JUNE 2000 FDHWC NEWSLETTER No: 17

In this issue- Knoydart will still have to book officially ♦ with Roy on 01307 840271 Presidents Column WEEKEND MEETS ♦ Weekend Meets 2000 2000 Date for the diary ♦ It won't happen to me! 1 -3 June 2001 Ratagan ♦ I’ve brought some extra Jerseys! SKYE 20 - 22 OCT 2000 Youth Hostel - Full details ♦ Meets since last Roy has booked the SkyeWalker next newsletter newsletter independent hostel in Portnalong where

♦ Boots Across we had such an enjoyable stay last year All rooms have individual bunks with bed IT WON’T HAPPEN TO ME linen provided. All the smaller rooms Nick Parsons have been booked (4 with 2 beds and 1 with 4 beds) Names with a deposit of Even after reading Allan Court's article £10 to Roy Rennie as soon as possible. President's Column in Newsletter 14 I thought "It won't A new millennium and a new happen to me" After all, Allan was president ! MOIDART-ONICH23-25 injured on a serious ice climb and I March 2001 would never even tackle such a thing. For the benefit of those members who So it was a bit of a shock when it did Because there is no suitable don't know who I am, I will start with a happen to me. accommodation in Moidart, Roy has short introduction of myself booked the Alex Mclntyre memorial hut It was a Club weekend to Glen Etive in North Ballachulish. The idea behind I have been a member of the club for 24 and I had had a good walk with Colin, this is that members could use the years, having been first introduced by Ray and Bill Mill, successfully bagging Corran Ferry to gain access to Moidart the late Norman Knight Kinnettles. another two - Stob Coir an and give the club's baggers the Sixteen of these years were spent at Albannaich and Meal nan Eun. (Yes I'm option of heading for the or Fersit, near Fort William. Those of you claiming them even if I didn't walk all Glen Coe. The hut is owned by BMC & who have climbed The Easains: Stob the way back down!). We had some MCofS jointly and has been done up to Coire Sgriodain and Chno Dearg will good winter conditions and carefully quite a high standard, eight bunk beds know this area well. negotiated snow and ice covered and one alpine platform have been slopes between the two hills with Ray booked. Facilities include mains electric The meet calendar for this year has demonstrating his navigational skills in & water; electric cooker; microwave; been constructed from suggestions the mist. The final drop to easier terrain fridge; all utensils; multi-fuel fire (fuel received from members, and I hope the was down a quite steep, wet and provided); electric heating in dorms (£1 walks will attract regular and not so muddy slope, which was of course no meter); hot water and showers; drying regular members back to the hills. I problem to a group with our room; WC's. Members wishing to book a would also like to emphasise there will experience. We soon found the path place should contact Roy with a £7 be a low-level walk on all meets for leading back down the glen and as we deposit. Total cost for weekend £7 + those not wishing to undertake a hard went along this easy walk out I was electricity climb. looking forward to Margaret's stew and maybe even a wee dram while we I feel very honoured in being awarded KNOYDART 4-7 May 2001 played John Nome's Munro game. the distinguished title of President, The big adventure of the new meet following in the footsteps of my very calendar is a trip into Knoydart. After a What happened next I'm not too sure good friend Rita Norrie who was also very memorable visit to Barrisdale in about but I guess I just slipped on the President for a number of years, I will try 1997, we have decided to approach from mud and twisted my foot badly As I to keep the side up Rita. the South this time, which will involve a went down I heard a loud crack, which boat trip from Mallaig to Inverie. Roy has was my fibula snapping in two. The With the assistance I know I will receive hired the Torrie Shieling Hostel (see pain was like nothing I have ever from members and the other dedicated enclosed brochure) which is situated just experienced and I know I made lots of committee members, I am confident we outside the village of Inverie. This is the noise about it! After 10 or 15 minutes can get the club going from strength to most expensive hostel the club has ever the pain had in fact eased quite a bit strength. hired at £15 per person per night. The and my companions even got me boat trip from Mallaig to Inverie on the standing but there was no way I could To close I would like to take this Friday night will cost £50 for up to 12 put any weight on my right foot. I opportunity on behalf of the committee people. Because the Torrie Shieling apparently went very pale and Colin and all club members to say a big require a large deposit to be paid by gave me some homeopathic anti shock "Thank You" to Jim for the last 3½ years December, members who are interested remedy, which certainly seemed to he presided over the club, and I hope we will have to book and pay a deposit of work. It was clear that I was not getting will hear the strains of "Far I Wi Noo" £25 to Roy by 6 December 2000. Total off the hill under my own power, and from him for some years to come on cost of ACCOMODATION will be £45. I'm a bit heavy to carry I was somehow many of the proposed walks. (boat hire will be extra) Bookings will put into a survival bag and Colin went NOT be accepted unless the £25 deposit to call out the Mountain Rescue, while ETTA accompanies them. Members who gave Ray and Bill stayed with me. their name to Colin as being interested in

