Meet report from one of our great new members Kitty.

A sunny evening in August meant plenty of CMC members came out to bake on the grit, warming the blood like geckos, but, not quite sticking to the rock so well. The 29 Celsius heat presented a challenge when it came to grip on grit! while most stuck to Low Man, others venture up to High Man.

Some HVDs were prime in the evening glow. Fluted Columns and Stew Pot provided straightforward but somewhat bold climbing, with plenty of gear if you had cams galore. Fluted Columns, a 3 star, has the geological feature as it’s very pleasing finish. Other climbs were tackled including Fluted Crack. On High Man, we tried a few HSs – Birds Nest Crack was the highlight with a couple of teams taking a crack at it. It’s a jammers utopia, a cracking good climb, one to really sink your whole arm into. With the sun cream and sweat providing the worst grip possible, this HS was starting feel a little more very than hard.

A great evening finished in the Hunters Inn, where we all went over our grit battle scars. Grit is marmite, but that’s what makes climbing fun. Love it or hate it, Almscliff is a cracking location.

Please note that bookings are now open for this meet. A fantastic venue for climbing, but also with good walking locally More details are available if you click on the dates on the calendar of events. Please make sure you book before the end of August, so that we can be sure of numbers before we have to pay the BMC.

I have just entered this on the meets calendar but thought I would highlight it by posting it as a comment that can be easily see. ” Pre-Christmas Hut Meet at Patterdale 24/11/2023 – 26/11/2023 The Agnes Spencer Memorial Hut (Cleveland M.C.) is a lovely warm hut in a prime location. Just right for an early winter weekend with everything from a gentle lakeside walk with pub visit to an epic day on the steep side of Helvelyn possible. Perhaps logically a hard day on Sat and an easier day on Sun. I am intending to coordinate a combined effort on a Pre-Christmas meal. I expect the charge to be £30 for two nights accommodation. Bookings will open on 5th September by email to me. (winslow@blueyonder.co.uk). Ring me (Dick) if you want to ask anything or make suggestions.”

Dear All

Some of you know that I was aiming to finish most of my Munros and Tops in Kintail on the way back from the CMC trip to Skye. Some already know that this worked well and left only one top for me to complete. It has taken me some time to arrange a date when family members can all make it to Scotland for an attempt on my last top. We have now got a date, Sat 23 July, planned accommodation, travel arrangements and an evening meal arranged. 

At different times I have indicated that I would let people in CMC know when I have a date for completion. I realise that it is short notice but if any of you are available, particularly if already visiting the area, I will be delighted if you can join us for some or all of the trip. You are welcome to tell anybody interested about it.

My last top is the 923m Subsidiary top at NN 58935 38520 which is 600 SE of Meall nan Tarmachan. As it is possible to drive up the minor road to the NTS car park at over 400m, this must be one of the easiest tops in the list. A quick up and down from the car park would take little over 3 hours. However, I am hoping that we can extend this either by extending the out and back trip to Meall nan Tarmachan or even a circuit including Meal Garbh and Meall nan Tarmachan. What we do on the day depending on weather, fitness of personnel and inclination. We may even split up for part of the day.

Our arrangements so far include

1) Three of us arriving in the area on Thursday after a few days at Glen Feshie. (Space available at Glen Feshie – Mill cottage hut)

2) Yurt, wigwam and camping for 8 (family members) booked Friday to Monday at the Strathfillan Wigwams. Camping but not wigwams still available for others to book.

3) Table for 8 to 12 (probably expandable) at the Boathouse Restaurant on the side of Loch Tay.

I attach a couple of PDFs which make it easier to understand the relative locations referred to above.

So, to repeat, if you can join us for any or all of the trip I will be delighted. 

Best wishes

Dick

P.S. From this summer I am available to visit Munros, Tops, Corbetts, Grahams etc of your choice. I am not starting any new lists of my own anytime soon as they take 50 years to complete!