By Helen Senn
Loch Ossian Trip 24th-26th of March 2006: Joint meet with Glasgow Ski Touring Club
In time honoured fashion (I am told) some ESTC members made it to Bridge of Orchy with only ten minutes to spare before the train. Mallaigites(?) and Fort Williamers (?) looked on in bemusement as we piled off a wet and windy platform onto the train, vastly over equipped with skis and alot of food (yes, what were we doing here?). Needless to say the weather had got worse by the time we stumbled out into the pitch black of Corrour station. Thankfully, some of the Glasgow lot had braved it out of the bothy to come and help us, and we all battled back against the gale (skis conveniently acting as sails).
The next day did dawn bright. The sensible ones left their skis behind in favour of a good stomp, while the more hopeful spent most of the day carrying them or skiing optimistically over patches of snow interspersed with heather (mainly heather). However, a slog through a whiteout to the top of Carn Dearg was rewarded by a great ski down. This combined with good food, drink and company back at the hostel made for not a bad day at all.
Sunday was wet and misty, the
intrepid made it up Beinn na Lap, whilst those that were really serious
took on a walk to Loch Trieg. We struggled out to the station with
almost as much as we came in with, due to an enthusiastic shopping
spree on venison from the estate freezers. All in all: A great weekend,
if a bit lacking in the white stuff.