Orion M.C.

I see that folk have started talking about this on another thread but as it is officially listed as a meet, as Meets Sec I think I had better start a new thread in the appropriate area of the forum

To recap...I was thinking about Ben Hiant, Ardnarmuchan as there is a chance of smashing views for llittle effort. Ben Hiant is relatively small and it will be quite easy for even the weakest members of the club to drag a tent and assorted beverages up the hill

As Alex has also said there is also plenty of rock climbing in area, wonderful Corbetts for bagging and, if the fancy takes and the weather is kind, golden sandy beaches to relax on

However, with events such as a mass hilltop camps it might be prudent to wait until the last moment before finally deciding upon a location...I mean who, apart from Gavin, enjoys camping on clag bound, rain lashed summits with no view

Anyone think of alternative locations in the event that the weather is less kind

Oh, one other thing. It's a long drive to Ben Hiant, would it be better to have the massed high camp on the Saturday as this would give folk more time to get up there We could even camp at the wee campsite at Resipol on the Fri night What says the membership

I can`t make that weekend

Can't make it unfortunately, I will be topping up my tan in Sardinia

Well sorry guys, it's out of my hands, I can't change the date of the summer solstice to suit you

Well the Saturday is the actual solstice, so it would be 'proper' to camp up on the hill that night - unless the Friday is lovely weather and the Saturday is horrid. I'd be up for climbing if anyone else wants to? Although lazing on a beach is equally (if not more) appealing.

According to my diary the solstice is the Friday Can anyone settle this

Have a look at this: http://www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.3843

I may be reading this wrong, but does it mean that the solstice is at a minute to midnight on Friday 20 June? So we should drag our tents up the hill on that night?

Where's Gavin when we need all this astronomy explained to us?

This year the solstice is indeed the 20th June, and the shortest night will be the Friday night. The date changes slightly each year because the orbital period of the earth is not an integer multiple of its rotational period, hence the intercalation of a leap year every four years. I can't speak for the summer event, but for the winter solstice camp we typically set the camp for the nearest convenient date for all participants, within a 3 day period of the longest night, if you see what I mean.

Ardnamurchan is my field research area, are you sure you can all put up with this

i would like to climb there

Ardnamurchan would be a good option, I would say ... great views up and down the west coast, and, as Rob points out, excellent climbing on the ring dyke. You used to be able to find tiny cowrie shels on Sanna bay, brought over from the Caribbean by the north Atlantic drift. I doubt they occur now, with the weakening of the drift.

Count me in for this trip!

I may have sold my car by then though!!! It's up for sale if anyone is interested by the by!

My cousin is looking for a small car......how old and what price are you looking for

She's a:

Ford Ka, 2004 (54) Silver, 46,000 miles, mot till Sept 08, taxed until 31t April 09

1.3l engine (70PS), blue cloth seats, cd/mp3/ipod compatible......... and also has fitted a posh handsfree phone cradle with mircophone and speaker fitted.

£2,600 ono

Super cheap insurance and road and good mpg!

Any other questions gimme a shout!

I found cowrie shells on Irvine beach recently

I`ll pass it on Fraser but I think she`s looking for something cheaper......