EXCURSIONS.

The Editor will be glad to receive brief notices of any noteworthy expeditions. These are not meant to supersede longer articles, but many members who may not care to undertake the one will have no difficulty in imparting information in the other form.

BEN CHONZIE ON SKI.-Having been disappointed in my hopes of ski-running at the Christmas Meet, I resolved to seize the opportunity of fine weather on Saturday, 12th March, and took an early train to Crieff. By 10 A.M. I was clear of the village, where to my surprise and delight the sight of a pair of ski did not gather a mob, and walking at a fair pace up towards Loch Turret reached a bridge over the stream about three-quarters of a mile below the loch at 11.20. Immediately on the other side of the stream snow was lying in patches among the heather, and was so soft that I sank into the knees, and decided, in spite of the heather patches, to put on the ski at once. In five minutes or so I was on tolerably unbroken snow, and making my way up towards the large hollow which leads to the summit ridge parallel to Loch Turret. These slopes were fairly steep and necessitated many zigzags. Near the top, following always the direction where the snow was most favourable, I followed a pretty and steep traverse at the top of the rocky slopes overlooking Loch Turret, and arrived about I P.M. at the first cairn on Carn Chois, 2,571 feet. Through occasional rifts in the slight fog I could just make out the second cairn a few hundred yards away, and on the farther side of this, continuing in approximately the same direction, had a magnificent shoot down to the dip between this point and Ben Chonzie. The top of the latter, if it can be said to have one, is unfortunately of such an expansive nature that it is really impossible, at any rate without map and compass, to locate the summit cairn in a fog. I plugged on my hardest up gentle and unbroken snow slopes for twenty-five minutes, but apparently arrived at 2.25 not at the summit, though from below it seemed to be so, but at a point a little to the south-west, which subsequent reference to the map has shown to be less than 100 feet below the top. Being pressed for time I had reluctantly to return. The slope down to the little col which had taken nearly half an hour's hard work in the ascent, was descended at an apparently very gentle pace in four minutes, and the route of the ascent followed in the main to the starting point at the stream, which was reached in 1 hours including halts. The snow throughout the day was in ideal condition, and the hills, although quite uninteresting from the climber's point of view, are perfect for ski-running. Ben Chonzie being very broad and flat-topped

has a large area above the 2,000 contour, and being situated in a district of pretty heavy rainfall, usually carries a good deal of snow till quite late in the season. A pleasant variation of this trip would be a traverse from Crieff to Comrie, or vice versa, or the complete circuit of the hills around Loch Turret. J. H. WIGNER.

THE GLEN FINNAN AND LOCH AYLORT HILLS.-It is now two or three years since the West Highland Railway have opened the extension of their line from Fort-William to Mallaig, yet no paper on the district thus opened up has been contributed to the Journal. The reason is perhaps not so far to seek. For the rock climber these hills present very little opportunity for the exercise of his sport; for the collector of the 3,000-foot records there is but little for him to seize. But for the lover of pure wild, even if waste and rather dreary scenery, this is a grand country. Though the landscape is beautiful and wild, yet there is apt to be a depressing element in the view. It is to meet, or better help to meet, these deficiencies that the writer has ventured to take up his pen. In 1901 some excursions were made amongst the hills to the north of Loch Eil, whilst stopping at Glen Finnan Hotel.

