Elterwater Walking Weekend

29-30 NOVEMBER 2008

Two days of stunning winter weather in the Lake District at Elterwater Youth Hostel with the Glenmore Walking Club. A day in Langdale on Sat - Pike of Stickle, Harrison Stickle, Pavey Ark, High Raise and Stickle Tarn finished nicely off with a few pints of beer in the New Dungeon Ghyll. Sunday was a cracking plod up the main path to Skiddaw, with amazing views down to Keswick and Derwent Water.
Photos

Ambling in Arisaig

17-21 NOVEMBER
Moira and I spent 5 days chilling out in Arisaig, and nearby, at a friends' house. Easy walk for 7 or 8 miles on Tues round the road south of Arisaig Bay; lazy day on Wed; on Thurs a scenic 3 hour run along the north Loch Morar shore from Bracorina to Tarbet (where Sir Cameron MacKintosh has a home) and back; and on Fri a wander up Glenfinnan to the foot of Streap.




More photos on FLICKR

Tinto Hill Race

SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER
4.4 miles, 1500 feet climb





My 15th completion of this classic Lanarkshire hill race. A bit of a blowy day, hard work into the wind on the way up. Turning at the top it was the usual adrenaline blast downhill, catching a few but letting club mate Scott get past. Finished strongly in 68th place of a record 260 finishers, so well chuffed at that.


Course Records
Men: J Brooks 29:58 (1995)Women: A Mudge 33:43 (2003)

1 Jethro Lennox Shettleston H 32.18 MS
2 Prasad Prasad Clydesdale H 32.41 MS
3 Henry Blake Shettleston H 33.31 MS
14 Angela Mudge Carnethy 36.14 FS

43 Don Reid Westerlands 39.47 MV50
55 Graham Kelly Westerlands 40.38 MS
65 Scott McKendrick Wester 41.35 MS
68 John Donnelly Westerlands 42.01 MV40
169 Elsie Riley Westerlands 48.53 FS
191 Johnston Orr Westerlands 51.17 MS
219 Pauline McAdam Westerla 54.14 FV50

RESULTS
PHOTOS
MY PREVIOUS TINTO TIMES
1987 41m 12s
1988 39m 35s
1990 41m 30s
1992 42m 30s
1993 37m 43s
1994 38m 53s
1995 36m 35s
1996 37m 10s
1997 41m 38s
2002 39m 23s
2003 39m 30s
2004 38m 59s
2005 39m 40s
2006 41m 46s
2008 42m 01s

Meall Ghaordaidh

SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER
A beautiful day with the Fife Crew in Glen Lochay bagging the Munro Meall Ghaordaidh.
PHOTOS

Trig's Trek

SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER
Nearly 80 friends and family of Simon Triger went up Ben Nevis in memory of Simon. It was a lovely site, as we all snaked up the north side of the Ben, in one of Scotland's glorious wintry days. In fresh snow we gathered at the CIC huts for lunch, photos and a toast to celebrate Simon's life. There were canoeists, hashers, climbers, and runners (a few sporting the coveted Westies hat) and several who cross dress, so to speak. It was a great day, thanks to Katy for all her organising. A few of us also wandered up Carn Mor Dearg afterwards.
PHOTOS

Loch Ossian Weekend

18-19 OCTOBER
We reckon this was the 19th Westies trip to remote Loch Ossian for a weekend of wetness, windiness and general merriment.
Muffy's Report =
It was my 17th Westies weekend at Loch Ossian and I wasn't disappointed. The rain poured down, the wind howled (or was that Charlie), the stags were rutting (was that Charlie too?), the hills were alive, the curry was great, and the banter was as irreverent as ever. There were only two women (Ellie and me) and Chris, so John B and Drew joined us in the women's dormitory. They also brought several tractors with them, with engine trouble, or so it sounded. There was a guest appearance by Brian Bonnyman (welcome back, it was great to see you). But after he lost his Jenga crown (mastaaaa...) to Manny, it may be another decade before we see him again. John H baked a loaf of bread (yes, a loaf of bread!) on the Saturday, after he had whipped up a pot of soup. We will be chipping in for his fare from NZ next year, in order to do the catering. I hate to say it, but the food was some of the best this year - definitely inversely proportional to the number of wimmin. Most of us managed round the loch on the Sunday, in appalling weather, though tired legs and a force 10 gale meant a few LO virgins didn't make the hour and all I can say is that 17 years have been very cruel to my time.
Photos