Page 1 of 3 It seemed like a long time and was quite The next piece of fun was manipulating dark before a line of lights was seen the bones into alignment as much as but, why should Colin have to carry extra heading towards us and I was feeling possible before putting a cast on. clothing for other people ? Although the very cold, although it was mild for March. Fortunately I was given painkillers and site of Nick's accident was a) near the It was about 3 hours after my accident Entonox gas before this happened. road, and b) easily accessible to the before the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Although I could feel them working on my rescuers, it still to 4 to 5 hours from the Team arrived. One of them with a pair of foot I felt no pain at all. It was now well time of the accident until the rest of the scissors made short work of the survival after midnight and I was put into a bed party arrived cold and hungry back to bag, my trousers, my laces and my socks and got some sleep. Inbhirfhaolain. and started to find which bit of my leg An accident on the street of any town can was hurting. After he put an inflatable Next day arrangements were made for be reported and cleared up in a short time. splint on the pain was reduced me to go to Ninewells hospital to see the An accident at a football match can be considerably and I even declined the orthopaedic specialist and I got there in cleared up in an even shorter time, offer of painkillers. I was told "If the the back of Brian's car with my foot because help is within 50 yards. But an ambulance crew want to remove that raised on some of Brian's kit. This was a accident on the hill is a vastly different splint tell them to F*** off" I was then glorious day and we could see the tops scenario, because, a) reporting an asking trussed up like a turkey in the stretcher of all the hills as we headed out of Fort for help can take a lot longer (mobile and we started a high speed descent to William and along Loch Laggan. phones don't always work) b) rescuers can the rescue landrover The stretcher had a take a seemingly long time to get to the wheel in the middle and it was mostly I was admitted to ward 17 at Ninewells casualty c) adverse weather and terrain wheeled rather than carried and it and was not long there when Tilda conditions can add to the problem. So we bounced all over the place. I could see appeared, as she now works on that should ask ourselves, in the event of being why they were so keen to make sure all ward having finished travelling the world involved in an accident on the hill (not the straps were done up tight - there was for a while. The surgeons looked at my necessarily the casualty) and we have to no way I could have fallen off it. X-rays and decided a pin would be stay put for a few hours, have we each needed and I should go to theatre on enough clothing and food to maintain We came to a track and I was put on top Monday. After another day to recover comfort and energy as may be of the straw in the back of a shepherd's from the surgery I was put into a cast necessary?? If so, then Colin won't have to pickup with one of the Team sitting in the again, shown how to use crutches, and carry all those jerseys around with him! sheep urine next to me. (At least there sent home to recover and wait for my were no sheep in it). This then went first out patient appointment to see how bouncing down to the road with the things are developing. Meets since the last landrover following. The ambulance had been waiting for some time before we It will be at least 5 months before I'm newsletter seen on the hills again, all due to a lapse arrived and I was lifted off the rescue Number attending in brackets stretcher and onto the ambulance of concentration on easy terrain. You stretcher and was soon strapped into the can think of me when you're out on the Boxing Day 1999 : Glen Moy (8) Very icy ambulance and heading for Fort William. hills this summer, but watch where roads. Circuit of the west burn. Snow, The ambulance man had a series of you're putting your feet and make sure bright early. Low cloud later medical questions, which were to you have clean undies on! become very familiar in the next few days a Jan 2" 2000 : Cat Law (12) as a whole stream of medical people beautiful day with good views were to ask me the same things, and before anyone asks, yes I can wiggle my January 2000 : The Lomond Hills toes! (31) West Lomond, Glen Vale, Bishop At the Belford Memorial Hospital in Fort A Violet Parsons fell on Cam Dearg 3 Hill, East Lomond. Fine sunny day. William, I began my now intimate weeks after Nick and broke a leg! Very clear Strong westerly wind. relationship with hospital ceilings. I've Excellent high tea in Freuchie later worked in hospitals for years and never normally notice the ceilings. We couldn't LOST BOOK February 2000 : Deeside (14) use the main casualty entrance, we used Another alteration. 2 groups. Started at the one "for heavier people" and I was Invercauld. Finished at Inver. One wheeled along to casualty The first Would the person to whom I loaned climbed Cam Liath & Culardoch. The priority on arriving in casualty was my June Parker guide book, and other traversed below Culardoch. Very obvious - to get a bottle before I maps etc on Mallorca, please let me strong SW winds. Cloud lowered during disgraced myself all over their trolley! know, as I haven't a clue who day Just beat the rain. Next was of course to have X-rays. The borrowed them bad news was that the foot has to be J.Norrie March 2000 : Glen Lochay (16) Strong aligned in a certain way for X-rays which Sheneval winds, driving sleet and rain. An means removing the splint and moving Elliot ARBROATH unsuccessful attempt on Creah Mhor and the foot about. This was not fun at all. Beinn Heasgarnich. The Corbett, Meall They let me see the X-rays. I could see nan Subh, climbed. A really drookit bus. my fibula with two ragged ends some I've brought some extra distance from each other. They also March 2000 : Weekend at Glen Etive showed me the unnaturally large gap jerseys in case there’s an (7) between the bones of one side of my foot accident – John Norrie Excellent accommodation at the Grampian and the bones of my leg. I was told this Club hut at Inbhirfhaolain. Beinn was due to ligaments having been torn off Trilleachan, Stob Coir an Albannaich and This was a passing remark by the meet Meall nan Eun climbed on Saturday secretary while exiting the bus on the Unfortunately Nick broke his leg and had Laggan meet. He was of course referring to be mountain rescued (see separate to Nick's unfortunate slip in Glen Etive, article). Joined by 2

