Good news fellow hikers! We’ve managed to arrange another 20% off night at Ultimate Outdoors, next Wednesday 16th May from 6:30-8:30pm. They’ll be staying open especially for us and the Mountaineers and all you need to do is come along with your little yellow membership card.
It’s a great chance to grab yourself a bargain, from boots to hats and from gloves to rucksacks – they’ve got it all!
Mark doing what he does best at one of many BBQs last summer
I hope everyone’s revision is going well! I’m taking a quick break from Advanced Relativity and Gravity to tell you about an exciting event we’ve got going on tomorrow.
Why not take a well-earned break from all that revision and head down to the duck ponds from 6:30pm tomorrow (Thursday 3rd May) for our first BBQ of the season! We’ll be meeting up with the Mountaineers, so it’s a great chance to get to know other outdoorsy people.
Due to the current economic climate, a “bring your own meat” policy will be in place, however bread will be provided for free. Hope to see you all there!
Thanks to everyone that came last night to suggest where we go next term! This is just a quick post to tell you the results can now be found on our calendar, or you can download a printable copy from here.
There’s lots going on, but here are a few of the main things that were decided:
Have a great Easter, and hopefully see you all next term.
P.S. Don’t forget to get your t-shirt competition entries in!
Trip report from the weekend trip to Roybridge from 9-11 March 2012. Photos and report by Sam Harrison. For a full album of photos from the trip, click here.
Third time lucky! We’ve been attempting to get to Roybridge for the past two weekend trips of the term: The first time (on our Avalanche Course), snow conditions meant it was more worthwhile heading to the Cairngorms; the second time, the weather looked so bad that we decided that the extra drive wasn’t worthwhile and we ended up in Tyndrum instead. Fortunately, this time, we actually got there!
The campsite of choice, as it has been for the past few years (mainly because it’s the only one open in the area at this time of year), was the Inverroy Caravan Park, situated just a mile’s walk from Roybridge itself. We arrived on the Friday night at just gone midnight and hastily pitched our tents before heading to bed.
We awoke the next morning to widespread drizzle and general gloominess. Even so, we were all up and ready for 8:30am and on the road by 9am. Andy decided ‘av the two Corberts – Cruach Innse and Sgurr Innse – nestled in the Grey Corries horseshoe, whilst the rest of us headed for the Nevis Range ski centre with the aim of bagging the two Aonachs.
Tom demonstrating his limbo-ing ability
None of us were too enthusiastic and a damn over Allt Choille-rais provided a welcome break to mess about for a bit. During this break we discovered what amazing limbo-ing skills Tom has!
Next up was a rather tiring hack up the north-east ridge of Tom na Sroine, which seemed to go on forever in the persistant driving drizzle. Near the top of the ridge (and with still about 200m to go to the summit of Tom na Sroine), most of us had decided it wasn’t worth it and we were ready to go down. However, upon reaching the ridge and after a discussion that was starting to become reminiscent of Winter Trip time-wise, we decided to at least bag the Tom, at a modest 918 metres (or 919 metres, depending on which map you use…).
Remarkably, the weather “picked up” as we progressed up the ridge and by the time we got to the summit, the driving drizzle with lots of wind has subsided to just drizzle with a little bit of wind. In light of this, we decided to head on to the next top – Stob a’ Chul-Choire. The ridge got a bit more exposed and our spirits lifted as we started enjoying ourselves stepping over rocky steps and making sure we didn’t get blown off in the wind. The summit of Anoach Mor was just around the corner and after a fantastic snow slope up its narrow eastern ridge, we arrived at the summit – to much jubilation! We even got to use crampons and ice axes, which I don’t think any of us were expecting.
Stob Ban eastern ridge
After bagging the summit, it was simply a case of a compass bearing or two down to the ski runs, followed by a bum slide down the still snowed-up areas and then a run down the downhill mountain bike course to the Nevis Range car park, where Alex was waiting with the minibus. Despite the initially gloomy start, we all had a great day out!
That evening, Calum proved he can’t be trusted with meths by setting fire to a table, we went to the Stronlossit to have a few pints with Andy, and then sat around in “the room” drinking some rather delectable elderflower and manglewurzel concotions (courtesy of Jim). Oh, and eating some brie (courtesy of Calum).
Alex, Tom, Jim and myself fancied a bit of climbing down Ben Nevis on the Sunday as the weather forecast was looking a bit dull. However, upon clambering out of the tent in the morning, we were greeted by sunshine and lovely views of the Aonachs (why didn’t I seize the opportunity to take a photo?!). To make the most of this, Jim suggested heading up Stob Ban, to the west of the Ring of Steall Munros. Unfortunately the good weather didn’t last long and we were once again shrouded in cloud and drizzle. Andy lead a wander down Glen Nevis to the newly-refurbished Steall Hut and Alex and Tom went climbing.
Our route was up Coire Musghain and then on to Stob Ban’s eastern ridge. The coire was very scenic and made the slog up much more bareable. Stob Ban’s eastern ridge was quite scrambly and good fun. The summit area is strewn with white quartz rocks (often mistaken for snow!) and the name Stob Ban actually translates as White Peak or Light Coloured Peak. Our route down was via the northern ridge, which was quite exposed grassy and rocky, and in the drizzle, extremely slippy! It seemed to take forever tip-toeing over the greasy rocks.
Only Jim, Calum and myself went on the walk and hence we were back down in a speedy 3.5 hours, at 2pm. We sat around waiting for Alex and Tom to return from their climb, before starting the long journey back to Lancaster.
So despite the weather, I think we all had a fantastic weekend!
Where shall we go!? Browsing a map on the ferry to Arran, summer 2011.
Next Monday 19 March at 7:30pm in Bowland North Seminar Room 11 is our termly Planning Meeting. This is where and when we decide what trips we’ll be going on next term, as well as what socials and other events we’ll be holding. The meeting is open to all members and anyone is free to suggest destinations and have their say. So, if you’ve got a favourite area you want to go, a walk that you’re desperate to go on, or a campsite that you really want to visit, then come along!
It’s also a great opportunity to discuss any ideas, questions or indeed complaints and problems that you may have regarding the club. It’s great to hear feedback from you guys, and if you do have anything to say but don’t say it, then there’s no chance that we’ll be able to act upon it (I’m afraid we’re not psychic!).
