Hill Walking Trip Members' Feedback

Members enjoyed a hill walking trip to Kinlochleven on 26 February 2010 for two days. This is what they had to say about their trip...

"Having got into hill walking a couple years ago, the CSSC meet in Kinlochleven gave me the ideal opportunity to develop my skills in winter conditions. I met loads of friendly people who I enjoyed walking with and of course the libations at night after a great day out on the hills. The instructors were excellent and very approachable. I would recommend these events for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors or would like to meet new people and hone their skills on the hills."

Robin Wallace
Edinburgh

"To start, we had a very good flight to Glasgow where we picked up a hire car courtesy of CSSC - thanks. One of the great things about these weekends is meeting up with people you have got to know on other hill walking weekend - this was my forth weekend (first winter one) and its good to catch up with familiar faces. Although we are all here to enjoy the hill walking it is also a very social occasion. We were so lucky with the weather, despite my initial apprehension regarding the quantity of snow a phone call on Thursday evening reassured us that the roads would be OK. The scenery was absolutely stunning, and the views from the top of the climb made you feel that you were on top of the world.

For me the real attraction of these weekends is the 'guided' walking - to go places and push yourself to limits that you would not feel safe to do if you were walking on your own. This was certainly the case this weekend. I have never walked in such snowy conditions and have never used crampons and ice picks before. The guides - either professional or 'in-house' are always excellent."

Sally Lovell
Salisbury

"I would say the format of the weekend lead to a very enjoyable couple of days open to all levels from the complete novice to the very experienced hill walker and in particular the standard of the guides provides a safe environment for those who wish to experience winter hill walking for the first time. I will definitely attend next year."

Duncan Haworth
Blackburn

"I was a little worried on Thursday morning as I looked out of the window of my holiday cottage in Newtonmore to see four inches of snow. News on the radio talked of the major trunk route to Fort William being closed. I contacted Robin at the MacDonald Hotel to be reassured there was an alternative route to Kinlochleven via Oban. I relayed this information back to CSSC head office who informed the attendees that the event would go ahead.

Friday morning saw me packing up and contacting the local police to find that at 10am the main Aviemore to Fort William road had reopen. By lunchtime I was at Fort William meeting up with Jo the other organiser of CSSC Hill Walking to finalise group plans for the weekend. The hills looked fabulous with their new covering of snow. We headed off to Kinlochleven where a steady flow of familiar and fresh faces arrived at the Blackwater Hostel, our base for the weekend. Communal hot drinks helped the attendees unwind after their long journeys encouraging a relaxed team atmosphere.

When Nigel the chief instructor arrived he delivered a practical lesson on how to attach crampons to mountain boots and the group was soon energised. We used this energy to walk to the MacDonald hotel where we partook in the first of many well cooked meals. Talk was of the choices for tomorrow's walks. The guides were undecided where to take the experience walkers. There was a high avalanche risk and they wanted to ensure our safety.

Saturday saw a cloudy frost free morning. After breakfast and collecting our packed lunches we spilt into our groups. The ice Climbers went to Ben Nevis. The novice winter walk went to the Glencoe ski area to find snow to slide on whilst experienced winter walkers opted for safety and walked 8 miles over a local Corbett Mam Na Gualainn taking time out to dig a snow hole and emergency snow shelter.

Back at the hostel all the groups were buzzing from their days experience and keen to head to the hotel for another wonderful dinner. The obligatory quiz saw the group well mixed and the Whiskey tasting commenced.

Sunday saw the ice climbers back on Ben Nevis, the now not so novice walkers headed for Mam Na Gualainn to see the great views of the mountains all around. The experienced walkers tackled the Steal bridge en route towards An Gearanach and An Garbhanach on the ring of Steal. The views of the snow capped mountains were astounding.

A frosty Monday morning saw the realisation that many would be leaving after breakfast. A number of the leavers felt that two days was not long enough to practice their newfound skills. E-mail addresses were quickly exchanged before one group of walkers headed off to complete the Ballachulish Horseshoe via a rocky ridge scramble in crampons and the other group experienced a valley walk in Glen Nevis where herds of deer were seen a plenty.

Monday's dinner was a little more sedate with only nine of us remaining. Discussions for the following day centred on what time we would need to be off the hills to set off for our journeys home.

After packing up at the hostel one groups headed off to the col on Ben Nevis whilst the other group headed towards the frozen Steal Falls Waterfall. Time was not wasted as the climbers marched to the start of the ice climb polishing off the climb quickly and arriving only slightly late for the rendezvous with the other group members for tea and cakes.

Yet again another fabulous Scottish winter hill walking weekend made all the better by the lack of snowstorms and low clouds."

Clair Wilson
Sheffield

"What a fantastic trip! If you enjoy spending time out in the hills with like minded people and having access to several professional guides then this trip is a must. It was great to take the opportunity to push yourself to do routes that just wouldn't be possible without the guides expertise. The whole group was really welcoming and friendly and there was no shortage of cups of tea and food throughout."

Emily Ledder
Leeds

"What a great few days, loads of snow, great people, great mountain guides and brilliant but tiring fun. Although I do a lot of walking all through the year, this was my first trip on a CSSC walking weekend and I wasn't too sure what I may be letting myself in for. I needn't have concerned myself, everything was really well planned, from arriving at the hostel, meeting everyone else on the weekend, meeting the guides, even the short walk to the hotel for breakfasts and dinners seemed to fit in.

It was great to be sharing the hostel with the Mountain Guides, they were all good fun to be around both when out on the hill and relaxing and it was good to be involved in the decision making for each day. There was a great mix of people in the group and everyone mixed and spoke freely to each other with some very entertaining characters. Overall I don't think I've packed so much into a few days in a long time. I definitely recommend it and certainly plan to be back next winter if not before."

Paul Turner
Worcester