-week thaw, meant that the "easy" gullies should be in good nick, with hard neve. Lorna wasn't to be tempted by this though, and continued her Munro mission. Having driven from Fife to Onich on Friday night, she drove half way back, past Crianlarich, to climb Meal Glas. Tara was allowed out of the car this time, and so the car's electrics stayed intact ! Robert and Mike headed off to Glen Nevis and climbed up Sgurr a'Mhaim, over the Devil's Ridge, round to Stob Bhan and back down to the car. They hardly stepped on any snow all day long. The others (Ronnie, Andy, Monica, Colin, Ken, Neil & Gordon) headed up Glen Coe towards Stob Coire Nam Beith, possibly thinking of Summit Gully. When they got there, this looked like it wasn't complete, so they continued up and up, to eventually make a mass ascent of the right branch of Central Gully, Bidian nam Bian. A very pleasant climb, 4 pitches of calf-burning neve, with great views over the mountains, all the way to Ben Nevis. This was Gordon's first meet and indeed first route (summer or winter). He was lucky(?) enough to be climbing with the Club President (Neil), not the fastest at the best of times. Inevitably, they finished the top pitch in the dark. Gordon seemed to take it all in his stride though, big grins all the way down the hill, by headtorch. A pint in the Clachaig, and back to the hut. Sunday's weather was wet, much less enticing. So it was off to the Ice Factor for some steep ice, to prepare for the up coming trip to Hemsedal in Norway. Finally a rainy drive home & back to work on Monday. Sigh.
Andy's radioactive crampons, on Central Gully, Bidian nam Bian
Ronnie did not require a tight top rope !
Dusk over Ben Nevis, from Central Gully
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