Rannoch Mountaineering Club 

www.climbrannoch.co.uk

By Rhona, June 2004

A half-full Macaramobile this year. Maybe tickets were too expensive or maybe others had their reputations to think of after last year's debacle.  On the positive side we managed an early start as no enormous detours to pick people up on the Super Deluxe Pick Up Service.  First stop Fort William for gas - several stops later this was accomplished, then lunch, a visit to the rock gear sales, high tea and finally off to the crags.

The day was gloomy and dreich. The hills were shrouded in mist but undeterred we headed north sure of a warm sunny welcome at the Cioch Nose.  No chance, by the time we reached the end of the road it was drizzling, the midges were out, the cloud was down and it was 5pm. Once again we ignored the signs and headed off to the crag. At least it was roadside.  An hour and a half of floundering through peat bogs we got to the foot of the crag and a mere 20 minutes later had identified the route.  Last chance to make a sensible decision, but as conditions were improving we set off. V diff - 5 pitches. An hour? Easy stuff. Couldn't work out why Bish was lacing it thoroughly. On belay - off belay, my turn to show how to do it.  Two moves later - serious forearm pump. V diff? Are you sure. Was expecting easy angled crags, great juggies, stairs for my feet. Not upside-down, contorted shimmies on wafer thin holds. Changed days. 

At least the weather had changed  - it was now actually raining. Pitch two - more lacing, more teetering on friction (not so good in the wet) and a knee - ? Its all gone wrong - but at least that was Bish. I'd do it in style. Unfortunately had to go where the gear was so had to go for the upside down, hanging off one knee option with serious leg jam. Foot of pitch 3, the rain had stopped, the sun was out on distant hills we were in for a good sunset - soon. The rock was good and we made it up ok. The last 'easy ' pitch was a nightmare of muddy ledges, loose grass, slimy rocks and slugs. Not a good end for a lady.  We were then faced with the option of the severe 'scramble' to the top of the hill. Or a slither down a chossy gully. Time, midges, weather and the promise of two bottles of beer in the boot of the car  - we opted for the later. Either option was bad but abseiling down a slimy gully in the rain is not my favourite Friday night's entertainment. But drinking beer lying on a lonely highland road is pretty much there.

That was Friday over, or so we thought. Nearest chip shop for chips then nip over to the camp site. Forget it. 10pm. North of Scotland. Even the sheep were asleep.  Would need to do breakfast early when we got the tent up in Ullapool.  Luckily we were saved by Webbie who, after much sweet talking and promises of all sorts of benefits, had arranged a plate of sandwiches in the Harbour Lights (now that's hospitality!). Who knows what went down in that deal. Just getting tucked into the beer and sandwiches when the police arrived. 'just checking things out'. Think they were onto us. But we confessed all. Even the Aultgoolish affair - which is now part of Ullapool folklore and they went away quite happily with our autographs. Time had passed while we talked our way out of that one -a late night as good training for the early-start-mega-hill day ahead?

Day dawned, misty and damp - a good day for stunning views and a walk in the hills.  Much discussion about the best approach to Seanna Braigh and consensus was that it was by the north, however, the rendezvous at the car park to the west had been arranged so no getting out of that one.  The A-team plus one set of for the 'remotest' munro by the longest route. Luckily we were well prepared as we soon discovered when comparing gear notes. Lots of fleeces, thermal t-shirts and 'right' labels, a dearth of shorts and midge cream, but happily three maps, three compasses and two GPS. 

We were soon lost in a confusion of forest paths, JD whipped out his map to sort it all out but got even more confused (not so hard) until he realised he had the sheet for Ballater. Nae luck. Between us we had another 2 maps, but mine had been used by Bish so was seriously rubbed out on the bits that mattered.  Fiona had a new map in its map case so all was not lost.  And neither were we.  We were on the way at last, even passing others who had got it wrong. Imagine! The walk was good - went steadily uphill but was fairly easy, the weather was holding, there was hope for a good day.  An early food stop revealed further team deficiencies - only one water bottle.

That's how epidemics can start.  Should be there soon but strangely no sign of the hill. On reaching the high plateau where 'navigation can be tricky in poor weather' the mist descended and the path ended.  Not to be out-done Fiona whipped out her compass to determine direction and pointed us back in the direction we had come also telling us that what we thought was north was most definitely south.  Team compasses were out and proved the error of storing a compass with a mobile phone.  The packs were getting lighter by the minute as we had now chucked away superfluous junk.  Fiona should have off-loaded the borrowed GPS as she said she didn't know how to use it.  The short-comings of the GPS also came to light at this moment - they're great for telling you exactly where you are but not so good for where you should be going.  Actually they can, but it involves programming in a series of numbers well in advance thus removing the spontaneity of the day and spoiling the night before.  So we were reliant on map & compass - the wonders of technology. 

At the edge of the plateau the mist lifted temporarily revealing a sea of undulations bounded by crags, bogs and lochans. On the horizon was the start of Seanna Braigh soaring up into the mist.  Well at least we could see it and we were still on schedule to make it for the dinner.  The rest of the journey to the summit was serious torture, up, down, across , down, up, down, down round then up, up, up to the first summit and from there looming above us in the mist was the summit ridge.  It seemed a long way, I hoped for the crisp packet phenomenon but no, it was a long way.

Slumped on the top all we could think of was that we had to do it all again in the opposite direction.  Thankfully the beer in the boot was the beacon, inducing a serious sprint finish to the car, where JD was easily bundled and the girlies sped home. Last challenge of the day - how to reverse out of a narrow lane bounded by shiny new cars and a mean looking ditch. For spatially challenged women - nae worries. Sorry Colin (S) - we wouldn't have sped off if we'd seen you in the ditch ….really….! Anyway you could have driven straight out the other end, we girlies just like a wee challenge at the end of an easy day. 

Final stop that night - the Rannoch dinner and the rest is history. Or it will be as soon as someone who can remember it rights it up in graphic detail. Shaz?...

CLICK HERE FOR SHAZ'S PART TWO - 'SISTER SISTER' ARTICLE.