Went for a ski over the Beinn a Ghlo peaks during the week. Fantastic snow cover but a bit icy with big fall potential on the tops. Perfect mountains for skiing over. Amazing views north over the summits of the Cairngorms.

It was to be a typical Robin day. Just a quick trip up Aonach Mohr. Good we will be taking the gondola then; no we need to walk from Glen Nevis. A lazy walk up the glen then; no we have to go over a bealach, it’s only an extra 3000 feet of ascent but it’s a nice view and saves 10 minutes. So off we set in magnificent scenery. I hadn’t walked up the glen for about 15 years. Robin was right it’s very wild and beautiful. We arrive at the bealach between Carn Mor Dearg and Anoach Mor still feeling quite fresh.

This is one trip report I would rather have not had to write - but I feel I owe it to the big man to let fellow club member know how his funeral service went.
In all five club members - Chris, Helen, Simeon, Dave, and me Jules - made the very emotional journey from Scotland to Liverpool where we joined Karin, Russell’s close friend Sandra and Russell’s family and other friends to pay our respects individually and as proud representatives of the Lomond Mountaineering Club.

Skied over the Black Mount on Saturday. A bit of a climb up Stob Ghabhar but once on the tops it was as good as it gets. A fast run down to the bealach with superb morning light and no wind.

Robin dragged me out to the far east for a ski tour. Mostly he was just a dot on the horizon in front. Super snow cover if a little icy and tricky skinning up in places without crampons but an easy ski once we were off the jagged lumps on the summit.

Catherine, Greg and I went up Cruach Adrain on Sun.

The weather did give some nice colouring on the hills with blue sky trying to break thru. But eventually the cloud came in at the top with not too great visibility on way down.

The summit cone is steeper than I remember and due to the bad visibility we headed straight up a steep slope which saw us virtually climbing. My crampon came loose and had to cut a stance to put it back on. This was supposed to be a walk!

On Sunday Harry Mc and Jules H went to Beinn Udlaidh and did an ice climb just to the right of Sunshine Gully which we reckoned was probably a grade 3/4.
Harry lead the first pitch and Jules did the second, toping out on fairly consolidated snow. There was still a lot of snow about with some overhanging cornices and evidence of recent avalanches at the bottom.

With the ice melting we opted for a walk up Ben Ledi on Saturday. Ten of us turned up, and it was really good to see Karin out after recent awful events for her.
The day was pretty straightforward until a group of decided on the direct approach, up an open looking gully which runs up from not far above the point where the path comes out of the trees.

Why is this meeting going on so long? The ice is melting. At last it finishes and I sneak off to the car park. A quick rummage in the boot for some gear then I disappear quickly into the woods. A short desperate traverse along the side of the motorway trying to dodge the mayhem of lorries and spray then back into the haven of the woods. It’s peaceful down here and very Breugelesque with a blanket of snow and short coppiced trees. Dropping down into a gully I surprise a thin looking fox out foraging. A couple of birds of prey circle overhead. Down the frozen bank and along the river.

Dear All,

I know there are friends of Russell in the club and I would like to share some thoughts with the people who have met and who have spent time with him.