26th December Advance Party Kewley-Gupta arrived and established base camp at the Grey Corries Lodge in Roy Bridge.

27th December
Wendy and AG set about scaling the Nordwand (a.k.a. Tower Ridge, Ben Nevis) with local assistance - climbing guide Chris Dale. The feat was achieved in 10 hours. Several more parties arrived. Jane Buxton, Kate Gerard and Rob M arrived via Sheffield. John Hilary, Stephan and Sarah Glover arrived from London. Secondary camp was established across the road at the B’n’B. Lucy and Mike leading the clamour for five pound a night extra, getting a better shower and breakfast to order, and woo betide any changing of the order after the ‘Wicked Witch Of The North’ had written it down.

28th December
Advanced Party Kewley-Gupta had a serious days R’n’R, with Fort William's shopping establishments bearing the brunt of this ruthless assault. Jules arriving on scene added some serious gravatas to the purchasing situation.

After a minor assault on the nearby peak of Beinn Chlianaig. Achieved by fording the river, having found a small tent in the middle of the flow. The expected return trip over the map marked bridge, wasn't to be. The bridge had disappeared some 10/20 years earlier. Mental Note: Map more artists' impression than serious laborious geographical survey. Needless to say wet feet all round

John Hilary, Stephan, Lucy and Mike successfully ascended three 600m peaks in front of the Roy Bridge Hostel, although they didn’t see much because of the cloud and the route remind them of a bog the whole way.

Other arrivals included Paul and Delphine via Birmingham John Bradshaw and Catharine Hartley, Cheryl and Simon, Sara and Rob arrived opting for the more luxurious accommodation. Rob and Vanessa, Sandy, David opting for the ‘cosy’ lodge bedding. Rosie arrived via a seriously expensive Virgin Cab (the local cabbie decided his Christmas had arrived late!) from Glasgow, due to resultant Virgin Train having run too late. Overheard later in the pub; AG on finding a willing accomplice in the form of Stephan were over heard discussing the following mornings ascent of Castle Ridge on Ben Nevis. A low audible chuckle was heard when Stephan inquired, ‘that's fine, but what are we doing in the afternoon?’ after all ‘won't we be finished by midday.  

29th December
AG and Stephan completed Castle Ridge (VDiff in summer conditions) in about 8 hours, after much 'faffing with harder routes'. Lunch unsurprisingly was spent on the mountain.

Rob M, Rosie, Jane Buxton, Sarah Glover and Sandy ticked Ben Nevis off their list of Winter Routes, admittedly on the motorway route. Buxton finding the winter route slow going compared with her summer time of three hours 16 mins en-route during the Four Peaks British Isles Challenge. All appeared pretty pleased to be in Fort William by 3:30pm for tea and cakes. John H and Kate continued the MMCs apparently insatiable appetite for shopping in Fort William.

Winter Skills Mk1, Rob B, Zoë, Paul, Delphine gorged themselves on a diet of self-arrest, crampon skills in the only area with snow; Carn Gorms.

Aonach Eagach Mk 1; thwarted all but John Bradshaw and Catharine Hartley. The time was recorded as seven hours, ‘not bad when your four months pregnant’ beamed the very proud and delighted El President. Catharine on a more modest note just followed it up with a grade two ice climb (just don't tell her mother!!). Wendy, Mike and Lucy, Jules bailed and investigated the Lost Valley were conditions were more favourable for the less well equipped. Although good things were reported by all about the local Clachaig Inn especially the local fare.

David, Rob and Sara, Simon and Cheryl attacked Stob Ban, although navigation skills were lacking as they got lost in the forest on the way back!

Rob and Vanessa took the low level Glen Nevis option, so what happened with the Chilean preparation? They then joined up with Sandy to watch 007 in his latest adventure filled, cliché ridden outing at the Cinema.

Rob And Zoë arrived to the delights of fold-out showers.

30th December
MMC decamp en-mass to Cairn Gorms Winter skills Mk 2; AG (after his Climbing Winter Skills Course!), Jane B, Kate Gerard, Rob M with Chris Dale. Although departure was late all arrived swiftly at the Italian restaurant to meet their guide on time. The driver was heard commenting ‘I took it slowly for the last half of the trip’ and still made it in an hour and five minutes.

