21-23/03/14 Weekend Meet: Alex MacIntyre Hut, Onich

It was an eventful start to the weekend for all the club members who were held up in the heavy snow on the Black Mount and into Glencoe on Friday evening. Fortunately everyone eventually made it to the Alex MacIntyre Memorial Cottage.

Saturday morning did not look too promising with a poor forecast, low cloud, drizzle and lots of new soft snow. A few club members set off on a coastal walk to Peanmeanach Bothy and found the forescast to be fairly accurate. At least lunch in the bothy was dry.

On route to Peanmeanach Bothy.

DY & LY happy that the weather is dry!!

Peanmeanach Bothy IMcM, NMcB & GG chewin the fat.

MM, Jamie, and AS headed for Am Bodach (Mamores). After a wet ascent the clouds broke as we walked through the snow to Sgurr an lubhair and descended via Stob Coire na h-Eirghe.

The weather on Sunday was perfect. Blue sky, light wind, and sunshine.

MM and DY had a failed attempt on Sgorr Dhearg via the ridge on the west side of the Alt Guibhsachain (sometimes known as The Dragon's Tooth). The deep snow slowed progress more than expected even with the benefit of another group's footprints.They had to give up on their chosen route onto the ridge because they found themselves swimming through deep snow. Reverting to a gully which we previously was thought to be a bit risky due to the snow conditions they followed again in the footsteps of the party in front and met up with them on the ridge and discussed whether a rope was required for the next section of the ridge which involved a steep descent.They were roped up but our intrepid heroes were not. They did not have time to find out who was right as time was running out for the agreed meeting time with LY, who had walked along the coast to Kentallan, so headed back. Good day despite not getting to the summit and having to walk back up through the forest to pick up my ice axe which MMm had left behind. Unfortunately NMcB and Jamie also had to abandon their attempt to go up Sgorr Bhan from Ballachulish after NMcB’s knee decided that it was not up for it.

MM with The Dragon's Tooth in the background on their Sgorr Dhearg expedition

And now for the cameraman...DY.

Meanwhile IMcM and BR had a good day on Stob Ghabhar

BR & IMcM On the route to Stob Ghabhar.

IMcM considers the possibility that BR has disappeared….?

…only to find there are three of him on Stob Gabhar!!!

Views of the Grey Corries from Leana Mhor, west of Glen Roy – GG.