Here's another entry from days past, coincidentally with the
same participants as the recent 'Pilgrimage to Portree' in 1994. I've added a
few comments in blue.
The Radioactive Ramble
Friday 2 May 1986 (Author MW)
Owing to Greater Manchester transport I was a paltry 10 minutes late at the
Rising Sun. (Queen
Street - rendezvous point for weekend trips)
Notwithstanding this,I was later blamed for causing John to
wait almost a whole hour for us to pick him up at Carlisle.
Spring has only really just broken in Manchester
- the last couple of days have been fine. Today has been fair, but a little
'close' and indeed soon out of Manchester
we hit rain and then drive into a thunderstorm which comprised one or two
flashes of lightning.
Dave (SG) (I think SG probably
means 'Senior Gaffer' - Dave was employed in a senior role at CWS) has
started off on the wrong foot and is anxiously burbling that he has only 16
shots left and no more film. We stop at Forton to allow him to discharge his frenzy
by hunting around the shop for a film but it is to no avail. Will his anxiety
increase as the trip progresses, or will it be assuaged, we shall see?
As we left Manchester the
news was that the radioactive cloud from Chernobyl
was just about reaching the South of England, so at least we are going in the
right direction, but it may well catch up with us in the next two days, hence
the name of this trip.
We arrived at Carlisle
station at 8:30 to find John nonchalantly leaning against the wall. As we drew
near, he walked off in the opposite direction, but soon realised his mistake. All
aboard, then it was a short trip to the Little Chef feeding ground renowned for
its pancakes.
After a marathon effort by MB we arrived at Ardlui campsite
12:05 am. Thankfully not raining as we deploy tents in the dark with only one
torch between us. (Supplied by SG.)
MW is very annoyed as he put his ice axe through his
flysheet - causing a sickening ripping sound. Fortunately not in a critical
place, and easily mended.
Rather a noisy team on the site tonight. A young lass wandering
around with a bottle of wine greeted us thinking we were more of her party. I
don't know why people need to shout at each other to have a conversation at
this time of night - it's most antisocial. I hope they don't go on for too long.
As we sleep the menacing radioactive cloud draws.....
During the night there is an eerie plaintiff moan that pierces
the now peaceful site ... filllmmm....
A spirit in torment.
Postscript (DS) I must record that before he went to sleep MW
made horlicks on his primus while the rest of us just crashed out.
Saturday 3 May - Two Days to Doomsday (DS)
We all woke up early in the morning to hear the army next
door still talking. Perhaps they talked all night. Martin was about to brew
up when it was realised that it was only 6 am.
Back to sleep for another hour. Up fairly quickly. Hurried
breakfast. Martin (I was only 10 minutes late) found he had lost his porridge,
this leading to a plaintive eerie tormented radioactive moan from his stomach.
After John had gone to find man to pay (he woke him up and
got a receipt for April), we set off and soon stopped at Tyndrum. Dave got some
film and Martin got some porridge. Martin B was stopped from brewing up and
contented himself with sniffing tea bags.
Travelled on to Victoria
Bridge along a most unlikely
looking 'A' road (A8005) - single track, no passing places, but a nice surface.
John was packed within 10 seconds of parking the car, but
Martin (who had no beard two days ago) did a 'Laurie/Nick Gray' (absent team members who are renowned for their faffing) and
spent a long time packing a large looking rucksack. He blames it on his winter
sleeping bag.
Set off from forest Lodge, west along Linne nam Beathach and
the slow gentle ascent towards Loch Dochard. This walk in was marked by
frequent stops and interesting stiles and bridges. Dave (me) made a much
photographed mess of going over a very dodgy high stile. John described my
crossing as a Right Pig's 'Ear of a Sow'.
Martin W displayed city attitudes in his testing the
strength of a suspension bridge (which, unless it has
been replaced with an identical bridge, has stood the test of time!)
We stopped near Point 289 (on our
old map, but not on my current maps - NN 201 411) on the path having
left Loch Dochard behind. Martin W was only a paltry 10 minutes behind. His
excuse this time being that he had met two day walkers and stopped for a chat.
"It's a fine day Laddie, etc, etc..."
The weather has been getting warmer and is muggy, with a
gentle east wind at times. Visibility up high is not very good. Brew of tea and
much eating. Two walkers pass. Conversations
about news on TV and in newspapers.
Carried on to an amazing suspension bridge which worried
most who crossed it yet seemed perfectly ok. Again many photographs.
Turned NE up the glen that goes past and to the north of Beinn
nan Aighenan (957 metres). That, John says, should be pronounced 'Ainan'
(silent gh as in dh). He further stated (authoritatively) that the i before the
gh is only there because of the e after the gh. He is now saying that the
spelling doesn't conform to the rules.
More frequent stops as we contour, gaining height. Eventually
John and MW power on and Dave and MB arrive at the col a good though paltry ten
minutes after the others (no excuses). There was a sharp climb at the end.
