Memories of summer (from June!)

[johnbythell]

For me at least, the 'summer' has been one mostly of waiting about for the weather to clear, occasional run-outs on weather-window days or ending up a soggy mess after some bad calls. I was looking back at photos of our trip to Skye earlier in the season and thought I should post some memories of those heady days of June, when we had clear skies, warm, dry rock and used hats to keep the sun rather than the rain off our faces.

We did four days of guided climbing on some of the Skye classics (the Cioch, King's Chimney, Collies Ledge, Pinnacle Ridge and the Clach Glas-Bla Bheinn traverse) with Scott Kirkhope. I can't recommend http://www.kirkhopemountaineering.co.uk/ highly enough by the way, Scott is an excellent, confidence-inspiring guide with encyclopaedic knowledge of the Cuillins. The weather also helped a lot

Here are some of the highlights:

Arriving at Glenbrittle campsite - what an amazing location

The Cuillin from the campsite

and the other direction isn't too shabby either..

Traversing off Cioch Buttress towards the summit of Sgurr na Ciche, after the obligatory swordfight on top of the Cioch

Near the summit of Sgurr na Ciche

Loch Coire a Ghrunnda

On the Sgurr Sgumain-Sgurr Alasdair arete

Dropping down off Sgurr Alasdair summit

The Great Stone Chute

Sgurr Alasdair and the Great Stone Chute from the An Stac screes

Collies Ledge, Sgurr MhicCoinnich

King's Chimney Sgurr Mhic Coinnich

Descending Sgurr Mhic Coinnich, Sgurr Dearg and the Inaccessible Pinnacle behind

Top of the An Stac screes

Now I'm all for getting a guide, but I wanted to get up the Munros under my own steam, so led the In Pinn - here on the first pitch (which has very little protection that doesn't wobble)

On the second pitch

Happy to get the first decent runner in

Bringing up the second

The abseil off

Heading down Windows Buttress

The Eas Mor waterfall

On the way up to Pinnacle Ridge, Sgurr nan Gillean

On Pinnacle Ridge

Sgurr nan Gillean with Am Basteir in the background

One of the many beautiful pools on the Allt Dearg Beag

The Cuillin skyline from the bealach at the start of the Clach Glas-Bla Bheinn traverse

On the traverse

Approaching the Imposter

Soay from the top of the Imposter

Bla-Bheinn summit trig point

On top of the world (well almost)

Final look at the stunning Cuillin skyline from Bla Bheinn

[dav2930]

What a great trip that looked! Nice to see someone leading the In Pinn for a change and tackling some of the classic Cuillin climbs and traverses instead of just bagging the Munros by their easiest routes. The Clach Glas - Blaven traverse was one I particularly enjoyed way back when, albeit in wet and claggy conditions.

You got some very spectacular shots there.

[johnbythell]

What a great trip that looked! Nice to see someone leading the In Pinn for a change and tackling some of the classic Cuillin climbs and traverses instead of just bagging the Munros by their easiest routes. The Clach Glas - Blaven traverse was one I particularly enjoyed way back when, albeit in wet and claggy conditions.

You got some very spectacular shots there.

Thanks Dave - yes pretty special, particularly when looking back from the viewpoint of the awful summer we've been having (though maybe we're in for an 'Indian Summer' now - we've earned it!). Yes Clach Glas-Blaven was definitely a highlight - and was also the clearest of days, spectacular.