6 strangers and the hangovers from hell...up a Corbett!!!

The following story is true in it's entirety...except for the slight embelishments that are part and parcel of every other contributers input to the telling of the tale...bar my own!!

Our story starts on a stormy Saturday November night...deep in the wet environs of Crianlarich...at the local hotel...fueled by a large quantity of alcohol and too much dancing with the locals. We had just completed a climb of Beinn Oss and Beinn Dhubchraig, myself, Mike, Andy and a new addition to our ranks, young Angus Macleod. We would meet up with another of Mike's friends at the hotel, a young gentleman by the name of Paddy Rodgers, who would join us as we attempted Ben Lui the following day. Unfortunately this trip suffered it's own misadventures (previously documented) but not before we had all gotten well enough acquainted to arrange to meet up early in 2012 for (what was billed as) an introductory walk to the year.

As the regular walker among us it befell upon me to select a suitable location and mountain to ascend...with the remit that we would advertise it on our FB site and may expect some non walkers to show an interest if it was easy enough. With that in mind I raked through a list of suitable venues for a walk, where plans could be altered to suit the weather and conditions on the day...also the condition of any of the potential participants. I liaised with the others and together we came up with Garbh Beinn next to Loch Leven.

The logic was that it was a Corbett of some distinction (it nestles in behind the Aonach Eagach Ridge and provides excellent views of it) but not too hard for potential newbies to the group. There was also the added bonus of location near Kinlochleven...where Paddy is mine host at the world famous Tailrace Inn...meaning mates rates on the rooms!! With arrangements made, and posted, we awaited the replies...pleasantly surprised when quite a few said they would be coming...then less surprised when quite a few pulled back out...as happens regularly for any Caberfeidh Munro Bagger trip. The most devestating blow of all came with the withdrawal of our inspirational team leader...the esteemed Mr Charlton (I hate how work gets in the way of hills for anyone!!).

From the ashes of such distressing times can rise unbreakable bonds forged amongst strangers...this was to prove just such an occasion.

The date in February was chosen as a number of us appeared to be celebrating birthday's on or near the time...three of the main participants within days of each other...two of us on the very day of the planned walk. To get in the mood for the walk, and to acquaint ourselves with each other, it was planned to meet at the Tailrace on the Friday night (have a social drink and meal) get to know each other and what the walking abilities/experiences of the group may be...then stay down afterwards on the Saturday night to bask in the glory of our (potential at this stage) achievement. The eventual number reached six walkers and one coming along on Saturday after the walk just to be sociable as she was suffering from an injury that prevented participation in the actual walk.

And so it was that the following band of hardened walker (me), occasional walkers (Angus Macleod and Paddy Rodgers), lucky if they walk to the shops and back (Frank Kerr and Paul Steel) and why walk when you can row?? (Niall Iain Macdonald) gathered at the Tailrace Inn on the evening of Friday 24th February...to be joined on the Saturday afternoon/evening by injured walker (Justine Cumming). I knew Angus and Paddy from the trip to Crianlarich in November, and had swapped messages on FB since then, but had never met any of the others until now. To give the story a little background; I met Angus and Paddy through my friendship with Mike Charlton...Niall Iain Macdonald is friends with Angus...Frank served in the army with Angus and Paddy...Paul is one of Franks two best mates...I know Justine through Mike and FB but have never previously met her.

Phew!!

I would like to add a little bit about the banter and bonding that went on in the pub on Friday night...unfortunately I would be in breach of a number of sworn oaths, some in blood I seem to recall...so will just say that a mutual respect was forged amidst the alcoholic haze...and a number of potential nicknames were bandied about between drunken revellers...and thankfully no animals were hurt during the evenings bonding...that would all be saved for the Saturday instead!!! Angus, Niall and myself arrived at the Tailrace within minutes of each other around half four...to be greeted by Paddy and a welcoming pint. The drink flowed fairly steadily from here on in, only interrupted by a short meal break as we waited for Frank and Paul to join us (they were running late due to Paul not getting clear of work as early as he had hoped) at half eight...by the time they arrived we had drank dry the initial pot of money that I think Angus had deposited behind the bar for us. With the drink flowing freely and the group all together now we topped up the kitty considerably and battered into it with a gay abandon...Frank and Paul were typically gallus weegies, loud and brash, but the grew on me as the night progressed. Niall got increasingly embarrassed each time Angus showed anyone the video he made about his upcoming Atlantic ocean crossing...Paddy eventually stopped serving and settled down to join in...i just watched it all unfold and thought to myself "my you will have a lot to write in this blog"!!
Thankfully there was not a lot of camera action on the Friday night, but as usual there is always someone willing to snap you when you least expect it!!

