BEN NEVIS AND CARN MOR DEARG

Log book entry from Glip's personal log

Saturday 23rd June        Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg

Leaders Glip, John Kerr, Robbie Mochrie, Tommy Boag, Guy Grant, Jim Blair

Scouts    Alistair Blair (Frodlet), Colin Beaton, Jonathan Foster, Adrian Simpson, Graig Goodlet, Douglas McCrorie (Jobby), Roderick McCrorie, Ross Gillespie (Rosco), Richard Terry, James Gatherer (Peasant), Derek Speirs, David Gordon (Booboo), Kenny Blair (Frodo), Stuart Dalrymple (Merry)

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Tent groups

                        1) Peasant and Merry

                        2) Booboo and Frodo

                        3) Roderick, Richard and Derek

                        4) Jonathan and Craig

                        5) Adrian, Douglas and Rosco

                        6) Ally and Colin

                        7) Glip and Jim

                        8) Tommy, Robbie and John

Weather

Clear with clouds above the summits early morning but becoming cold, dull, wet and cloudy with cloud level at 2000'

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Report

Friday 22nd June - Departure

There were slight worries over whether we would get all the party aboard with 13 Scouts and six leaders between one minibus and Mr Blair’s van. We succeeded – just–and set off at about 7:30 PM. There was a group already set up at our usual campsite so we all went over to the island. Mr Blair and I shared a tent and shared meals with Guy who viewed the menu with distaste.

Saturday 23rd June 1984

Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg

Next morning, we woke up to a problem – whether to go up or not, whether to try Carn Mor Dearg or the tourist path, and whether the young ones should go up at all. The tops were clear at this point and the forecast was not too bad, though cloud level of 2000 feet was expected during the day. I t was decided to stick with the original plan. John, Tommy, Guy and Mr Blair took the younger Scouts up the tourist path in three groups, while Robbie and Glip took Derek, Roderick, Booboo, Peasant, Merry and Frodo for the Carn Mor Dearg route. There had been quite a build up to the Carn Mor Dearg ridge and so there was a fair of deal of excitement and some apprehension, especially as regards Roderick. Merry was made to promise that he would not dilly dally and fool around and he duly promised. He kept his promise and demonstrated his fitness quite adequately.

We fooled around on the Steal bridge for a while then carried up to the coll at about 2700 feet, by which time the clouds had fallen.

We decided to carry on and reach Carn Mor Dearg at least. It got quite bright at the summit and, for a moment, it felt like it might clear. It didn’t. However, we felt in good spirits and decided to tackle the ridge to the Ben.

Halfway along the ridge, the weather deteriorated and became cold and very wet – very unpleasant. Fortunately, it was not too cold and everyone was coping well. Only Peasant was feeling tired as we slogged up the Ben to claim victory. We didn’t hang around so we were soon threading our way down through slippy rocks. Roderick and Robbie, amongst others, were pretty slow on this bit. The cloud was down to about 2000 feet and, once below that, we sped down to the car park feeling pretty damp. We were in time for an ice lolly at the campsite shop down the glen.

As far as the three groups ascending by the tourist path were concerned, they had all reached the summit easily enough, but while they were lunching at the summit, the weather deteriorated. It was decided that all three groups should join together to descend with John Kerr in overall charge. Ally had  got wet and cold, but  John was awake to the problem and got everyone down quickly. John himself praised the group for rallying round to support Ally.

In the evening, our visitors arrived and set up camp and most leaders left camp. Jim Blair and Glip, with volunteers, collected wood for a campfire, but once it was alight, most people were ready for pit! No doubt tired out by the day's efforts.