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Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.


Postby mountainstar » Sun Oct 25, 2015 2:20 pm

Route description: Suilven

Fionas included on this walk: Suilven

Date walked: 13/10/2015

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I had climbing Suilven several times over the years, and had also spent a few night’s in Suileag Bothy at it’s foot. During those years I’d been dreaming of a high camp on this iconic mountain, but the timing was never right when I was actually up in the awesome area of Assynt, the weather had never played ball with my dream, but this time I was lucky enough to be up when a spell of high pressure was fixed over Scotland…my chance had come…my dream was to become a reality. :D
The previous evening I had wild-camped at the road end at Achnahaird Bay, near to Achiltibuie, which has a great view of the Assynt mountains, a few showers passed to reveal some spectacular rainbows during the late afternoon. :thumbup:

ImageAchnahaird Bay (1) by Alan, on Flickr

ImageAchnahaird Bay (4) by Alan, on Flickr

The next morning I was up to witness a fabulous sunrise, Suilven was looking very inviting…time to pack up and head to Lochinver. 8)

ImageAchnahaird Bay, sunrise (3) by Alan, on Flickr

I walked in from Glencanisp Lodge under a blue sky, with no wind and the warmth of the sun on my face, it was going to be a great day and night. :D

ImageCanisp and Suilven by Alan, on Flickr

ImageCanisp by Alan, on Flickr

I popped into Suileag Bothy en route, as much I love a night in a Bothy, I was pleased I was not stopping here tonight.

ImageSuileag Bothy (1) by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuileag Bothy (2) by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuileag Bothy (5) by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven (1) by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven (2) by Alan, on Flickr

Once off the main track to Elphin I reached the boggy mile section that leads to the steep climb to the summit ridge, a ten minute walk from the bealach easily leads to the main summit at 731 meters.

ImageSuileag from Suilven by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven East peak by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven ridge by Alan, on Flickr

The summit is a flat grassy dome, perfect for camping…as long as the wind does not pick up. I set up camp right by the summit cairn, but decided to move later to a more sheltered spot which I eyed up as I walked up the ridge, as I was not sure if the wind would pick up in the night.

ImageSuilven West summit (2) by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven West summit camp (2) by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven West summit camp by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven West summit by Alan, on Flickr

What a place to camp! Simply awesome! I was a lucky and happy guy as you can see from the pictures. :thumbup:

ImageSuilven, view to Skye at sunset by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven, view to Skye at sunset (2) by Alan, on Flickr

I moved to the other spot just after sunset and settled down for the night.

ImageSuilven, dusk. by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven, Aurora by Alan, on Flickr

I was awake at the crack of dawn, there was just the right amount of high cloud to enhance the sky as the sun rose to the east.

ImageSuilven sunrise (7) by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven sunrise (1) by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven sunrise (2) by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven sunrise (3) by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven sunrise (4) by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven sunrise (5) by Alan, on Flickr

ImageSuilven sunrise (6) by Alan, on Flickr

What a place to witness the sunrise, I was in awe and just about the luckiest guy alive that morning. :D

Utterly contented I packed and set off.

ImageSuilven by Alan, on Flickr

This had been an experience of a lifetime, one I will never forget.
Suilven I love you! :-P

If you like this, you should like the video of this trip here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gldj7BHZPzg
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mountainstar
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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby rockhopper » Sun Oct 25, 2015 2:39 pm

Magic, just magic :thumbup: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Nice video too - no wonder you were a "happy guy".
"Trillion star hotel" :lol: - quite fitting - cheers :)
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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby mountainstar » Sun Oct 25, 2015 3:26 pm

rockhopper wrote:Magic, just magic :thumbup: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Nice video too - no wonder you were a "happy guy".
"Trillion star hotel" :lol: - quite fitting - cheers :)


Thanks rockhopper, pleased you liked it.
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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby mountainsofscotland » Sun Oct 25, 2015 3:59 pm

How good was that! Bet you were grinning like a Cheshire Cat after that wild camp (and deservedly so).
Superb! Hope you don't mind that I have shared on Twitter.
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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby mountainstar » Sun Oct 25, 2015 4:14 pm

mountainsofscotland wrote:How good was that! Bet you were grinning like a Cheshire Cat after that wild camp (and deservedly so).
Superb! Hope you don't mind that I have shared on Twitter.


Cheers Andy, Yes please share, I don't do Twitter, so don't even know what sharing there does, post me a link to see if you can, thanks
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mountainstar
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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby mountainsofscotland » Sun Oct 25, 2015 4:21 pm

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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby Alteknacker » Sun Oct 25, 2015 5:53 pm

Just brilliant!
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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby dooterbang » Sun Oct 25, 2015 6:01 pm

I'll need to live to 100 and chuck working very soon to get near what you've achieved. Awesome stuff, old boy :clap:
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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby mountainstar » Sun Oct 25, 2015 6:51 pm

mountainsofscotland wrote:https://twitter.com/mtnsofscotland/status/658298354179448832

Thanks Andy, thats great.
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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby mountainstar » Sun Oct 25, 2015 6:53 pm

dooterbang wrote:I'll need to live to 100 and chuck working very soon to get near what you've achieved. Awesome stuff, old boy :clap:

You seem to be getting on quite well with awesome highcamps. :D
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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby Collaciotach » Sun Oct 25, 2015 6:59 pm

Superb :clap:
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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby davgil » Mon Oct 26, 2015 2:24 pm

Fantastic mountainstar..well done again!
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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby Graeme D » Mon Oct 26, 2015 5:22 pm

Beyond words Mr B! Utterly outstanding stuff! :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby mountainstar » Mon Oct 26, 2015 5:34 pm

Thanks Guys, I hope it will inspire others :D
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Re: Suilven Summit high camp: A tick on the bucket list.

Postby wilkiemurray » Mon Oct 26, 2015 10:08 pm

Superb - what a great sun rise - very jealous - really enjoyed the photos and the video :)

ATB

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