UKC

Hello All,

My partner has booked us two spots in the CIC Hut for a couple of nights this winter. I've been on the Ben quite a few times, but this is the first time I'll stay in the hut.

I'm wondering whether anyone who has stayed at the hut could offer any good tips. I'm just wondering what might be the crucial thing to remember to make things more comfortable, how to keep weight on the walk-in to a minimum - basically striking that balance between what I can do without, and what I should absolutely remember.

Thanks in advance...

In reply to J Brown:

Ear plugs so you don't have to spend all night listening to jive climbing talk?

In reply to J Brown: I'd say go large - you're there for a couple of days, might as well be uber comfortable even if it take a big pack for the walk in. you will have loooong hours of mooching around the hut, might as well be very comfortable.

In reply to J Brown:

Take the number of spaces in the hut, multiply it by 1.5 for the number of people who will be there and add a month weighting as follows:

Dec - x 1.1
Jan - x 1.3
Feb - x 1.5
Mar - x 1.8
Apr - x 1.5

That way you will know how many people will be there.

In reply to J Brown: Take your best tweeds so that you can sneer authentically at the oiks trying to gain access to "Scotland's only alpine hut".

Seriously, take a minimum of stuff. Essentials should include lots of gloves, suncream and an Italian phrase book.

In reply to J Brown: Whisky, plenty of it. Flip flops.

In reply to J Brown:

In my experience it's always really warm and I've got away with a very light sleeping bag or even just a liner.

In reply to J Brown:

I see glenmore lodge do a suggested kit list - link ? :-

http://glenmorelodge-01.e-availability.com/customer_images/8C89FF1B-DF26-43...

I would also be interested to see if UKC came up with any pearls of wisdom.

In reply to J Brown:

Ear plugs for sure.

In reply to J Brown: As you know it's not much of a walk in so take quality food and drink and plenty of it. Why go light?

Get up early- seen so many folk stay in the hut, sleep late and end up queuing for routes! You have the pick of the mountain.

Gear up in the warmth of the hut and just carry a tiny day sack between you.

Enjoy

In reply to J Brown: A bulldozer and a tent.

In reply to J Brown:

Take tea bags and wafer type biscuits. Eat others hob nobs and drink their whisky :O)

In reply to J Brown:

Go comfy, the walk up is going to be a pain with a heavy sac no matter how you do it, so take wine, whiskey, bread bacon, eggs, pre roasted chicken, frozen pizza's. The days are very long if you are trapped in by the weather, perhaps consider a stack of grumble books?

In reply to J Brown:

Take a large mug - when I was there they had these stupid little teacups and I didn't get enough to drink and ended up horribly dehydrated!

It is a great place to stay, though.

In reply to Jim Hamilton:

Thanks for the link - and thanks to everyone for their tips so far - very useful indeed. Originally I thought that a lighter approach would be better in terms of the walk-in. However, I was aware of the fact that it will be a couple of long evenings / nights in the hut - so all of the tips about taking the extra weight, and being comfortable in the hut, are quite interesting.

I'm looking forward to our trip - thanks again for all the advice so far.

Jamie.

In reply to J Brown:

Get a bed away from the loft hatch unless you're a very heavy sleeper.

In reply to J Brown: Take a small pack for yer kerry oot for the walk back from the Volly Arms in Fort William

In reply to J Brown: The bunk, tucked in the corner on the left as you walk into the sleeping bit is best, pitch black in there, can get yerself a rare sleep. Mind bin bags for carryin all yer gubbins back down to the midden at the end of the weekend too!

In reply to J Brown: Post the rennovations I'd say ear plugs are less an issue than before and also the sleeping area is less hot.... not that thats a problem but its now more like an unheated space with a bunch of bodies in it rather than a smalle space with a gas fire and 2 cookers blasting away to keep those out of bed warm and those in bed sweating.....

In reply to J Brown:

My only piece of advice is don't loose the key...

In reply to Tom Ripley: Then whine like feck about having to pay Mr Clothier for a replacement.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=285980&v=1#x4244092

In reply to tom.e:

Andy Moles likes this.

In reply to andy moles:
+1
Chris

In reply to J Brown:
" I'm just wondering what might be the crucial thing to remember "
A smug grin for everyone who has to walkin and out the same day they are climbing

In reply to tom.e:

Is that to shovel all the riff raff into, then cover over their stinky sweaty bodies?

In reply to J Brown:

If you're being totally honest with yourself you'd better deduct a grade from any routes you climb as well.

In reply to J Brown: Some earplugs as well so you cant hear the braying geoffreys guffawwing up their routes.

In reply to Lamb: I'd definitely recommend the whisky. You'll need something to wash away the shame of cheating on Britain's best mountain.