We had the amazing Naismith hut fully booked for the Easter meet this year.
Lee, Greg, Andy and Ailsa arrived Thursday evening with others arriving Friday evening after travelling up and some picking off a few Munros on the way.
This was no relaxed cragging in the warm sunshine meet. Winter was still well in control in the Highlands with the snow line down to around 600m, cold temperatures and a strong wind.
Lee and Greg did the traverse of An-Teallach (II) sticking to the ridge as close as possible to leverage maximum adventure. Mark and Svetlana bagged Cona’ Mheall and Beinn Dearg on the way to the hut. Andy and Ailsa chose to enjoy the famous Loch Inver pie shop.
Saturday was fine a sunny (mostly) with a cold wind, but luckily a good bit weaker than on Friday. Andy, Francesca, Greg and Marie-Lou took advantage of the clear views to walk up Conival and Ben More Assynt (and Conival again! – you have to walk back over it to get back to your car after climbing Ben More Assynt).
Paul walked up Cul Mor. Lee, Svetlana and Mark went cragging at Laxford Bay Slabs arriving just after the last shower of the day.
Mairi and Ailsa opted for a lower level walk as Ailsa was struggling with a sore ankle.
Sunday dawned OK after storm Dave swept the country, although it seems the NW just got a glancing blow. The snow level was much lower and despite the forecasted showers all appeared well.
Lee, Greg and Marie-Lou headed to Stac Pollaidh to ‘scramble’ the ridge, although this was quickly changed to ‘winter climbing’ the ridge at grade II! Strong winds, cold temperatures, tricky conditions (loose snow on rounded sandstone!) and some (perhaps surprising…) sense, lead to an early abseil off. Still fun was had with Marie-Lou vowing to be back!
Mairi and Francesca joined Lee, Greg and Marie-Lou for the walk into Stac Pollaidh before braking off to circumnavigate the hill. Again strong winds and cold temperatures stopped them climbing to the ‘walkers summit’ which was their initial goal.
Paul, Svetlana and Mark headed further afield to the two most Northerly Corbetts: Cranstackie & Beinn Sponnaidh. Despite a cold wind the weather looked promising, and the summits did clear on occasion, Unfortunately this changed rather dramatically when a very heavy hailstorm on 40-50mph winds struck at the col separating the two Corbetts. There was even a bolt of lighting and rumble of thunder (a bit too close for comfort!).
Svetlana and Paul demonstrated their sense and headed down while Mark demonstrated a notable lack of this by continuing up Cranstackie.
This proved to be a rather foolish decision (but not quite as foolish as his next decision) as, while the hail storm and thunder had passed the winds, and poor visibility remained. Infact, the col was remarkably sheltered from the wind (remember that point). A battle through soft snow over large boulder scree at a 30 degree angle (not the slope angle the walking into the wind angle) did eventually lead to the summit and a decision that an attempt on Beinn Sponnaidh would be quite stupid…
Of course the wind dropped (remember the earlier comment…) and the cloud lifted (more likely the col was lower than the cloud) so stupidity prevailed (again) and up Mark went toward the second Corbett.
Que second unbelievably huge hail storm, zero visibility and even stronger winds 500m from the summit. The though of more lighting and a struggle to actually stand up resulted in a period of lying down before some sense did prevail and a retreat was beaten.
Andy and Ailsa headed down the road, sensibly.
Monday was a great day, unfortunately Mairi and Francesca had already committed to heading home and Mark was feeling unwell (can a total beasting on the hill make you feel sick?). Luckily Svetlana came to his rescue driving him (and his car) back South.
Great meet, great location and great company. If a somewhat lack of sense.