Inaccessible Pinnacle (Sgurr Dearg) & Sgurr na Banachdich
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 10:40 pm
After staying in Portree for a hillwalk in June (for JC's final hill), I took the liberty of booking the accomodation for a weeks holiday for wife and 2 year old for non-hillwalking break.
Looking forward to spending some time on Skye to actually see Skye and not just turn up for hills (I've only been twice before). To my surpise, Mrs B suggested I take my gear up as I would be daft not to try and complete another hill (or two) as I was in the area.
Our friend Donnie, who stays on Skye, kindly agreed to accompany me out to a hill of my choosing. Mmmmmm which hill would I choose when I have a 'local' and ex mountain rescue member.......let me think......okay, let's go for the Inn-pin!
Donnie picked me up in Portree and we headed down to Glen Brittle (approx 40 min drive). The weather was warm enough but visability was not as good (maybe a good thing).
It was a pleasant enough walk in and after about 3 hours I saw the pinnacle through the mist. Butterflys were now starting to set in and after a pit stop at the top of Sgurr Dearg we made our way down to the foot of the pinnacle. You could hear a pin drop, it was so eerie with the silence and the mist and the fact that no-one else was there.
I've heard so many stories about climbers having to wait 3 or 4 hours for their turn to climb this final obstacle.
Donnie went first and I followed. I felt a lot safer knowing I was roped on every step of the way.
Once at the top, the abseil off was very nerve wrangling! I though this would be the easy bit. After a couple of minutes and after reassurance from Donnie I took the final step of the inn-pin for the 18m abseil back to solid ground.
The walk round to Sgurr na Banachdich was almost a blur after this but we dropped our bags off and headed round in poor visability.
Straightforward walk back out although care should be taken and look out for the ample marker cairns.
Looking forward to spending some time on Skye to actually see Skye and not just turn up for hills (I've only been twice before). To my surpise, Mrs B suggested I take my gear up as I would be daft not to try and complete another hill (or two) as I was in the area.
Our friend Donnie, who stays on Skye, kindly agreed to accompany me out to a hill of my choosing. Mmmmmm which hill would I choose when I have a 'local' and ex mountain rescue member.......let me think......okay, let's go for the Inn-pin!
Donnie picked me up in Portree and we headed down to Glen Brittle (approx 40 min drive). The weather was warm enough but visability was not as good (maybe a good thing).
It was a pleasant enough walk in and after about 3 hours I saw the pinnacle through the mist. Butterflys were now starting to set in and after a pit stop at the top of Sgurr Dearg we made our way down to the foot of the pinnacle. You could hear a pin drop, it was so eerie with the silence and the mist and the fact that no-one else was there.
I've heard so many stories about climbers having to wait 3 or 4 hours for their turn to climb this final obstacle.
Donnie went first and I followed. I felt a lot safer knowing I was roped on every step of the way.
Once at the top, the abseil off was very nerve wrangling! I though this would be the easy bit. After a couple of minutes and after reassurance from Donnie I took the final step of the inn-pin for the 18m abseil back to solid ground.
The walk round to Sgurr na Banachdich was almost a blur after this but we dropped our bags off and headed round in poor visability.
Straightforward walk back out although care should be taken and look out for the ample marker cairns.