One hot day we walked up Glen Finnan until we reached the summit of the saddle between the Streaps and Sgor Choileam, about 1,600 feet high. From thence a steep but easy ascent led to the top of the latter hill. At the top there was a magnificent view to the north over Sgor na Ciche. The great heat haze quite obscured Ben Nevis and all its snows. Although we had found much snow forming the cap of this Ben a few days previously, these hills bore very little indeed. The time of the year was Easter. From here the ridge was followed to the top of Sgor Coireachan, 3,133 feet. All along this ridge on the north side overlooking Glen Pean climbing is to be obtained, but, as viewed from above, it is doubtful if this would ever repay the trouble of getting there. There is one point about the rocks which form the summits of these hills. They contain a large number of common garnets, which we knocked out of the rocks with our ice-axes. This is the only place in Scotland where I have observed them. The descent was made and the hotel reached via Glen Finnan, so closing a most enjoyable and easy day. Our next expedition was from Kinloch Eil up Glen Fionnlighe. There is a most gorgeous track up the first part of this glen, but later it becomes lost. Farther up we found that the place marked on the map Stronlea existed no more. Just above this point two burns join, one coming from each side of Gulvain, whose main ridge runs nearly north and south. We followed the western burn, Allt a Choire Reidh, and then ascended the flank of Gulvain, coming out at the southern summit, 3,148 feet. The ridge joining the two summits is narrow, though it offers no impediment to walking. But it explains the very fine appearance that this hill presented early one morning in 1898, when, with Messrs Munro and Penny, I was ascending into the big northern corrie of Ben Nevis. The dip between the summits sinks to the level of about 2,850 feet, whence an easy

gradient lands one on the real top of the mountain, 3,224 feet high, the monarch of this district. This hill and the neighbouring Streaps present narrow ridges, with steep flanks of rock and grass, but none offer any climbing in the hands-and-feet sense of the word; though, be it remembered, that the excursion amply repays the hill lover. We descended eastward from the col between the tops to the pass between Glen Fionnlighe and Glen Mallie, 800 feet. Thence ascending to the depression between Meall Onfhaidh and Meall a Phubuill, about 1,200 feet, we descended to Glen Suileag, and so to Fassifern on Loch Eil, and home to Fort-William. These were the two more noteworthy expeditions.

Round Loch Shiel the hills are of less elevation, the highest being 2,895 feet high, and the generality about 2,400. They frequently present sharp tops, and everywhere wild rugged sides. But the roughness is rather that of irregularity of outline, like that of the Braes of Balquhidder, rather than that of rock. I do not think that climbing worth the trouble of getting there will be found amongst them.

At Easter 1903 I had the opportunity of visiting Kinloch Aylort, the station beyond Glen Finnan. I had seen the sharp-pointed prominent hills to the south of it from a distance, and was correspondingly urgent to make their acquaintance. So, on the very day of arrival, we followed the track south of Loch Aylort to the point marked on the map Bealach Breac, 299 feet, from which we ascended it by a circuitous and toilsome route, much troubled by having to circumvent deep-cut lateral branches of the glen on the opposite side, and arrived at the foot of the squarely-cut rocky mass of An Stac. It did not take us long to reach the summit, whence unfortunately the mist and cold soon compelled us to retire without even having seen a single one of the mountains we had come to explore. The height of An Stac we estimated to be about 2,650 feet.

Two days later we passed the farm at the head of Loch Aylort, and found our way through the bogs by the Allt a Bhuiridh into the Choire of the same name. The day was fine, but every half-hour there was a tremendous storm of wind and hail. Fortunately this was dry, and we could shelter from it without getting cold. Slowly we wound round the base of An Stac to the col (1,800 feet) between it and Frosven, the highest of the Loch Aylort Hills. Here the mist enclosed us for the next two hours, completely prohibiting any highlevel observations. The ascent from the col is up a fairly narrow easy ridge, which reaches the main east-to-west watershed of the range about half-way between Frosven on the west and Sgùrr na ba Glaise on the east. There are two summits on Frosven of nearly the same height, 2,876 feet. Having passed over these, we descended down steep snow slopes to the track along the southern side of Loch Aylort. Here the weather was warm, sunny, and everything that was delightful, a great comparison to what we had experienced on the summit of Frosven.

Other expeditions were quite as unsatisfactory for finding out the character of these hills. There are rocky faces. Sgùrr na ba Glaise

XLIV. D

presents a small one towards the north, and in the clear moments there seemed to be a gully running up this face. It was filled with snow, except about half-way up and near the top. If any climber is at Kinloch Aylort, I would suggest his going straight up the Choire a Bhuiridh to this peak at the head of it. The height is 2,817 feet.