Saturday morning lurched upon me like the drunken haze that it was...shit it was only half two...only been in bed for an hour!! Zzzzz

Saturday morning take two...no still feels like I'm rough as a badgers bum...double shit it's only four o'clock now!! I thought alcohol would temporarily cure my usual insomnia!! Zzzzz

Saturday morning take three...woo hoo slept till the alarm went off at half eight this time...head doesn't feel like I consumed my own body weight in Crabbies then vodka and ginger beer...but will still take my time getting up and opening my birthday cards...open the curtains...pishing rain, just as was forecast...shower helps...bending to pull on clothes doesn't seem too bad...let's risk breakfast.

Thankfully when I went down for breakfast everyone else was in the same condition...glad the walk doesn't start till eleven o'clock today (forward planning as it should only take four to five hours and still gets us down in time for the rugby later). A quick round the table to make sure that everyone is up for it and a resounding YES is returned. So off we toddle to get our gear on and sort out which cars we are taking to the start, what route we are actually doing (it has a number of start and end points to it, some of which would require cars at either end) and who feels able to drive the five minutes to the start point.

We settled on taking the same route up and down, with perhaps a scenic descent if the ground was too wet to descend steeply off the summit, with Paddy taking his car because he knows the road well and Frank following in his van. So off we set, the strangest collection of walkers you are likely to see on my blog!!

We arrived at the start point and are ready to hit the trail at quarter to eleven GMT...straight up and into an immediate climb of slippy wet boggy slopes (could it possibly be anything else with me around?).   

The slopes at the early part of this walk are unrelenting and wet...a real effort required from the novice walkers amongst the group to dig in, even at this early stage, as the mist was obscuring any chance we had of seeing the summit of Garbh Beinn (or anything else for that matter).

The rain had appeared to ease off just after we started, but soon returned as we gained height on the slopes, but not enough to deflect from the sense of achievement some of the group were feeling (I well recall my first ascent and the sense of satisfaction I got from managing it) at the effort they were putting in. We stopped on quite a few occasions on the way up, for some views of the Loch below and of the mist above, but mainly to keep the group together and motivated.

I think it's fair to say from the smiling faces that we managed that. Frank assumed a snipers pose from an early stage of the walk, notice the low crouch compared to the rest of the upright walkers, this is not to be confused with someone pooped, but he assures me is a technique he learned in the forces to reduce the opportunity for enemy snipers to take him out (I think he should be more worried about snipy comments from the rest of us, but hey ho he will learn).

The first target of the day was to pull up to the ridge of Torran nan Crann at 300m. The rain was picking up but thankfully not dampening anyone's enthusiasm for the slog ahead...indeed it would be fair to say that (in their own small way) everyone was really getting into it today. Frank and Paul were appearing to enjoy the challenge (which they would confirm with stories regailing everyone of their achievement back at the pub later) and Angus was managing to think less and less of the pain he was in from his hernia...christ we were all hoping it chose not to rupture or distend during the climb!!  

If the mist were to clear at any point during the climb up then I'm sure we would have seen some wonderful views back along Loch Leven, up to the rear of the Aonach Eagach Ridge and out to the Pap of Glencoe...but as it were it didn't so we saw very little of anything. I was particularly gutted to miss out on any views into the Mamores, as I still have four to climb from Kinlochleven side. As the rain got worse so did the wind...I think the technical term is 'blowing  a hoolie'!!!

Paul looked longingly over the water, through the mist, dreaming of Saturday afternoon's spent in the pub, not up a hill in the pishing rain!! Whilst Frank just wished I would put away that bloody camera when he was slogging up the steepest bits!!

Once on the steep ridge the going was a little easier for everyone not used to this...though I don't think they saw it like that at the time. Niall was enjoying the challenge, and the wet and cold, as he gears up for bigger and gnarlier challenges than this in the coming months. The frequent stops were proving popular, so long as they were taken out of the wind and rain, as they allowed for some stretching of muscles seldom used...and threats of boaking after too many tequilla's last night...

After half a mile of climbing along the ridge path of Torran nan Crann we dropped slightly into a bealach...then began to climb steeply again as the path followed a trail through some boggy patches then rose sharply up the side of Stob Coire Sgoilte...all the while we could see only the next rise through the mist so I indulged in some kidology to keep the troops going...telling them that each new top the saw was going to be the last one...sometimes it works positively...sometimes not!!

Following that last huge slog up the steep slopes it could have been disheartening for some to realise just how far we still had to go...but not these guys...I can't recall a proper moan coming from any of them about "how much further is it...or are we there yet"??? Especially when some of them were clearly tired and starting to fade...letting the stragglers catch up was just another good excuse for the rest to stop for a while.

For once today the weather was kind to us and the rain stopped, though only briefly, and the mist lifted high enough to get a glimpse of what was out there beneath the clag...and hopefully I managed to capture some of that with a shot back down the length of Loch Leven to Ballachuillish??