Simon gave a more charitable version of the skills course, taking several novices on a winter skills course for a beer in the bar presumably? Cheryl, David, Rob and Sara benefited. Both skills courses occurred in Coire an t-Sneachda.

Continuing the theme John Bradshaw and Catharine Hartley climbed The Runnel (Grade Two 2 stars). Wendy, Mike and Lucy, Rosie, Jules and Sandy all continued the walking in Carn Gorms theme attacking the ridge walk. Mike and Lucy bailed due to a lack of equipment, yet still broke Wendy’s walking pole! Rob B and Zoë continued the fine MMC tradition of going shopping in Fort William. John Hillary’s on-going cold continued to hamper his trip.

Delphine and Paul had ‘nothing to report’ of their trip to the Isle of Sky. Maybe because Stephan had a companied them on an otherwise romantic outing? Rob and Vanessa bagged a Munro that could have been Stob a Choire Mheadhoin.

31st December
John Bradshaw and Simon continued fine work in thin conditions adding Y Gullich Right Branch (Grade Two, 1 Star) to their list of accomplishments.

Aonach Eagach Mk 2 (a.k.a. The Revenge) Wendy, Rosie, Jules, Rob N and Stephan successfully completed the route despite harassment from Mountain Rescue. A thumbs up was required to prove that although they are mad, they had every intension of getting down under their own steam.

New acquired winter skills were put to use in testing wind conditions in the Carin Gorms, summited Carn Gorm, plus Stob Corie an t-Sneachda. Rob M, Sarah G, Kate G, Jane B and David. Others out utilising new skills were Rob and Zoë, Paul and Delphine who climbed Aladdin’s Gully, described as a small ice pitch in the prevailing conditions.

Fort William and Glen Nevis came in for close attention, by the MMCers Vanessa, Catharine, Cheryl, Sandy, John H, Lucy and Mike enjoyed their bimbling day. The Glove Incident; Sara, who is a fully trained midwife put her extensive range of medical skills to the test on finding Rob doubled in pain on the mountain. After careful inspection found penile frostbite that was considered non threatening and a glove was attached too said member. Whether they become club 'members' has yet to be recorded.

Dinner was held in the nearby Spean Bridge Hotel, providing vast quantities of curry at very reasonable rates and although hat turn out was poor, I must add that I thought mine was fabulously tacky! This was all followed by tomfoolery in the bar. It was observed that the local singer had ‘mighty fine knees’ cooed the ladies. Although no further inspection was completed to see whether he measured up to being a true Scotsman as just before midnight he declared he was off to see the New Year in with his ‘mammie’. Grumbles were made surrounding the lock-in that consisted of bring your own and the tables certainly weren’t up to dancing on them (opps!)

1st January 2003
A New Year and an early nomination for the club's Fxxxwit award. Stephen having missed the ‘please drive carefully’ note on the bottom of the Spean Bridge sign, wrote his car off when it met the aforementioned Bridge. Much sweet tea was in order for the passengers. Top marks to Rob B and Zoë, Wendy and David, who promptly returned to carry kit and original passengers shaken but not stirred safely back to London.

Although a more bold party achieved the following report for which I'm forbidden to use the words 'beached' or 'whale', so I won’t. Having found one leg break the ice, Cheryl remained resolute fixed to the spot until the second foot broke the icy meniscus. At this point Simon and Jane intervened grabbing an arm each, hauled Cheryl to drier ground. Cheryl still without use of either leg found the mud pack useful although not altogether welcome on exposed flesh.

Most people made leisurely trips homeward bounds.

2nd January and following days
That largely wraps up the report except to record Sherpa Buxton's attempt to carry Paul Grinnell's rucksack up the Aonach Eagach. The former being rather fitter than the latter. Although it was questioned why he thought it necessary to carry the kitchen sink around Glen Coe. In the end windy conditions put pay to yet another attempt at this infamous ridge.

Cheryl and Simon on finally finding some snow in the Cairn Gorms, had to settle for cross country skiing as grade four avalanche conditions had turned the area in to seriously dangerous for all.

Many thanks to Wendy for organising.

‘The Bag Lady’