Year of publication 1960 - Fell and Rock Climbing Club
Year of publication 1960 - Fell and Rock Climbing Club
Year of publication 1960 - Fell and Rock Climbing Club
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
SCOTTISH MEETSSLIGACHAN, May, 1959.What with <strong>Fell</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Rock</strong>ers about to depart after a gloriousholiday in Glen Brittle <strong>and</strong> others arriving late <strong>and</strong> leaving early, Idoubt if we ever did agree on the number attending the meet atSligachan. The general consensus <strong>of</strong> opinion, however, was thatthere were 31 members <strong>and</strong> guests, many <strong>of</strong> whom had notpreviously attended a Scottish meet.Two things stood out above all. First the weather, hot sun <strong>and</strong> acloudless sky gradually deteriorating towards the end but never areally wet day <strong>and</strong>, secondly, the traverse <strong>of</strong> the Main Ridge.The arrival <strong>of</strong> the Murrays <strong>and</strong> Charles Pickles by Jag. (I almostsaid Comet) on the Saturday evening was the signal for a series<strong>of</strong> conferences between them <strong>and</strong> Dick Cook. Plans were beingmade <strong>and</strong> caches <strong>of</strong> food <strong>and</strong> drink hidden on the Ridge untilon the Wednesday, Dick Cook, Donald <strong>and</strong> Nancy Murray <strong>and</strong>Charles Pickles traversed the Ridge in the day. Leaving the SligachanHotel at 0200, the party set <strong>of</strong>f from Glen Brittle House at0245 <strong>and</strong> reached Gars-Bheinn at 0600. Their times on the Ridgeclosely followed those <strong>of</strong> L. G. Shadbolt <strong>and</strong> A. C. M'Laren wh<strong>of</strong>irst did the traverse in one day on 10th June, 1911. The top <strong>of</strong>Sgurr nan Gillean was reached at 1815 when two <strong>of</strong> the partydescended to Sligachan arriving at 2040. The other two includedSgurr na h'Uamha <strong>and</strong> reached home at 2100.Small boats <strong>and</strong> the sea appear to exert a strange fascination uponmembers <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Fell</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Rock</strong>. Whenever they meet in the west <strong>of</strong>Scotl<strong>and</strong> curious expeditions requiring lengthy trips by car followedby sea voyages to little known lochs or isl<strong>and</strong>s become the order <strong>of</strong>the day. This meet was no exception; three such journeys wereplanned <strong>and</strong> two <strong>of</strong> them successfully carried out. The first was atrip to Raasay <strong>and</strong> the ascent <strong>of</strong> Dun Caan (1,456 feet). In view <strong>of</strong>the difficulties encountered when the <strong>Fell</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Rock</strong> previouslyattempted the conquest <strong>of</strong> this mountain, arrangements were madeto l<strong>and</strong> 3 miles north <strong>of</strong> the usual l<strong>and</strong>ing place. Graham Wilsonhad the honour <strong>of</strong> being the first member <strong>of</strong> the club to reach thesummit. There was some delay, due to adverse tidal conditions, instarting the return journey over the sea to Skye. By the time theboat was launched a fresh <strong>of</strong>f-shore breeze had sprung up <strong>and</strong> thevoyage had its exciting moments.The day after the Ridge traverse most people set <strong>of</strong>f in a fleet <strong>of</strong>cars to Elgol <strong>and</strong> then took boat to Loch Scavaig. Thereafter, theparty split up, some walked back to Elgol via Camasunary, othersback to Sligachan. Certain non-seafaring members even walkedfrom Elgol to Coruisk <strong>and</strong> back.The boating trip that never was would have been the best <strong>of</strong>the lot. The idea was to make an early start, drive to Glen Brittle,boat to Loch Scavaig <strong>and</strong> then divide the party into three: the
Change language