 Just after this shot the clag and rain and wind returned to bring us back to the immediate concern of getting up through a particular rocky section. We became strung out as a team, finding our own speed on the slippery rocks and scree of an occasional path, pulling up onto the split corrie and choosing to go around the path then up a mild scree chute (bit risky in the wet today we thought) or traverse up and over the block of rock before coming to another short drop prior to the final 100m climb to the summit...so we traversed up and over and let Frank do his "king of the world" impression...

From here we stumbled through the final remnants of the years snow, which allowed Paddy to stop and wait for Frank coming down off his "cliff face" as he checked how popular he was on his mobile...

The final 100m was a tough pull, but only through the wind that had picked up speed making it difficult to walk in. We pulled up onto the small summit plateau and located the cairn through the mist...standing up against the wind was proving difficult now and, whilst taking pictures, was blasting freezing against my fingers. But it was worth it to get the summit shot of Jelly McBaby.

The troops, though freezing and wet, were only too glad to pose for the camera as well as we got the summit shot we had all worked really really hard for...a big well done to each and every one of them.

Pic taken we hurried off the freezing summit to a little sheltered bit we had passed on the way up...Frank was desperate for a cigarette and could not get any shelter at the summit to get a light!! Unfortunately when we arrived at the sheltered spot he was still unable to get a light...try as he might the poor sod...I think it just gave up the ghost on him!! After a quick five minute stop below the summit we hauled tail down the slopes and returned via the same path we had taken up. This involved a lot more care on the downward route as the rocks were treacherously wet beneath our feet now...I believe that a few of the group slipped and fell over on occasion...thankfully there was no-one with photographic evidence of this!! The team split into two noticable groups on the descent...one led by Angus (even with a hernia waiting to explode with every step on the way up) and included Paul and Niall...whilst I kept tabs with Paddy and Frank a wee bit further back. We made really good time on the downward journey and were pleased to see the road hone into view, realising that we were going to make it back to the cars in three and a half hours...excellent timing considering the weather and underfoot conditions...not to mention the condition of some (if not all) of us at the start. The burning question as we had started full of smiles was would be all be smiling at the end?? Well, what do you think??

 It was a rather cold and wet bunch that reached the car, just after that shot at the bridge, and stood in the pouring rain getting out of wet clothes before embarking on the (thankfully) short trip back to the Tailrace Inn. Someone even had enough energy to practise for his future role as a coxwain on Niall's Atlantic row!!

Once back at the Tailrace we met up with Justine and left her to get the drinks in whilst we all headed off for hot showers and dry clothes!! Me and Justine ended up watching the rugby in the bar as we waited for the rest of the troops to pull themselves away from whatever they were up to upstairs...the rest of the evening was a heady mixture of fun and frollicks and regailing anyone unfortunate enough to be within earshot of our adventures on Garbh Beinn. It would be fair to say that I had a great time with a bunch of relative strangers over the two days...far too many happy memories to ever forget...and loads of ammunition which I have chosen to leave out of this particular blog on this occasion. Highlights of a drunken evening were finding out what was number one in the music charts on our birth dates...then going back nine months to find out what our folks would have been listening to when we were conceived (cheers for that idea Paul)...Paul doing a bad impression of a dog whisperer as a strange looking creature roamed the bar and got too close to him on one occasion..."what you looking at cunt" is hardly the stuff of Robert Redford fame!!! Persuading everyone that getting me and Paddy to down skittle shots was NOT a good idea...though I did accept the large brandy that was offered later...Watching Angus and a regular customer compete in guessing the malt (god Gus is good at it)...Discussing the merits of taking more than one pair of pants on a three month Atlantic row...or at least getting adult huggies instead (I'm a big boy now!!) with Niall..........................all of this pales into insignificance when compared alongside the shocking image that was presented to us, by Paul, of Frank after his shower earlier...grooming the teddies in his room for sexual favours!!!

The rest of the evening was a blur as tiredness kicked in for some and the effects of two nights on the batter took it's toll. Breakfast in the morning was a subdued affair, before fond farewells and promises of returning to do it all again in the future...FULLY CLOTHED THIS TIME FRANK!!!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2852099748542.2122679.1440975916&type=3&l=8cb95cc2df

As mentioned above, Niall Iain Macdonald is rowing between New York and Stornoway, a total of 3400 miles, on a route never before attempted solo, in May this year. His diary can be accessed here for those interested in reading more about his challenge and who he is raising funds for. I would implore you to give generously for a worthwhile cause folks...I know I will be.

Below is also a link to the video promoting the challenge, which I hope works in this format...
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=ny2sy&source=video&cd=1&ved=0CDcQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F35948614&ei=3kVNT-DJOcyd8gOmo8DgAg&usg=AFQjCNEfISP5fdxp3sWxfo3eFNoMk4tGoQ

Until the next time folks...thanks for all the support in my first year of blogging...here's to many more to come x