The silver groups travelled to Dalwhinnie by train and walked in to Culra, camping near Culra lodge at the foot of Ben Alder with spectacular views up to the cloud filled corries of the eastern face of the mountain. Their second day was a tough climb into the corrie and through the bealach between Ben Alder and Ben Bheoil before descending steep slopes and completing the circumnavigation of Ben Alder. All groups found the climb in strong winds hard going but as Jamie, Rachel T, Rachael M and Mandy appeared back at Culra, the hardest part was over and all the groups were safely in. Their last day was a straight forward walk out to the comfort of a minibus at loch Laggan.

Bronze groups had an easier time, walking in from Loch Laggan and camping by loch Pattack on lush grass with grand views in all directions. An effort was made to cook something slightly more inviting than boil in the bag dinner and rice, smoked sausage and the occasional dolmio sauce was seen disappearing into mess tins bubbling with rice and pasta. A long lie was allowed on Sunday morning as the Bronze would travel home on the 1621 train from Dalwhinnie and as they set off along Loch Ericht they were met by the rector who walked in to escort them back on the train to Glasgow.

It was the biggest group KA have had on expedition at one time and a big change from the 10 or 12 pupils who accompanied Mr F and MR G into Culra six or seven years previously. It only remains for the post expedition reports and group debriefs to take place before log books can be signed off and a few more awards can be presented at assemblies over the coming weeks.