CRUACHAN RIDGE

Friday 12th -  Sunday 14th August 1983 - Cruachan Weekend

Leader Glip

Scouts Andrew Firth (Firthy), Andrew Davies (Toad), David Gordon (Disaster or Booboo), Kenny MacCrae

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​Report

Friday 12th August 1983

On Friday evening, we left headquarters with Kenny helping us out with transport. John Yarr and Donald Thomson also came along for the trip. It was a pleasant evening and we reached Cruachan at sunset. After getting permission to camp from Mr. Smith, Glip drove back to lead KWP to our campsite. The gear was disgorged, minus one tent which had been left at headquarters. KWP was not told in case he did something daft like driving to Greenock and back to collect it. We said goodbye to KWP and settled down with Booboo and Firthy sleeping under the stars. Fortunately, weeks of hot weather had killed off the midges.

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Saturday 13th August 1983    Cruachan Ridge

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Weather Dry and warm with moderate wind. Cloud level about 3000’, but clearing at times.

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Report

We woke up to find Cruachan shrouded with a veil of light cloud in the coires. Apart from that, it looked like being a good day,and it seemed reasonable that we should do the ridge starting from the campsite. We set off at a reasonable time of about 9:30 AM and followed the hill track a short distance before cutting over to the South East shoulder running down from the top at 3163 feet. We followed a steep stream up onto the shoulder itself with Toad taking the most difficult route possible and insisting that the rest of the party should follow the leader.

After a brief rest, we quickly reached the first top and then sped over to the second top at 3272 feet. Further on, at the third top (3312 feet), we investigated the narrow north ridge and Toad was made to follow the highest route since he was ultra enthusiastic and since he had also dragged us all back to Cruachan in the first place.

We had lunch on Ben Cruachan itself, where we met our first people of the day. On the way over to Taynuilt Peak, the clouds broke and the sun shone on us. Brocken Spectres were observed on the north side. The peculiar rock formations and eerie mist gave the place A Lord of the Rings atmosphere.

On returning to Cruachan, Toad, Kenny (?) and Glip did some rock scrambling on the north side.  By now, though, tiredness was creeping in and a tired party forced its way back along the ridge to the top at 3272 feet, then south over the top at 3215 feet, eventually descending down Allt Coire Ghlais back to camp.

After tea, some of us searched without success for a shop or petrol station selling goodies, while the others made a camp fire by the stream. Nobody felt like staying up for long though and an early pit was called for. Everyone crammed into the two tents this time.