It took 13 Years!

[inthewildKyle]

Almost exactly 13 years ago, my hiking partner and I attempted Sgorr Dhearg, ascending from the eastern slope from Ballachulish. We had, just a few weeks before, conquered Ben Cruachan, so we were feeling ambitious. Confident.

The intraversible arrette along schoolhouse ridge was soon to put that confidence and optimism to bed. Maybe it was the heat, maybe it was vertigo, maybe it was just fatigue - but we descended in misery having being beaten by the mountain.

The next year we attempted to help banish the demon by climbing its neighbour, the excellent Sgorr Donuill, and on that trip discovered a far easier ascent of the second peak. But, sadly, that was to be the last trip we would take for 12 years.

Conquering our comeback mountain, Schiehallion, this year, gave us new energy. And it wasn't long before we both decided, no, Sgorr Dhearg must be next.

We began our climb at 9am on a wonderful saturday morning, 41 years to the day that i was born unto this earth. The weather was threatening drizzle, but more so threatening blazing heat. Our first 40mins or so saw us traipsing along a forestry road, with my partner confident in a right turn once the road curved. This was our first and only mistake - and we clambered up a near vertical path through a deforested woodland, mingling with rogue feral sheep and tough ground.

It wasn't until we reached flat ground again that the possibility came to light that we missed a turn off somewhere, because suddenly we were on a proper, worn path. With footprints and evidence of civilisation.

This new route ran along flat, solid ground for a fair bit, then ascended steeply up to the bealach. From there, it was simply turn left. The final run was a tiring and slow ascent, but once we summitted, we could rest. The destroyed trig provided us a seat for our tired behinds, and we must have sat there for about thirty minutes, enjoying the frankly stunning views - from Ben Nevis all the way out to the Cullins on Skye. We even spotted our previous mountain, glowering at us from the far distance.

The descent - well, this time we just followed the path, and lo and behold it took us right down to the the exact moment I took a wrong turning - yeah, we'd missed the nice path by about twenty feet and continued along the forest road. Lesson learned, i guess.

So, yes, 13 years later and Sgorr Dhearg is behind us. Happy birthday to me!