Isle of Mull, 29th - 31st March 2013

The Isle of Mull ultimately turned out to be the location of this year's 'Mystery Meet'. Although after numerous leaks, the word 'mystery' is used in the loosest of terms...

The A' Chioch route up Ben More, Mull (James Simpkins)

Newtonmore, 23rd March 2013

We set off around 9:30am from Newtonmore with the aim of bagging A' Chailleach (Monadh Liath). A fairly easy walk ensued which didn't feature the conditions warned of by MWIS (initially).

High winds on the summit of A' Chailleach (Brett Gregory)

Glen Brittle Memorial Hut, Isle of Skye, 15th - 17th March 2013

This was DURC's second trip of 2013 to the Isle of Skye, once again staying at the Glen Brittle Memorial Hut. If anything the weather was even better this time round and we were treated to some amazing views - see the video below!

Views from Sgurr Dearg (David Barratt)

You can watch it directly on YouTube here.

Glen Lyon, 10th March 2013

We woke to a Dundee covered in snow and anticipated being at least ankle deep in powdery snow up in the mountains of Glen Lyon. Four of us had decided to attempt a few of the four Munros to the east of the glen, leaving the rest of the group to go and do Stuchd an Lochain.

Rime on Stuchd an Lochain (Guy Templeton)

Blair Atholl, 3rd March 2013

Our destination this week was meant to be Arrochar, but just as with the previous week's trip, we had to adapt to circumstances and go elsewhere. On this occasion it was due to being given the keys to a minibus that was nowhere to be found, and by the time an alternative had been provided it was too late to go further afield, so a return trip to Blair Atholl it was.

A cold lunch on Carn Liath (Paul Crawford)

Glen Brittle Memorial Hut, Isle of Skye, 22nd - 24th Feb 2013

So this meet we were originally supposed to head to Ling Hut near Torridon, Wester Ross. However, due to a gas leak we were unable to go there, but luckily the Glen Brittle Memorial Hut on Skye was free, so that became our destination! Headed off Friday night as usual and arrived at the hut pretty much exactly at midnight. After unpacking, we all sat and planned our routes for the next day. Most of us decided on Sgùrr Alasdair, the tallest mountain in the Black Cuillin range and on Skye, made up of gabbro and basalt rock.

View across Coire Lagan from the top of the Great Stone Chute (Brett Gregory)

Bridge of Orchy, 17th Feb 2013

After weeks of powerful winds and often little or no visibility it was great to finally get a decent forecast, suggesting a break in the weather leading to a period of alpine conditions. We were a bit disappointed then to drive into Glen Orchy and find it enveloped in a cold pocket of low cloud. Nonetheless, as the day drew on it turned out we were - eventually - in for a treat that would also bode well for next week's much-anticipated trip, to Ling Hut in Torridon...

The sun shining through cloud above Beinn Dorain (James Simpkins)

Braedownie Hut, Glen Clova, 1st - 3rd Feb 2013

A small party set off for the weekend to Glen Clova, staying in the Carn Dearg Mountaineering Club's hut, Braedownie. The weather was good but windy, and we had the added excitement of an exploding oven to spice things up.

View from near Mayar, Glen Clova (Paul Crawford)

Winter Skills Meet, Glenshee, 27th Jan 2013

The annual DURC Winter Skills Meet is an opportunity for members to practise winter basics, including fitting and walking in crampons, the use of an ice axe, avalanche awareness and navigation. As always, club members don't act as guides or leaders, but the more experienced folk on the trip aim to pass on some of what they know in an informal way.

This year DURC headed once more to Glenshee. Deep, powdery snow, strong winds and often little or no visibility were the order of the day, despite some occasional views early on, and conditions deteriorated sharply in the afternoon. Most of us ended up pushing on to the top of Glas Maol before beating a retreat.

The morning afforded some fine views over the Glenshee hills (James Simpkins)

Strawberry Cottage, Glen Affric, 30th Nov - 2nd Dec 2012

Strawberry Cottage in Glen Affric was the destination for the last weekend meet of 2012. There was some snowfall and the weather was fine if cold, and the views were stunning. But not everything went quite to plan...