Page 2 of 3 others on Sunday - Buchaille Etive p.m. and was placed in a waiting Beag, and Beinn a Chrulaiste climbed. ambulance at 9.20 p.m. and whisked off Very little snow considering the time of to Bedford Hospital in Fort William, year where he spent one night. He was then taken back to Ninewells (by Brian) and April 2000 : Loch Lagqan (18) spent another 2 nights there while his Fine day, good snow and tremendous leg was pinned. We all wish him a views. Beinn a Chlachair, Beinn speedy recovery Teallach, Beinn Chaorainn all climbed, a group walked the south side of Loch Laggan via "Monarch of the Glen", Boots Across Scotland Ardverikie House and then cut inland to At the time of writing, we are only 5 emerge at Moy Bridge. days from the 3 rd Boots event. The club has been allocated and a fair May 2000 : Weekend at Cannich (20) contingent are making their way north to Tremendous 3 days in very good join in the event on Sunday 28 th May weather, staying at the noisy Glen Affric Although the club provides a donation, Backpackers Hostel (with cold individual donations are welcome for showers!). Numerous hills climbed from this good cause. Contact John Dawson. Lock Quoich to , but The club took part in the last two Boots concentrating on Glen Affric, Glen Across Scotland events -Meall Nan Eun Cannich and Glen Strathfarrar in 1992 (during a weekend meet to Bridge of Orchy in June of that year) May 2000 : Inverev to Spittal of Glen and Beinn a' Ghlo during a day meet in Shee (14) May 1996. Unfortunately, this year, it did not clash with a planned date of a Cloudy damp start, but quickly cleared meet. One date to remember while up to be a fine day. One group climbed planning the 2004 meet calendar! Cam Bhac and then crossed to Loch nan Eun and then descended to the Spittal. The other group followed Glen More Boots Across Ey, climbed Beinn Iutharn Beag , Scotland dropped to Loch nan Eun, then climbed By the time you read this, the "Boots over Glas Tulaicchean to return by Glen Across Scotland" charity event will have Lochsie. taken place. For those of you who don't know, this event takes place every four years. The object is to have someone Accidents will happen on top of every Munro at the same time. The Club has been allocated Slioch this time, so on 28th May an intrepid band of As mentioned in the meet reports, we volunteers from FDHWC will be heading had a serious accident during the March for the picturesque setting of Loch weekend in Glen Etive. A group of 4 had Maree in aid of charity. Approximately climbed Stob Cioir an Albannaich and 12-15 members are expected to make Meall nan Eun. Conditions had been the journey, with some staying overnight tricky with strong winds, low cloud and on Saturday and some travelling up in snow underfoot. The party descended the small hours of Sunday morning. The steeply west from Meall nan Eun, down a object of the exercise is to raise as much treacherous snowy and rocky slope. All money as possible for the "Boots" difficulties had passed and the group charity. Most of the proceeds go began the fairly level trek out along Glen towards helping injured hillwalkers and Ceitlein, looking forward to Margaret's climbers and also to mountain rescue soup and stew back at the hut. Around teams. A collection was made on the 5.30pm, Nick slipped on wet ground, bus on the recent meet to Inverey, which broke his tibia and dislocated his ankle. raised £34.60. The Club will also be He was in great pain. It was apparent making a donation. Any other members that he was injured (to what extent was wishing to make a donation should unknown at that time) and that he contact a Committee member who will couldn't walk out nor could the others be glad to add your contribution to the carry him. Bill Mill and Ray stayed with total. Nick while Colin went for help. Mobile phones don't work in Glen Etive, so it a 40-minute trip to the road. Some kind Glaswegians ran Colin to the phone box at the bottom of the Glen. 999 was dialled and a mountain rescue was initiated via Newcastle 999 Centre, Inverness Police Headquarters, Glen Coe Police Station and finally Glen Coe Mountain Rescue Team. The Rescue team were down Glen Etive by 7.30 pm. Nick was reached via landrover and then foot at 8.30

Page 3 of 3