Stay at home

[Scotjamie]

Macdui ....with a club
A few walk reports have mentioned early signs of winter, indeed snow, so I thought I’d go back a few years for this walk.
I am not a member of a walking club. It’s not a prejudice against club membership, more a lack of social confidence allied to the Marxist tenet “I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members”.
Like many, I have a strong preference for solo walking…..or walking with Malcolm. Malcolm is comfortable to walk with. He walks and talks steadily. I can stop for a rest and admit it’s because I’m knackered rather than stopping to take my sack off to alter my layering.
It was Malcolm who invited me to join his former work colleagues on a certain national bank’s ‘club weekend’ in the Cairngorms…a club anniversary outing, though to my slight embarrassment I do not remember which anniversary. It was a spring weekend in 2007 and it was a kind invitation. I knew I would feel a little bit intimidated by the collective mountain abilities, the cumulative knowledge, the bagging totals, not to mention some of the beards

The club had booked out much of the Loch Morlich YH, by this time renamed the Cairngorm Hostel. Malcolm and I shared a bunkroom with two others, one of whom demonstrated particularly strange sleeping habits, emitting noises that evoked creatures long extinct. The night’s repose was interrupted every 40 minutes or so by a two minute stream of foul oaths and threats, which stopped as suddenly as it started. It would be unfair to identify him in any photograph

…..I think the experience bonded the remaining three of us for the rest of this beautiful April day’s walking. Just like a current TV advert “you know who your friends are” as we headed from Coire Cas up the west ridge of Coire an Lochain, on to the 1083 top

Crunchy snowfields and hazy spring sunshine views across to Braeriach, Sgor an Lochain Uaine and Cairn Toul

and thereafter on to Ben Macdui. Retracing steps to Lochan Buidhe we crossed the plateau, enjoying the snowfields above Corrie Dhomain, and a lengthy lunch stop with views across to Beinn Mheadhoin

At this point the other bunkroom companion asked the midnight curser if he was aware that he had uttered loud profanities at regular intervals last night. He admitted with no hint of embarrassment that he understood it to be a regular nocturnal occurrence, and that these weekends offered his wife some respite. He said he hoped it had not been too much of an inconvenience. Malcolm quietly but firmly pulled me back and removed my walking pole from my tightening grasp. After lunch we strolled along the northern corrie edges overlooking the Fiacaill Ridge

It was a busy day around the corrie edges and on Cairngorm itself so we escaped back into Coire Cas and onto Glenmore for a late afternoon pint. The evening was as club evenings must be

thoroughly enjoyable for all….very welcoming people – I may well be tempted to join a club at some point…..maybe later….

[neilfowlie]

Great report there pal and some cracking photo's.
How is hill walking in the snow? I have been in two minds wheather or not to venture out on the hills when the snow kicks in. Is it best going out with someone with a bit more experience on the subject???

[bootsandpaddles]

There should be a separate room in all hostels and bunkhouses for people who:
Snore
Make other disturbing noises in their sleep
Won't turn their mobile phone off at night
Rustle plastic carrier bags for half an hour when other people are trying to sleep
Spend more than 10 minutes in the shower

[walk aboot]

Great report and photos, Scotjamie . Er what's with the shorts-wearing in Winter , a club tradition or something?

MacDui is my favourite hill I haven't done yet (translates as a hill I've really been looking forward to doing for so long now that when I do actually walk it, it will have to be a perfect day).

[smudger71]

ha... thats exactly what i thought...very brave souls walking in shorts in the snow!!!! or are they some sort of advanced flesh coloured thermals meant to look like bare legs!!!

can t wait to get out in the mountains this winter (not in shorts though..wouldnt want to scare away the already scarce wildlife with my legs )...never been into the mountains in winter!!!

peoples walking preferences are a constasnt source of entertainment for me...i like both alone and with others...but tend to come down half dead when i go on my own as i always feel the need to go far too fast and take too few breaks....but its fun and I always enjoy the time to think...walking with others means i enjoy the scenes far better and return to the car in a much better condition...having said that as my son gets older i suspect he will start to punish me for dragging him up mountains at the age of 7!!!.

great photo's...now want to go east a bit more!!!

[kinley]

Cheers for that - liked your perspective

Not inclined towards group walking myself

[LeithySuburbs]

"Macdui with a club" Thought Donald Trump had his eyes on the high plateau for his next venture when I read the title .

Some nice pics here anyway . I too am not inclined to walk in a large group - not due to any social inadequacies, more due to a strong sense of independence and love of solitude. I will sometimes walk with 1 or 2 partners but would not want to do it every outing...

[Merry-walker]

I walk with my dog, she can't answer me back

[Scotjamie]

How is hill walking in the snow? I have been in two minds wheather or not to venture out on the hills when the snow kicks in. Is it best going out with someone with a bit more experience on the subject???

Hi Neil
This was a sunny April day in 2007 through shallow snowfields, so scarcely winter walking in snow. I have undertaken a winter skills course (recommended) but prefer to be a three season walker. Perhaps a question in the discussion forum will elicit advice from more experienced winter walkers and climbers. Judging from your question, experienced companion a definite for now.

There should be a separate room in all hostels and bunkhouses for people who

Agree boots... indeed as a hopeless sleeper I recommend separate rooms full stop

Er what's with the shorts-wearing in Winter , a club tradition or something

Thanks walkaboot - I was invited as a one-off guest for one trip, so not being a club member, I can only guess the origins of the snowshorts - tales of ordinary country folk, presage to some strange bothy ritual involving batteries a wet suit and the sign of the pentagram. Whatever it was, it may surprise you to know that the female club members seemed singularly unimpressed by the flashes of leg. Macdui a great hill and really enjoyed it previously as part of a multi-day.

some sort of advanced flesh coloured thermals meant to look like bare legs

thanks smudger - 'advanced' wasn't the word that sprang to mind, more 'primordial' - agree with your sentiments

Thanks Kinley and Leithy - I was invited as a one-off guest for one trip, and did appreciate it, but it confirms for me that less is best on the hills.

I walk with my dog, she can't answer me back

- you're clearly barking, merry walker - hope you've recovered from Tolmount and bounding back up hills

[Merry-walker]

Terrified of going out but walk up Airlie Monument today helped, cheers

[mountain coward]

There should be a separate room in all hostels and bunkhouses for people who:
Snore
Make other disturbing noises in their sleep
Won't turn their mobile phone off at night
Rustle plastic carrier bags for half an hour when other people are trying to sleep
Spend more than 10 minutes in the shower

I'll second that! especially the mobile phones and rustling bags! And also those who slap the big light on because "I'm up so everyone should be up" and then go off to breakfast and leave it on!!! (or third that as I see ScotJamie also agreed first )