October/ November 1988

1988
October/November
The Final Munro Trip
Ian.  Mal.

31st October 1988
Ian.  Mal.
Two Munros and 1 top (Etive)
Beinn nan Aighenan.  Ben Starav (Repeat) 
Parking, at 9.40am,almost the south end of Glen Etive, by a small tarn we crossed the river to Coilitir and followed the west bank off a branch of the Allt Mheuran.  This crossed the flank of Starav and took us to a col from where we descended then climbed again along the northwest nose of Aighenan arriving at the top for 1.20pm.  It was calm and cool, and with clouds at around 3500ft the view came and went.  Backtracking a little we next took the east crest of Starav as Ian still needed this one as a catch up.  Thick cloud on top reduced visibility to under 50 yards.  Whilst Mal and I sat and had a snack Ian searched frantically for the trig point which, from our previous visit, we knew to be there.  Having covered the small level summit area two or three times Ian was beginning to get worried.  He joined us for a confab at which point we realised that Mal and I had actually been sat on the trigs remains. (Actually we had realised some time earlier but hadn't wanted to spoil Ian's fun).   Someone had smashed it up.  A number of trig points would meet the same fate as the O.S. had recently declared them redundant as all surveying was now done by satellite.  There was a campaign to "adopt a trig", but many felt that they should be removed entirely.
As soon as we started to drop down to Etive we were out of the cloud and could see the length of the Loch below us.  The car was reached at 5.20pm.
12 miles.  5450ft.  7hours 40mins.

1st November 1988
Ian.  Mal.
Three Munros and 1 top. (Cluanie)
Sgurr a Bhealaich Dheirg.  Sgurr Fhuaran.  Ciste Dhubh.
(Three Repeats)
Todays aim was three repeats for Malcolm and myself to enable Ian a further catching up exercise.  The North Shiel ridge was no hardship for a repeat.
I think we started from the Cluanie, obtaining a lift down the road, leaving the car at the hotel.  The actual start point was the gap between plantations just south of Meall a Charra at 038118, at 9.40am.
The slopes of the North Shiel Ridge are all steep, and height gain is generally rapid.  Once on Meall a Charra we aimed directly for the first Munro, Sgurr a Bhealaich Dheirg.  Views on the way up were soon lost in cloud, and with crusty snow on top care was needed to reach the highest point which is situated on a narrow ridge.  The second hill, Fhuaran presented no problem except a stiff pull up,  Again, the splendid views to Skye and the North Shiel seven Munros were denied us.  We now swung towards the north, with another big drop to face before the final climb to Ciste Dhubh.  Descent was by way of An Caorann Beag valley, despite notices threatening dire consequences to any who might venture that way.  By 5pm we were at the Cluanie.  We were reminded of the time Danny allowed us to sleep in the staff quarters adjacent to the hotel by finding some old mattress' for our use after a late night session at the bar. 
At this point in time, although we had seen the large Dutch Barn across the road, we didn’t realise that on some future occasion that would be our 'home for a night', to be shared with an itinerant tramp! (Who are we to talk ?).
9 miles.  4450ft.  7hours 20mins.
We were all now in the same boat, needing just two final Munros for the set !!

2nd November 1988
Ian.  Mal.
One Munro (Far North)
Ben Klibreck
On a crisp, clear morning we parked up a mile or so north of the Crask Inn at 532271.  Off by 10.40am we strolled up the gentle slopes of Cnoc Sgriodain, then across fairly flat land before rising easily to Carn an Fheidh.  An easy ridge, with good all round views, took us to the final cone and trig point of Meall nan Con, better known as Ben Klibreck.  We could see Ben Hee, Ben Hope, and all the intervening hills and bogs.  The north coast was also visible.  Back at the car for 5pm, (10 1/2 miles. 3550 ft. 6hrs 20mins), we were soon in the Crask where we made the mistake of two pints and two rum and blacks before 6pm.  It could only get worse from there, and it did.  After a conversation with the landlord about VAT of all things, I realised that my team had been absent for some time.  I found them asleep on their beds, shook them softly, helped them to stand, then gentle led them down the stairs and found then a comfy seat against the bar.  At some point in the evening the Northern Lights were reported visible.  We went outside to have a look, and sure enough the lights were on in all their glory.  Magnificent streaks and arcs of turquoise in the sky, like wisps of smoke, moving all the time, changing in shape and intensity.  The only problem was that it was bitterly cold, with a heavy frost forming, and the lure of the fire and the unfinished pints pulled us indoors all too soon.  It was later this evening that I displayed my prowess as a dog handler and trainer.  The resident Labrador enjoyed being chased and caught, and I soon taught it some new tricks.  One included turning it on its back with all four paws in the air, then throwing it at the nearest wall.  Being very intelligent they soon invert to right way up, and apply brakes at the last minute.  A tail is wagged and they return for more.  It may be that this particular dog was not as bright as usual, or it may be that a Guinness lent my arm extra strength.  Suffice to say that one throw outwitted the dog.  It didn’t invert, but hit the wall with a yelp of delight and slid down to the ground, feigning a bad foot as an excuse for not having performed as per normal.  At this point the dog was evidently tired as it crawled under a chair at the far end of the bar and went to sleep.  I swear however that it kept one eye on me from then on, and if I had snapped my fingers it would have come running with its tail wagging and tongue hanging out for more.. 

3rd November 1988
Ian.  Mal.
THE FINAL MUNRO
Ben Hope (Far North).
Breakfast was a meal I would gladly have missed, but to be sociable I decided to give it a go.  Both Mal and Ian asked if I had seen the dog today.  I knew it was a wind up and they had decided on a joint approach.  I was a little less certain when they asked the lady of the house how the dog was and she replied "Not so bad, we may not need to take it to the Vets after all !!"  In my delicate state, the shortish journey to our final hill was close to an ordeal.
By 10.40 we had parked alongside the Strathmore River on a crisp, cloudless, morning.  A sharp ascent set the head throbbing before we turned north and followed a gentle rise for the next two miles.  The gradient increased and the going was easy.  Surrounding crags to north and west were not visible until the top was reached at 1.50pm.  The champagne was kept on ice for the last Corbett as I struggled with a hot chocolate as a first step on the return to normality. (See ref "Normal Neville".) 
With the sun still shining, but a cod breeze blowing, pictures were taken and books signed.  I reserved a space in Ians Book "To be signed on completion of the Corbetts".  Eleven years later he was to produce this space for signature again.

Ian came up with a lasting memento, a carved replica of the Cuillin Ridge, duly inscribed with names and dates.  There's confidence for you!!!  Malcolm set about plotting the first Corbetts.  We had extensive views to the North coast and the whole of the hazy north lay beneath our feet. 
The return was the same route and made in contemplative mode.  Soberly we arrived at the car for 4.15pm.
9 miles.  3400ft.  5hrs 35 min.

AN ERA HAD ENDED
THE MUNRO'S WERE DONE

As if sensing its usefulness had ended, Mals car broke down between Durness and Rhiconich, surely just about the remotest place in the U.K. to have to call the R.A.C. 

A NEW ERA WAS DAWNING.
THE CORBETTS