Pete Smith 18th December 2005
Bill, Alan & Margaret, Ronan, Marty and I attended the annual Wassail abseil. This year the action took place above Lough Barra on a day which started wet and dreary, but ended with the whole valley brightened by the Christmas cheer Bill had brought.
Abseiling from the highest point above Ben Cormac crag, we managed to find the steepest section of rock, so that we reached the ancient oak grove after a free-hanging descent. Once everyone was here, hot port was passed around and we sang a few carols while Bill decorated a tree with Christmas lights. Then we tied a second rope to the first and made our way to the valley floor, reaching level ground about 500 feet below the belay points. The photo shows the Christmas lights (not so prominent in the prevailing bright sunlight as they were when the twilight arrived)
Returning to the car park, we were able to munch our sandwiches bathed in the eerie blue glow of our festive tree. Lovely!
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Disclaimer: Climbing is a dangerous
activity. Potentially lethal. People can, and do, get killed (usually as a result
of a fall). Colmcille Climbing Club (heretoafter referred to as "The Club")
and Pete Smith cannot take responsibility if you decide to go climbing and
subsequently fall as a result of reading this website. In fact, the last
thing we want you to do is fall. That's not to say that we want you to fall,
or that we want it to be the last thing that happens to you; what we mean
is that we don't want you to fall at all. We don't even want you to go climbing
unless you want to: it's your choice. We like going climbing and we think
you'll enjoy it too, but if you do go, don't come running to us whingeing
if you happen to get hurt. If we said to put your hand in a fire, you wouldn't
do it, would you? And if we recommended putting your hand in a fire (which
we don't) we would suggest that you wear fireproof gloves and stuff, and
that you have a bucket of water nearby. So if you decided to go climbing,
we would suggest using ropes and stuff, and having a first aid kit on hand
because accidents can and do happen and they're not always fatal.
The Club does not have any more accidents than any other organisation that
indulges in potentially lethal activities, so it's not down to us. It's not
our fault. Gottit?
