Burns Supper (and I don't mean Kevin Burns)

With this meet falling close to our national bard's anniversary, and being in a pretty good hut, some bright spark had the idea of bringing along some haggis & whisky and having a proper Burns Supper. We booked out the rest of the hut, to make sure we didn't disturb any other visitors. We got some premium Fife tatties from Dave Mitchell, and some neeps etc from Tescos. And we were ready to party.

But before all the enjoyment, there was some mountaineering to be done. 

There was a lot less snow in the west than the over the Cairngorms, which limited the ski touring opportunities a bit. Still plenty of ice for climbing though. The skiers (Calum, Fiona, Dave, Lucy, Mike & Susan) & snowboarder (Brendan) in the party headed off to the pistes at Glen Coe. Cloud mostly off the hill & soft snow at the top made for a good days' skiing. Terry was somewhat distraught to venture north of the Firth of Forth without ticking a new Munro. He consoled himself with a walk along to the first Munro on the Aonach Eagach, not a new hill for him, but surely a good one to repeat. 

Ken, Chris & Matt made an ascent of the Buachaille, close enough to Curved Ridge to be allowable. After some "discussion" at the start of the ridge, they went up a nice icy runnel, probably the first pitch of Easy Gully. Joining Curved Ridge proper at the lunch spot, they went up the chimney to the right of the crest of the ridge to the top. Perfect neve up under Crowberry Tower to the top, who could ask for more.

Gav made a rare winter outing, heading up Crest Route in Stob Coire nan Lochain with Ally. Showing little respect for the traditions of the club, they were back at their car before dark. They clearly have much to learn, but did say it was a great route. Colin continued his quest for ice this year, this time with Andy on Red Gully, Sgorr na h'Ulaidh. The quest was successful, the route had 200m of ice. Making sure the new points on his crampons stayed nice and sharp.

Others were on baby sitting / tattie peeling duties.

Back at the hut, the biggest haggis I've ever seen was cooked, and rest of the food prepared. Calum gave a stirring address to the haggis before it was all served up. Absolutely delicious, many complements to the various chefs. And there was plenty for seconds as well. After the food, it was time for the speeches. Terry gave the toast to the lassies. As tradition dictates, he complemented the lady members of the club on their fine spirit, enchanting appearance and all round delightfulness. The toast to the laddies was given by Lucy. To say the men of the club were shocked at the ensuing diatribe would be an understatement. As if possessed, she laid bare the poor menfolk's every failing. Speaking for wronged women everywhere, she gave no quarter in setting right year's of pent up injustice. I feel sure Burns has a poem which appropriately expresses such fury, your humble scribe cannot. Only joking, Lucy's speech was hilarious as well. As usual the evening then deteriorated. Dave Simpson gave renditions of various poems, I think some may have been Burns. There was a communal reading of Tam o'Shanter. Bloody hell, that's a long poem ! Most folk could barely read / pronounce the words, but Michael O'Connor spent the evening correcting them from memory. Eventually folks started drifting off to bed. In the haze, we forgot to sing Auld Lang Syne.

Sunday dawned. Activities largely centred on the Devil's Staircase, with some folk walking up it and some folk running up it and over to Kinlochleven. Gav & Susan went up Coire na Tullaich on the Buachaille. Ally tried to show that he's learning from his elders, by heading for Twisting Gully with Rab at 11pm. Good effort, but not good enough, they still got back to the car before dark ! Colin went up Curved Ridge. Others slunk off home.

All in all, it was a brilliant weekend. Many thanks to all who contributed. Same time next year anyone ?

Click here for the pictures