Junior Meet Autumn 2008

The first of the three meets this year took a party of about 35 (we never quite managed to count accurately) to Tillicoultry. In our usual long straggle we set off out of the sunshine into the depths of Mill Glen, and then steeply up and up and up to the top of Ben Cleuch, the highest Ochil (721m), where we took over the summit area for lunch. Then came a sunny walk with views over the Forth valley and as far as Edinburgh and Dundee; we smugly watched showers passing by to the south. One thing was missing: steep enough slopes for the younger members of the party to roll down. So we had to climb King’s Seat Hill as well, and its descent proved satisfactory. It was also a beautiful walk down grassy slopes towards Dollar, then along the ravine of the Burn of Sorrow to Castle Gloom, and hence by the Burn of Care and Dollar Glen back to the road. No sorrow or care or gloom this time (even about the dollar), just a really good hill walk.

JJC Fenton

Junior Meet summer 2009

At about 1.00 on Sunday, a champagne cork flew off into the mist from the top of Ben Lomond. What were we celebrating? All 26 walkers achieving the summit? The 104th Junior Meet? The fact that none of the three staff present would be here next year? Well, it was something to do with the latter: the end of a 35-year era and probably the last club meet in the present form. Luckily it was a good day: no rain, and not too much wind. True, the top half of the hill was mantled in cloud and we never saw the sun, but that didn’t seem to matter. The path took us easily but strenuously to the summit where there was a lengthy champagne-and-photograph stop. The descent was a delight: steep rocky ground at first, then a good new path winding along the Ptarmigan ridge through dimly-glimpsed scenery; half way down we suddenly broke out of the cloud to see Loch Lomond spread out before us – a wow moment. Knees started to suffer on the final steep but very scenic descent to the loch and so back to Rowardennan. It was a highly satisfying day, marred only by the lack of a chip shop on the way back: we had to make do with the motorway services...

My brief and inadequate thanks go to all who have come on these trips over the years: staff, parents, and generations of pupils whose enthusiasm and energy have made them so enjoyable and memorable.

JJC Fenton

EAMC 100th Junior Meet 2008

On Sunday 9 March the summit of Ben Vrackie was taken over by a very large Academy party, and the Centenary Meet was celebrated. In the background was a snowy Schiehallion, where in October 1974 the newly formed Mountaineering Club held its first Junior Meet for boys in Geits-3rds.

Since the start 13 different hills have been visited in a nine-meet cycle, the most popular being Ben Ledi and Ben Cleuch (12 times); the Killin hills (11); White Coomb and Ben Vrackie (10); Ben Vorlich, Glenshee hills and the Cobbler (9). The number of mountaineers has probably averaged about 30; at first a coach was hired, but recently a minibus and cars have provided transport as more family groups have come. We have somehow managed to reach the 100 mark without any serious injuries or mountain rescue call-outs! On every meet except one (Ben Vorlich), at least one party has reached its summit. Only one has been cancelled - in the foot-and-mouth epidemic (Ben Vorlich). Two have had their venue changed by the weather: Ben Vorlich yet again, and last Sunday's one...

The aim was to climb Ben Lomond: but east was best on the day, and even there we were promised heavy showers and strong winds. Ben Vrackie was the hill (it had also been the 50th), and turned out to be dry and not very windy. 41 people and 4 dogs came, in a fleet of vehicles which filled the walkers' car park. We walked in one very long party (not recommended mountaineering practice, and bad luck on the other walkers who met us...), and reached the 841 metre summit in good time. Cloud swirled around, the few snow patches were duly destroyed in the name of snowballing, champagne (sort of) was sipped, pictures were taken; and then we set off down the pathless and complicated western slopes, mostly walking, but the Geits for some reason preferring to tumble down in the heather. We eventually reached the Bealach path and so arrived back at the vehicles in sunshine.

Unexpectedly good weather, an ideal junior mountain and a happy band of mountaineers made it a worthy centenary celebration.