K Fellfarers

What a great winter we're having, with the snow staying on the fells right through February and into March. Below is the Scafell range taken from the west on March 9th.

Also on the same day, some photos below from Norman and Jenny. Norman writes - We walked from Armboth road end at Thirlmere ( bus ), over to Blea Tarn, then up Coldbarrow Fell and onto Ullscarf. Keeping in the sunshine we then went to Greenup Edge and down past Lining Crag to Stonethwaite and then Rosthwaite, catching the bus ( after a pint in The Scafell.) Lovely snow on the upper fells. The steep track down by Lining Crag was treacherous with ice, and micro-spikes saved the day. On the walk, we met no-one.
	Dollywagon and Fairfield above the mist from Wythburn Fells
Blea Tarn looking NW.
	Bowfell from Ullscarf with mist in the Langdale Valley
Norman on Ullscarf, with the northern part of Hellvellyn ridge behind

High House Working Weekend Thanks to Maja for the photos
	Mark and Colin painting the upstairs dormitories
Cleaning the large dormitory bunk beds
	Pam cleaning upstairs
Richard and Walter working in the drying room
	Fred doing what he likes doing - working on windows
Roger and Alec checking out the downstairs toilet

Scottish Hotel Meet - Killin Following two successful years in Oban, members voted for a change of venue and 31 enjoyed the delights of the hills around Killin. Based at the Killin hotel, a variety of walks were experienced over the five nights. The weather was exceptional on the Monday and Tuesday, with damper and breezier days on Wednesday and Thursday. Road closure between 9.00 and 3.00 just outside the village meant an earlyish start for anyone walking in the Ben Lawers group or at the east end of Loch Tay. The group in the hotel conservatory: From left to right - Standing: Hugh, Sheila (in front), Mike, David, Mel, Graham, Lynn, Mike, Jan (in front), Ray Wood, Roger (just), Tony, Sue Seated: Kevin, Mick, Ray Garnett, Frank, Val, Margaret, Jean, Fred Kneeling: Norman, Jenny, Angie, Tina, Irene, Clare (behind), Chris, Ruth, Adele Missing is Dorothy.

Monday: Various groups set out on a brilliantly sunny morning with not a cloud in the sky. Some hill walkers headed for the Munroes Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers, whilst a large party headed for the hills on the south side of Loch Tay to ascend either the Corbett Creagan na Beinne or the slightly lower Graham Ciste Buide a' Claidheimh. Another group drove to Lochearnhead to walk the old railway line to Loch Ogle and back, whilst others enjoyed exploring the environs of Killin
	The Tarmachan ridge looking like icing sugar piled up, viewed from the hotel car park
Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas -



Creagan na Beinne - Ruth reports - Snow-dune patterns on the way up. Crispy crampon surface. Saw mountain hares, a roe deer, and footprints of foxes, ptarmigan (?) and little rodents. Fantastical horizontal icicles on the summit cairn. We left a trail of footprints visible for miles as we came down.
	Mick and Sue on the summit
Superb snow sculpting with Sue, Ruth, and Tony, and Mick taking the photo.
	Ruth "whooping with joy" as she descends Creagan na Beinne on virgin snow
Ciste Buide a' Claidhe - On the way up
	On the ridge heading for the summit.
The group on the summit looking towards Ben Lawers. From left to right: Mike, Graham, Tina, Clare, Angie, Adelle, Frank, Chris, Jenny, Irene, and Norman, with Hugh taking the photo.
Tuesday: Another sunny day, with another great variety of walks to choose from. The Munro Meall nan Tarmachan attracted twelve, with a minority carrying on to complete the ridge. Schiehallion attracted nine members, whilst others walked the stretch of the old railway near Strathyre. Some continued to explore around Killin and do some drawing.
Meall nan Tarmachan and the Tarmachan ridge - The group at the start

	Ascending on good snow
Ascending Meall nan Tarmachan
	Ascending Meall nan Tarmachan (lunch stop)
The summit of Meall nan Tarmachan
	Looking west to Meall Garbh
Ray from about the same spot
	Approaching Meall Garbh
Kevin on the ridge west of Meall Garbh
	The ridge - west of Meall Garbh
Summit of Beinn nan Eachan looking back to Meall Garbh
	Looking east to the final summit Creag na Caillich
Creag na Caillich looking back to Beinn nan Eachan

	Schiehallion - On the approach. The ascent follows the ridge from right to left.
On the ascent
	Approaching the summit ridge.
On the summit looking west to the Mamores and Glencoe.
	Leaving the summit
Lunch with a view on the descent
	Back in the car park. Apparently it was sun trap against the eco toilet block.
Wednesday: With drizzle and wind forecast, many members opted for a low level walk. The original plan was to view the Fortingall Yew, drive up Glen Lyon for a walk beyond the Bridge of Balgie, tea in the cafe, and return over the fell road. Investigation showed that the cafe was closed until Easter, and the fell road blocked with snow, so the group opted for the Yew and a forest walk on Drummond Hill to the iron age fort. The other main group drove up Glen Lochay for a walk up Meall Ghaordaidh.
Drummond Hill - The hotel at Fortingall was closed, so no coffee. But wait, Angie has persuaded them to open, and the owner even lit a fire for us.
	Lunch overlooking the impressive iron age fort on Drummond Hill.
Meall Ghaordaidh - Mike, Jan, Ruth, and Kevin ready for the off, with Adele taking the photo
	A cloudy day on the ascent
Taking shelter
	Pre-dinner drinks
The dining room wasn't very cosy, but at least we were all together.

After dinner drinks to plan the following day
Thursday: Another iffy day forecast, but lots of walks to do. One group ascended Schiehallion, whilst another drove up Glen Lochay for another Munro. Twelve members took the bus from Killin to Lochearnhead and walked it back to Killin.
	Waiting for the bus at Killin.
One of the lovely viaducts on the old line between Lochearnhead and Loch Ogle
	A final sunny day but not enough to melt the icicles
Trees throwing shapes in the forest
	The Falls of Dochart at Killin were more spectacular at the end of the week due to snow melt.
The old mill across the river by the Falls of Dochart
	Roger and his group also walked the old railway line up Glen Ogle and took this photo of icicles by the old track, now a cycleway.
Friday: And so a superb week came to an end, with only packing up and driving home to do on a damp morning. Jan caught Fred carrying out a cushion and a trekking pole looking like he had a set of bagpipes.






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