The Ochils Mountaineering Club

Well I finally got my 2 girls up their first hill! On seeing the good forecast for Sunday, and being in sole charge with my wife away for the weekend, I decided to try the girls with an easy hill - taking care not to mention the 4-letter word "hill"

So off we went on our "woodland walk" and after 2 hours we were at the top of Ben A'an. I didn't have to coerce them or anything - in fact they were dead keen, with Cameron even leading the way most of the time!

I did however have to keep my promise and buy 2 double cones in Callendar on the way home.

It was a wonderful day, and hopefully the first of many hills for us.

Excellent, and it is a lovely hill.
We also took advantage of the good weather, and headed up Glas Bheinn above Kinlochleven. The views were great, and there was a fair dusting of snow on the higher peaks.

Well done, Gordon. Maybe we will see the girls on one of the meets some time in the future?

Rod and I dusted down our old squeaky bikes yesterday (they had spent the last 2 years in Rod's parents' garage) and cycled up Glen Tromie (private road) to the bridge at Gaick. We walked up Meallach Mhor (Corbett) from there and enjoyed the views across the empty open moorland. Saw a lot of hinds, some grouse, loads of lingonberries (with berries and flowering at the same time!?) and blueberries, listened to stags rutting and watched two red squirrels on the way back. Saw snow on the Monadliath and Creag Meagaidh. Lovely autumn day and a great little bike ride.

Aye, a cracking day on Sunday. Fife was bathed in sunshine and hardly any wind. Jeanie and I climbed at the Hawkcraig, Aberdour. Was surpised to see only a few folk there and it was warmer than I expected it to be. We climbed Asinine, Eech, Squirrel Slab and Ugh/Fish Head Arete combo. The highlight was Jeanie's lead of Asinine, her hardest and first 5a lead, a great lead. Climbing opportunities are getting fewer now as the evenings draw in. Last Friday was our last after work session. At Auchinstarry we climbed Spirogyra and Mister, Ye Can Walk up Roon the Back.

A few pictures from Sunday on Glas Bheinn:
http://www.dreams...mer2008/20081005Freya_Glas_Bheinn.jpg
http://www.dreams...Iain_Freya_Glas_Bheinn_Reflection.jpg
http://www.dreams....uk/summer2008/20081005Loch_Leven.jpg

Enjoyed a wander around the "other end" of the Pentlands on Sunday. Big skies and a great sense of space with lizards basking in the autumn sun. Well done Jeanie on your 5a lead, time that you ditched that wee hanger-on and got out wae the Hardy-boys methinks!
cheers
jd

Katie, myself and an old friend of mine from Uni tackled Bidean nam Bian and Stob coire Sgreamach. A great trip out with such delightful weather on offer.

Cheers John -I had to atone for a long weekend in Wales climbing classic V Diffs! And fortunately for me, Stuart is indeed a hanger-on-(to the rope!); for hours on end it seemed on Sunday while the waves lapped around his ankles & I discovered not 1 but 3 cruxes on Assinine! (but what a buzz popping out at the top!) Jeanie.

Great effort Jeanie.

Well done Jeanie, and well done Gordon also. If we'd known, we would have waved from the top of Ben Venue and probably joined you for an ice-cream after! See the old bribery works wonders..... and explains Greg's addiction to chocolate!