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| 15th February 2008 - Manse Barn, Onich It's hard to believe that two weeks ago the roads were blocked with snow. This weekend all that remained was a few easy gullies high up on the mountains. Perhaps there is something to this global warming business after all. Plenty of folk made their way up to Onich, to sample the compact delights of the Manse Barn. The trees just outside the hut have been cut down by the new owners of the hotel. It looks like they're going to extend the car park or something, the hut will have even more "character" if it's completely surrounded by tarmac ! Thankfully there is some mountaineering to report from this meet. Gav and Ally headed up to Arch Gully on Stob Coire nam Beith. The guidebook mentions that this "often banks out". Unfortunately, this was not the case on this occasion. Indeed, Gav fell off while dry-tooling up the chockstone. So the guidebook is probably correct to say "not recommended in summer" ! Colin and Andy also went up towards Bidian, soloing NC Gully on Sob Coire nam Lochain on the way. They turned it into a longer trip by going to the top of Bidian, to Stob Coire nam Beith, back to Stob Coire Screamach and finally down the Lost Valley. They also saw a Brocken Spectre - always a treat. Graham ("Spacey") was making a return trip from his new life in China, and teamed up with Rab to do North East Buttress on Ben Nevis. It was in pretty alpine nick, enough ice all the way up. They came across a party having a bit of a time at the Mantrap, involving a stuck ice-axe. Undeterred, they carried on, making the summit at sunset. Good stuff. Lucy and Dave had worked out early in the week that there wasn't going to be enough snow for ski touring. So, Dave hatched a plan to do a huge mountain bike circuit from Fort William around Ben Nevis, to Mamore Lodge, past Sgurr Eilde Mor, Spean Bridge(ish), the Witches' Trail and back to Fort William. Some 42 miles in all, mostly on land rover tracks. They were accompanied by Mark, Daniel & Ken. The first bit along Glen Nevis was smooth, flat and fine. The next bit along the road to meet the West Highland Way was very steep. The next bit along the West Highland Way was very rocky. The bit by Mamore Lodge was fun. They stopped for lunch, and considered that they weren't really going fast enough to complete the route. However, the next section looked to be a good, flat, Landrover track along a couple of reservoirs. It wasn't. It went up & down endlessly. And the endless rocks meant they just couldn't keep up any speed. By the time they got to Luibelt Bothy (which is a beautifully remote spot) it was all too clear that they'd have to cut the trip short. By some unimaginable means they decided to go back down Glen Nevis. Managing to cycle only the first 200 yards, there followed a 6 mile pushathon. The only respite was when it was too steep to push and they had to carry their bikes. Dave at least had the decency to go off ahead, and get his camper van, so the stragglers could get a lift most of the way down the Glen Nevis road. For the record, this is not a recommended mountain bike route, and will be called "The Murdoch Route" from now on. Ronnie turned up on Saturday evening, having had a paddle in his canoe on Loch Leven on the way up. Lorna and Tara also arrived, to make the but even more cosy. On Sunday, Gav & Ally wanted a shorter walk in, and went for Scotland's premier "hot rock" venue - Polldubh. Ken was determined to have some fun on his bike, and cycled in to Ben Lui. He joined the hoards on Central Gully, and had a fantastic free-wheel all the way back to the road. That's more like it ! Ronnie went for another paddle on one of the Rannoch Moor lochs. Is he "loch bagging" ??? Others dithered for varying amounts of time, before heading home. A fine weekend with plenty getting done.
Early pitches above the first platform, North East Buttress, Ben Nevis
The "Spacemongrel" on North East Buttress
Dave's not quite got the hang of these clippy pedals
A short delay for some navigation
Glen Nevis gorge. Not ideal XC terrain.
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