Morning view from near Strawberry Cottage (Paul Crawford)

Blair Atholl, 18th Nov 2012

The closest meeting so far, to the village of Blair Atholl. While one group of four set off for a forest walk, the rest - nine in all - headed for the nearby Munro of Carn Liath, and beyond.

On the approach to Carn Liath, but not quite at the tediously steep part yet (Paul Crawford)

Blackrock Cottage, Glen Coe, 19-21 Oct 2012

Just a few minutes walk from the White Corries ski area, Blackrock Cottage is perfectly placed for access to the Glen Coe mountains. After a lazy lie-in on the Saturday we end up splitting into two groups, with designs on Aonach Eagach and the 'Three Sisters' route, roaming over Stob Coire nan Lochan and Bidean nam Bian before descending via the Lost Valley.

Blackrock Cottage, Glen Coe (James Simpkins)

Glen Nevis, 13th Oct 2012

Always one of the more popular destinations, 45 of us made the journey up to Fort William this time. While most opted to head up the Ben Nevis mountain track, others took on longer and more strenuous routes: the CMD Arête, and Aonach Beag and Aonach Mor via Glen Nevis.

The weather was generally mediocre, cloudy and occasionally pretty wet, but the day was enlivened by there being a fair amount of snow high up, a foot or more on the summit of Ben Nevis itself. And we did manage the odd glimpse of blue sky.

October snow, Ben Nevis

Creag Meagaidh, Loch Laggan, 29th Sept 2012

It was a foggy, wet and windy day around Loch Laggan, much worse than forecast, and with transport problems - frustrating but not of our making - delaying the start for some, most people decided to summit one or two of the Munros of the Creag Meagaidh circuit before retiring to the pub.

Looking along Coire Ardair, towards 'the Window' (Paul Crawford, 29 Sept 2012)

Lagangarbh Hut Weekend Meet, Glen Coe, 21-23 Sept 2012

Our first weekend trip of the year was to Lagangarbh Hut, Glen Coe, and it didn't disappoint. Lucky with the weather for the second week in a row, this was a well-attended and active meet, encompassing a variety of walking and climbing routes, a swim in a loch and more.

This trip report covers just some of what we got up to that weekend: Aonach Eagach, Buachaille Etive Mor, climbing at Rannoch Wall and Glen Nevis, and a few traditional DURC mountain hut games...

Lagangarbh Hut, Glen Coe (Caren Kresse, 22 Sept 2012)

Freshers' Meet, Glen Clova, 15th Sept 2012

Walking: Driesh and Mayar 

The first meet of the year took us to Glen Clova, and what brilliant weather we had! Hot and sunny, but it was fairly windy on top of the hills, which helped to combat the heat.

A large group of us decided to walk up Driesh (3106 ft.) and then Mayar (3044 ft.), a fairly simple route as there was a good path for much of the way, walking back to the car park through the Glen Doll forest so we could view the beautiful waterfall situated in the corrie there.

Corrie Fee, Glen Clova

Summer meet with DMC, 13-15 July 2012

Friday 13th to Sunday 15th July 2012 - Loch Tay, central Highlands 

Swimming across Loch Tay. Running across seven Munros. Kayaking seven miles, then cycling another 34 around the shores of the loch.

Yes, we were quite content to watch other people do all those things.

This summer's joint meet with DMC at Loch Tay coincided with the Artemis Great Kindrochit Quadrathlon, the "exhilarating test of stamina, strength and fitness" that requires completing the above in a single day. Our own plans turned out to be much more modest: a couple of Munros of the Ben Lawers group and a traverse of the Tarmachan Ridge.

Beinn Ghlas from near the summit of Ben Lawers

Annual Dinner Weekend 2012 - Part One

Saturday 26th May - Glen Clova 

DURC's Annual Dinner Weekend is an important fixture on the calendar: not only is it the last official club meet before the summer break, it also marks the occasion when the outgoing committee hands over to the new members. 

Last year the Annual Dinner Weekend saw the club take a camping trip to Arran, and this year it was decided to stay closer to home so that more people could attend the various events.

To that end the committee organised a day trip on the Saturday to Glen Clova, a meal in the evening in Dundee, then a beach day on Sunday at West Sands, St. Andrews.

Beautiful weather in Glen Clova