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A late start on one of two forecast good days in the week. At the car park things didn't look too promising with all the nearby tops shrouded in cloud. the slog up to the ridge was mostly muggy with tantalising glimpses of the opposite peaks through the cloud. perhaps it was starting to clear after all.
- The view across Glen Torridon
On the ridge it was thick cloud, so I decided it was pointless heading up to Stuc a Choire Dhuibh Bhig for a non-existant view of Beinn Eighe. A quick sandwich, then the rain started...
By the time I'd made the summit of Spidean a Choire Leith the rain had stopped, but still in thick cloud. I could hear voices from people ahead. As I descended towards the pinnacles, suddenly there were glimpses of the route ahead.
- Pinnacles through the mist
The voices I could hear were a couple just geeting to the start of the traverse. I sat and watched for 10 minutes hoping the cloud would lift some more.
- Couple on the traverse
The cloud thickened again, so I dropped down to the start of the pinnacles, just as I arrived the cloud rolled off the pinnacles and the route ahead was revealed. I could see two walkers negotiating the traverse and a couple on the final pinnacle. I put my camera away and focussed on the scrambling ahead.
- The pinnacles stretch ahead
The scrambling was mostly fine, just the odd slippy bit where the rain had dampened the rock, and soon I was on the final pinnacle. The cloud rolled back in as I climbed towards Mullach an Rathain, but I didn't care it had stayed clear for the pinnacles and the route was now obvious.
Reaching the summit I could hear conversation nearby and could hear they were discussing the view, so it must be clearing again. I sat down to eat a snack and sure enough it started to clear. the view down Loch torridon and over to Beinn Alligin was fantastic. I sat and took it all in for 15 miutes then started the steep descent to the road and back to my lift.
- Beinn Alligin
All in all a fantastic day and the atmospheric clouds just added to the awe of the traverse.
