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Back on Skye for the first time in over 25 years - remembered when you sat on the ramp eating chips and working out how many trips the ferry would make before there was space for your car.
On the island for a week - hopefully that meant three or four days hill time.
Day 1 - Bla Bheinn - a much belated visitAccompanied by a Skye-newcomer - filled full of ferocious tales about the fearsome Cuillin - needed to persuade him that Bla Bheinn would be a good intro and confidence booster - it paid back in bucketfulls - from the first glimpse on the road from Broadford, through the sudden panorama on getting to the top, to the appetite whetted for more.
- Bla Bheinn from Loch Cill Chriosd
Standard route followed from the shores of Slapin to the area by Fionna-choire - but shunned the right-hand turn in favour of the track heading to the col on the skyline of the ridge ahead.
Benefitted from constant view over to Rhum - better than being enclosed in stone filled gully and the danger of a newcomer being intimidated by increasing steepness and scrambling - leave that till later.
- Rhum from slopes above Fionna-choire
A bit more distance on the day - but progress up the easier angled slopes on the ridge saw us head up towards the top in a good time of just over two hours.
And what a reward - panoramas of calendar proportions - from the early 1970s Bla Bheinn was a view in the distance for the next decade or more - why did I wait so long to enjoy it at close quarters?
- Cuillin Ridge from summit
Red Cuillin was also spread out enticingly - guilt triggered about not having spent time on them as well - but more of that anon ....
- Red Cuillin from summit
Scrambled descent down the recommended route upwards resulted in a reassuring confidence booster.
"If I'd looked up at that to begin with, I wouldn't have done it" he remarked as we negotiated the steepest section - one up to experience over desk-bound horror stories and encouragement for future forays.
- Descent to Loch Slapin
Day 2 - Am Bastier - round twoTwo attempts spanning thirty years - two knockbacks - such is life.
Failed to find the way round the Tooth in thick mist in the dim and distant past - cloud base now just touching the tops - so optimism filled hopes of a quick foray to settle the score.
- Cloud-topped Sgurr nan Gillean and Am Bastier from Sligachan
As I gained height up the path from the Sligachan - the cloud base lost it almost step for step
The Bastier Gorge looked menacing as I passed it on my right - now I could only hear the clink of gear as a couple of ropes started up Pinnacle Ridge as I contoured round to the south west below the cliffs
- Bastier Gorge from above
Finally found the scree slope coming down from the Bealach Bastier in still thickening mist and now rain - let's see how far things go.
A solo jaunt today after a long time away - discretion was always going to get the better part of valour at the nick on the final ridge, with little confidence in finding the traverse below it in these conditions.
So, off back down to fight another day after looking across those few tantalising metres just a little way from the top - or just an excuse to go back up.
Still, it's been a good day out - enthusiasm intact - inspired by the mere sense of the surroundings - and enjoyed the lighting effects as it felt like night and day in one view.
- Sligachan from Coire a Bhastier
Now, call me a purist or a pedant, but (
contrary to coments on recent strings elsewhere on the Forum) despite getting so close, this experience epitomises why Am Bastier still doesn't get "the tick".
Day 3 - Glamaig - victim of neglect?Bet we've all driven past it; camped below it; sunk a few pints / drams looking at the sun setting on it; dismissed it in the helter skelter rush to the jagged peaks - apart from those souls who derive pleasure in simply running up it.
Staying in Sconser, on her very slopes - seemed rude to ignore her again.
Away up the Allt Daraich after breakfast and a bog trot towards the Druim na Ruaige - one of those now you see it: now you don't kind of paths for while - but the line on the ridge ahead was clear enough.
- Sligachan from Druim na Ruaige
Initial steep slopes - eased off nicely as distance and more height gained - watching clouds play their hide-and-seek games on the tops across Glen Sligachan.
Reached the top of Beinn Dearg Mheadhonach with a pleasant stroll across to the main top a few hundred metres to the east. Didn't mind having to retrace steps in a setting like this, especially with the views down to Loch Ainort and the cloud cover on Sgurr nan Gillean having become a fixture.
- Cuillin Ridge from Beinn Dearg Mheadhonach
A clear route over to Beinn Dearg Mhor in the north east - give it a russet hue and it could almost be a Lakeland fell - but wider setting never lets that thought linger for long.
The final slope to the top steepeds enough to make you puff - but pleasantly so - it was good to reach the top knowing that there's more left in the tank for the remainder of the day.
- Scalpay and Loch Ainort from Beinn Dearg Mhor
Bit of a path, bit of a scree run and the odd jarred knee and big toe - and it was down to the Bealach na Sgairde
The WH route summary suggested a cop out at this stage and heading back down to the Sligachan - Why? Having spent all this time and effort .....
OK, it was a slog, it was a grind, it was three up and two down at times. OK you could imagine a dozen better things to do with an hour of your time. Well, think about it for the next sixty minutes to take your mind of the hard work of the ascent. You're here now anyway.
The slope eased in the end - the summit cairn appeared - the hard work was over and worth it - well that's what I say now. The final leg stretched out to the north east - a gentle stroll to An Coileach - directly above the house we were staying in.
- An Coileach - eastern end of Glamaig
The uninterupted island views were fantastic - the wake of the ferry plying its trade across to Rasaay tracing its route - bet they'll never manage a bridge over that stretch of water.
- Rasaay from An Coileach