Beinn Alligin

[colm]

Forecast still for up t 30k winds so reluctantly left Liathach for another day to ensure we could do the full ridge and decided on Beinn Alligin. Great sunny clear skies and surprisingly warm in Southerly Wind. The first hour pulling up the steep but excellent path into th corrie was really tough after 3 days climbing and a good few beers with Johhny in the hotel the previous night. When we stopped, also blister from my new boots was really bothering me by now, i realised i was dehydrated from the heat and had to refill by bladder at a burn after a huge drink. This sorted me out and then we made a good steasty pace to the summit where Johnny put a compeed on my rather nasty blister. The new SL boots i was walking in were really different to the old ones although should be the correct size?
After big heartfelt discussions the night before about lockdown and what it had been doing for Johnny, business and otherwise, it was heartening to see the hills do busy with walkers, especially young people and families out at last, after s severe restriction on movement. Toddlers running around the summit in the sunshine a pleasure to see. Really noticed the stiff breeze on the bealach between Tom na Gruagaich and Sgurr More, probable it was here that my new bum mat blew away! After a photo op at the huge ravine thart splits the slope in half en rout the the second summit it was time for some scrambling fun on the Horns of Allgin. Great fun and lovely rock, although the flat narrow ridges on the top of the horns required some focus in the winds. Followed and overtaken by beautiful young scottish families ad feeling more hopeful for the future we made the steep rocky descent and back to the car for a pint in The Torridon arms and a very interesting discussion about the Highland Clearances and the unique history that has influenced this landscape. Can't wait for more of Torridon. A great end to this summer's bagging visit.