Members present: Colin Maddison, Dave Bone, Roger Daley & Duncan Lee. Others in Scotland (somewhere): Dan O'Brien & Carl Pulley.

This was definitely a meet for those who wished to stray from the beaten and well strimmed path. Especially for Dan & Carl who, in true KMC form, strayed so far that in Dan's own words "Couldn't find the hut as incompetent so off to sleep on the couch with the SUMC. See you tomorrow, D". It must have been a very cosy sofa because they were never seen by the rest of the meet despite us all being on the same crag on the Sunday. Dan reports that they had fun on Corrie an t-Snechda on both days whilst climbing The Goat Track, Aladdin's Mirror & Central Gully.

The four of us who actually found the hut managed to ingratiate ourselves with a guide (no not a girl guide) the following morning by disturbing his client's beauty sleep whilst carrying out a clumsy last minute rucksack repack at 6.30 am. The poor dears!

Thus, with bleeding hearts, we headed off to Corrie Cas car park and walked into Coire an Lochain on a brooding, breezy, grey day. The conditions looked lean but we were all keen for the winter's first play on the white stuff. By the time we were gearing up below the crag the wind was lashing clouds of spindrift around the cwm and there was a distinct chill on the fingers; we decided to adopt a one route & out policy! Dave & Roger, once suitably attired, opted for The Milky Way which proved to be nice & tasty. Colin & I initially looked at The Vent before opting for Ventilator which had its moments, especially the steep spindrift lashed exit onto the plateau, from which we quickly scuttled.

Sunday saw the four hut people leaning into the wind whilst walking into Sneachda, which was amazingly sheltered. The day then got better, as the cloud cleared providing us with excellent views, as we all trailed up the classic Spiral Gully before strolling back down the ridge to reach the car for the long drive home.

Thanks to everyone who turned up. It's just a shame that there was not more interest in the meet!

This hut is perfectly placed midway between The Ben and the Cairngorms, 5 miles from Dalwhinnie and 3 miles from Laggan on the A889 at grid ref: 636909. Conditions will be perfect and it's a snip at £7 per night per person. Places are going fast so to secure a place collar me at the xmas bash at the hut or 'phone me on my mobile.

I will not be able to make it to the pub at all on Thursdays so be warned.