BIDEAN NAM BIAN (3766')

Log book entry from 70th R & I Expedition Log - Everest Challenge

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Sunday 2nd September      Bidean nam Bian (3766’)

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Leaders: Chris Foster, John Hennessey, Glip, Willie Grant, Ian Black, Rhona, Peter Bennett

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APLs Colin Roach, David Eadie

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Scouts  Graeme Wright, Graham Bolster, Kevin Byng, Robbie Mochrie, Robert Wright

Weather:  Cloudy and windy with rain squalls, but generall mild. Cold and very windy on the summit.

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Report

Most of us stayed at Glencoe youth hostel on Saturday night, so we got up, ate up, packed up and left in a flurry of excitement and anticipation! Two miles up the road, Glip realized he had left the food box behind so we had to return. Eventually, we got parked at a layby (grid reference 173569). Everybody except for Glip and Kevin set off in rather threatening conditions (Cloudy, windy with occasional rain squalls). It was reasonably mild though and since the wind was from the south west we would be sheltered from most of the way.

Glip and Kevin waited for Ian Black who was driving up for the day with Peter, Robbie and Robert. Once they arrived, Glip and Kevin went on ahead to try and catch up with the others who had approximately a 30 minutes start.

The route followed was up the Allt Coire Gabhail though a series of boulders and trees and eventually opening out into the ‘Lost Valley’. A path then led up to the saddle at Grid reference 152537. Glip and Kevin caught up with the others at this point, rescuing a water bottle which had been dropped en route. Kevin did extremely well and covered the ground very quickly indeed. Glip ended up feeling quite tired.

The wind was very strong at the saddle since the ridge was no longer protecting us. It was cold now, so we set off up the ridge, which never seem to stop, until we reached the top at about 1 PM. It had only taken about three hours for the main party to reach the summit and only an incredible 2 ½ hours for Kevin, which must have been his quickest time of the year.

It was now raining hard and conditions were ideal for exposure, so we set off down after a quick meal at about 1:30 PM. Once we were off the bridge into shelter, it was much milder and we were able to relax. The jeans was really quite dramatic in fact and it was hard to believe that conditions at the top were so severe.

Several people had a go at running down scree including one incredibly madly Graeme Wright. Shrew was more sensible and refrained from such stupid activities. About 500 feet below the saddle, we met Ian and co.  He continued up to the top and were lucky enough to get a view.

The main party reached the bus about 3 PM. Glip who was with Robert arrived about 4 PM. At about 4 PM, the minibus set off home. Ian, Peter and Robbie descended about 5:30 PM and arrived home safely about 8 PM. Meanwhile, the minibus was having problems in Port Glasgow. The dreaded puncture! What was worse was that we could not get the jack to turn because we did not have a decent lever. Eventually, we managed to borrow one, change the wheel and get home.

In the evening, Val Foster laid on a splendid meal for John and Glip as a celebration for the successful camps which had been run so far. Unfortunately, Ian and Peter arrived home too late to attend.

Note

Peter Bennett passed the Kilimanjaro stage

Ian Black and Rhona gained their Everest award

Note

Everybody who attended the youth hostel received a stamp of a boot tread in their youth hostel cards as evidence of attendance. Curiously, the date provided was 1 September 1986.

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Logistics

Saturday 1st September 1979

For the first time, we used the newly acquired minibus for an Everest climb and so Percy had to miss out. We took camping equipment with us in case the weather turned for the better or if we were unable to get into the Youth Hostel.

Glip drove up as far as Tyndrum. By that time, the rest of the bus were nervous wrecks and were delighted when John took over. Chris opened his eyes again. John drove for the rest of the way and by the time we reached the hostel it was just about to open. At one point, we considered climping the Pap of Glencoe before tea, but the weather closed in and so we abandoned that idea.

Glencoe youth hostel is a pleasant chalet like hostel and we were grouped together on the second floor. Everybody make their own tea (that is each group) and cleaned up.  There was plenty of time left, so we decided to go for a walk to the Glencoe information centre. As we meandered along the road, a tennis ball was hurled backwards and forwards, but miraculously did not get lost mainly because of brave search and rescue operations carried out by Dome in the brambles.

The information centre was closed, unfortunately, solely occupied ourselves by flinging the tennis ball across the river to Dome who chucked it back. Everybody succeeded in throwing the ball across except for one Scout, probably Rivet, who failed miserably. There was then a drastic panic to save the ball before it floated over the ‘rapids’ downstream.

Once we had tired of such things, we crept stealthily through the woods to some observation rock or other. John and Chris and the others arrived first. Glip, Kevin and Graeme proceeded to assault the fortress yelling bloodcurdling screams before they were repelled by a hail of red berries and anoraks.

It was beginning to get dark, so we returned to the road by various contorted routes. Willie, Chris and John went for a ‘walk’ while the rest raced back to the youth hostel to try and catch the shop open. Glip thought that it closed in 15 minutes. We got back with a minute to spare to find that it was open for another hour. Glip was not popular.

For the rest of the evening, monopoly and graph races were played then Pit.

Shrew, Rivet and Graeme had trouble getting to sleep, but Chris helped them along.

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