Here we had a quick brew, parked our rucksacks, and walked
up Beinn nan Aighenan - the mountain with the badly spelt name. Quickly into
the mist, and it began to get slightly damp and windy. Up at the top we had three
self-timed group photos, with John not bothering. He was very cold.
This is the first Munro of the trip. The journey down was
excellent. Very quick. We half run down the soft snow most of the way. At the
bottom, MB's foresight in wearing gaiters for this peak paid off.
Continued down to find a campsite and found one very quickly.
Tents quickly up. John went some way to get us some (safe) water. Very cold on
the hands. Slight drizzle began as we put the tents up. Leisurely cooking and
eating of meals.
John had corned beef and smash - (again). MB had paella (again).
and Dave had beef stew and chocolate mint Angel Delight (with real milk). MW
was in his own tent (to escape the farting) so I don't know what he had.* Everyone
in bed by 8:30 - knackered.
* Lentil stew with Bulghar Wheat, then dried fruit and
custard - yum! (MW)
Note: This report conforms to the standard of truth,
honesty, accuracy, independence and objectivity, as defined by BBC/ITV news.
PS Fashion Note: MB looks very chic in his green duvet vest
- very 1983. (Green Ultimate Equipment gilet - still
going strong in 2020.) russian note
PPS Status Note: John's a gaffer but Martin B is a senior gaffer - he also
has difficulty leaving work habits where they belong.
Sunday 4 May (JM)
A good night's sleep. We are in the cloud at 8 am. By 9:15
the cloud is lifting (we are still in our tents).
We set off for the bealach between Glas and Bheinn
Mhor and Ben Starav at 10:05, and arrive there at 10:40. On to Ben Starav at
11:40 via a knife-edge. Pause for photos.
Off via a snow slope, and back at the bealach and our
rucksacks at 12:10. For the last 2 hours the cloud has been well above the
mountains, and there is some sunshine and a brisk westerly breeze. Pause for
lunch.
On Glas Bheinn Mhor at 13:25. Off again at 13:40. Pause for
lunch. There seems to be more cloud than sunshine now. Next peak we are aiming
for is Stob Coir' an Albannaich, which, from this (windy) bealach, looks like a
hard slog. Set out at 14:20. On top 15:05. Weather is still holding. At the
bottom, en route for Meall nan Eun, it certainly isn't.
Stob Coir' an Albannaich vanishes from sight. On top of Meall
nan Eun for 16:40, and it is not raining. Meall nan Eun is quite breezy (SE breeze
it seems); and Stob Coir' an Albannaich is visible once more.
Off the hill by 17:30 to look for a campsite. Pegs in by 18:00.
The weather is still quite good, but the breeze is quite brisk.
Clarification: (MB)
1. Dried fruit and custard is not eaten as such. "You soak
it and it goes soggy" - MW.
2. He who had a beard two days ago was MB. MW had a beard
two days ago - and any day you care to mention over the past 10 years, except
yesterday and today. (And there was no hurry.)
3. "Lunch" is a frequent occurrence throughout the
day. It means "ate food".
(MB) Variable weather for rest of the evening.
Smelly tent.
Tussocks.
MW comes for a tea bag party, and makes the tea.
Pleasant gurgle of the river a few feet away should lull us
to an early kip with no difficulty.
Variable light as early as 8 o'clock. MB's camera bust.
Monday 5 May (MB)
After a bumpy night John brewed up at 7 am and we arose. There
is a view today and scraping sounds from next door. John confesses to having had
nightmares. Dave combs his hair to demonstrate his application of work attitudes
to the trip. A bit of rain and wind in the night.
Off by 8:30. I donned waterproofs to contend with the
drizzle but the others didn't don theirs until we reached the end of the
initial slog up Meall Odhar (876m).
A tramp along the ridge to Stob a' Bhruaich Leith (940m),
and a steady radioactive shower was falling. Not very warm.
Considering the weather, visibility very good, with views
towards Glencoe, and cloud level above 3000 feet, although by the top of Stob
Ghabhar (1087m) we had entered the cloud.
Interesting ridge off this hill, but we didn't risk going
over the cornice to maintain height towards Stob a' Choire Odhair, an outlying
Munro (really a separate mountain). Instead we came off the nose, which was in
itself precipitous, although a gully to the right made it into an easy scramble.
We then contoured round very satisfactorily to a stalkers
path for the descent to Victoria
Bridge, by 2 pm, after
various 'relief' stops.
Saw two people on the hills all day, and only about ten the
whole weekend. A reasonable tally of six Munros, and an easy journey to get
John to Carlisle, but a traffic jam between Forton
and the M61 prevented further speedy progress
Pleasant meal at the Asia
for me and Dave.
Here's our route - 45 km with about 3000 metres ascent. Click on image for a better version.