At the eastern end of the range is Druim Fiaclach, 2,851 feet. This I did not explore, but saw that it had sloping flanks, with a terminal crest of rocks. Also, the cartographer has inserted on the map a curious shading as though it was a case of "ware cliffs." This line does not seem to follow a ridge, but meanders about corries in an apparently irresponsible way. As to its meaning, I cannot offer any, and hope that further light may be shed upon this and similar cartographical hieroglyphics by other members of the Club.

With respect to the southern side of these hills I am absolutely ignorant, being permitted only to see the intangible greyness of the mist there. But judging from other hills in the neighbourhood, it is to be expected that their northern faces are the most craggy, therefore I should not expect much from the unseen slopes of these hills. Taken as a group, there are four outstanding hills worthy, if they had attained 3,000 feet, of being considered separate mountains. As it is, their heights are-Frosven, 2,876 feet; Druim Fiaclach, 2,851 feet; Sgùrr na ba Glaise, 2,817 feet; and An Stac, 2,650 feet. The first three are situated on a ridge running east and west, with Frosven on the west end and Druim Fiaclach on the east. The ridge of An Stac is projected out towards the north from a point midway between Frosven and Sgùrr na ba Glaise. It becomes in consequence far the most prominent feature of these hills as viewed from the railway.

It will be seen that these Aylort Hills agree with those of Glen Finnan in affording little work for the rock climber, but their shape and individuality impress themselves strongly on the hill wanderer. EDRED M. CORNER.

SLIGACHAN INN.-This inn is now in the hands of workmen, so that during the month of May some discomforts might be experienced by visitors. The improved conditions will be much appreciated. I have made the following arrangements with the manager :—

From 16th September to 30th June the following tariff shall apply, viz. :-Complete board, including afternoon tea and such baths as may be available, 8s. per day; from 1st July to 15th September 9s. per day.

These terms apply only to members of the S.M.C. or to friends accompanying them. They do not apply to climbers who are not in company with the members of the S.M.C. W. INGLIS CLARK.

KINGSHOUSE HOTEL, GLENCOE.-I have made the following arrangements, viz. :-For complete board and afternoon tea, 5s. 6d. per day to parties staying three days. There is only one mail per week (Thursdays) from 15th September to 1st June. W. INGLIS CLARK,

2 SPENSER STREET, VICTORIA STREET, LONDON, S.W., 11th January 1904.

DEAR DOUGLAS,—It may interest the Club to know the alterations

and additions to the Ordnance Survey Map of Skye.

corrected heights in Skye :

Sgurr Alasdair

I enclose list of

3,309

On the mainland of Ross-shire, in the new quarter-inch map, Mullach Coire Mhic Fhearchair, heretofore given no height, 3,327.

The new six-inch maps of the Cairngorms are also much improved in the cliff drawing, and in giving correct names. The six-inch in Skye have inserted a good many new names and altered some others. They give Clach Glas as Glac Glas, which is rather absurd, as it means "grey ravine." The shepherd who used to herd Blaven (the new name in Ordnance Survey as against Blath Bheinn), called it An Stac, and the peak marked An Stac in Ordnance Survey he called Stac nan Eun, or bird's stack.—Yours sincerely,

COLIN B. Phillip.

P.S.--The shepherd mentioned, also called the Corrie on Blaven which is drained by the Allt Dunaiche, Coire nan Easgeasgain.

THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE YORKSHIRE RAMBLERS' CLUB took place in the Hotel Metropole, Leeds, on 13th February, when over seventy gentlemen were present. The S.M.C. was represented by the Hon. Sec., on whom devolved the honourable toast of "The Yorkshire Ramblers' Club." The various speakers during the evening referred to the S.M.C. in the warmest terms, and cordial greetings were entrusted to our representative. W. INGLIS CLARK.

SLIGACHAN CLIMBERS' BOOK.-The old Climbers' Book was presented to the Club by Mrs Sharp. A type-written copy has been made, and bound up with articles from the Journal, photographs, and the whole Guide Book material referring to the Coolins. These together form a handsome volume, which will be placed in the custody of the manager of Sligachan Inn for the use of all climbers. Blank pages are left for further notes; but it is hoped that such notes will be