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Steall Hut

PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:35 pm
by BUZZ
Who's going to the Steall hut then?

I'm hoping to do a ski traverse of Anoch Mor & Anoch Beag, finishing off at the Ski centre gondola...... This will be a lot easier if there's a second driver, especially if they're willing to pick us up on the otherside!

PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:44 pm
by jsc
Isn't Reuben on the meet list as the other driver? Do you know how much snow/ice there is up there at the minute? I'm hoping to do a classic gully on Ben Nevis if I can persuade anyone else.

PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:30 pm
by mwicks1968
jsc wrote:... I'm hoping to do a classic gully on Ben Nevis if I can persuade anyone else.
Nice idea, but be warned - that's a massive day out from the Steall Hut - you're just about ascending the Ben twice in a day! 6 folk from the Club some years back attempted what you intend, including Piotr the then president who is as strong as an ox - they found just ascending the Ben from the Steall a massive undertaking (v.diff route finding apparently) - no climbing was done that day by any of the 6.

My advice would be to check out Aonach Beag's NE (or is it NW?) ridge - apparently that's a classic route. You could also check out the west face of Aonoch Mor, but god knows what the conditions would be like. But trying to climb anywhere from the Steall hut is a big day out.

The Ring of Steall is the classic trip from the hut (as you probably already know)(Always fancied ice-climbing the Steall Falls, but it been too mild surely?)

Enjoy :-)

PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:37 pm
by StrangeSandwiches
I'll be going, but for walking instead of skiing or climbing. Good luck finding people to go with.
Kit-wise, I take it (from various pictures on forums) that we need sleeping bags and roll-mats, but not stoves etc.? And does the fact that Katie's put the big cooking pots on her kit requests mean the cooking will be shared on Saturday night, and hence Saturday night meal doesn't need to be packed?

PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:42 pm
by jsc
Thanks for that advice Mike, I hadn't actually checked where the hut is! For some reason I thought it was much further down Glen Nevis. Looks pretty good for Aonach Mor/Beag, and there has been stuff in nick round there recently.

Alternatively, the Ring of Steall is something I've been wanting to do for a while, just wanted to try and get the most out of the rapidly disappearing winter.

PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:53 pm
by mwicks1968
jsc wrote:Thanks for that advice Mike, I hadn't actually checked where the hut is! For some reason I thought it was much further down Glen Nevis. Looks pretty good for Aonach Mor/Beag, and there has been stuff in nick round there recently.

Alternatively, the Ring of Steall is something I've been wanting to do for a while, just wanted to try and get the most out of the rapidly disappearing winter.
Any time - I've forgotten who you are? Hope it doesn't all melt or get washed away- I think you can do that ridge as a summer route anyway (Maybe Mod climbing - OK for Big boots)

PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:00 pm
by jsc
I'm Joe. Actually, we've not met through HWUMC, but we have through the JMCS. You gave me a lift back to Colinton from the pub near Alien 1, one monday a few months back.

I think we briefly met at the Christmas curry too.

PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:44 pm
by JP
How many spaces are booked in the hut? If someone where to take a car say...

PostPosted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:37 am
by wardka
Jon - I think Craig booked the hut so he'll know how much space there is.

Anyone know what the cooking facilities are like? And does dinner Sat night need to be vegetarian? Also - I was on the news yesterday. Which was slightly weird...god my voice sounds odd!

PostPosted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:44 am
by StrangeSandwiches
I think the cooking's similar to the likes of the Ling or Smiddy, i.e. gas cookers provided. I couldn't actually find any official info on the hut, that's from looking at the background of a set of photos someone posted about their weekend there!
Don't know about veggie or not, but I'll eat just about anything you care to cook, and offer to help if I'm back in time.
What were you doing to get on the news? (Or shouldn't we ask?!)

PostPosted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:23 am
by mwicks1968
StrangeSandwiches wrote:...I couldn't actually find any official info on the hut, ....
My abiding memory of the hut is it being cold and drafty (I think it could use a new roof).

PostPosted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:24 am
by mwicks1968
wardka wrote:.... Also - I was on the news yesterday. Which was slightly weird...god my voice sounds odd!
Hi there fellow TV star!!! Do tell more? Which channel etc?

PostPosted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:57 pm
by Andy
To the best of my knowledge, looking at the signup list, we can have a lovely meaty feast!

As we aren't sure of the facilities, can anyone suggest a nice one/two pot meal to be had?? Incidentally does the club have any big pots - I haven't been paying attention that much in the past

PostPosted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:12 pm
by mwicks1968
Andy wrote:... Incidentally does the club have any big pots - I haven't been paying attention that much in the past
Yes - Jack was famously sick in them on the way to the Smiddy some years ago :-)
BTW I think the kitchen is fairly well appointed, if I recall - remember there is the wire bridge to get over before you commit to that bacchanalian feast you're planning :-)

PostPosted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:35 am
by StrangeSandwiches
Ah, we've got IKEA bags, ropes, and tons of carabiners, we should be able to rig up a pulley bridge kind of thing for small goods like food. Either that or just lump everything across in rucksacks after dropping off the official contents in the hut.