free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
The weather for Saturday was not looking great but I was determined to get out and climb something. I sat at a table in Gairloch with all the wonderful new people I’d just met scouring weather forecasts and trying to make a plan. One of my roomies – Geoff (Tinman) was suggesting hitting up Maol Chean-dearg due to some complicated logic to do with the weather clearing from the South. Sounded like a plan
The weather was set to clear later on, so we opted for a late start. Eventually we were ready to go
The weather was beginning to brighten and we were hopeful
The decision was made to go in Geoff’s amazing Jaguar so we set off in style, cruising through Torridon having the smoothest ride I’ve had in a while...
Arriving at Culags, the weather was still better but still raining, so we goretexed up and Geoff set about putting his boots on in the classiest way I’ve ever witnessed
We set off up the path, knowing it would be a long walk in and hoping that the weather would improve further. The rain began to let off and we all started to warm up.
Geoff trying to push me in....
Reaching the bothy I decided I’d had enough – the rain was practically stopped and I was roasting –the waterproofs were coming off.
After the bothy the path turned into a bog for a while before improving again as it started to head uphill. Soon the path swung left heading for the bealach. Geoff and I made steady progress.
Crags above
The path beyond the bealach
The path was rocky but mainly good underfoot. We weather continued to clear as we climbed and reaching the bealach we had a view of the impressive looking Corbett An Ruadh-Stac. We were also dismayed to realise that we were only at 587m – there was a lot of the mountain above us in the clag!
Stopping for lunch
Looking down from just above the bealach
Across to An Ruadh-Stac
We set off up a steep path covered in scree and slippy rocks which was a lot of fun but quite hard work. We had a tip-off from Pete earlier in the day about a path going off to Torridon that we could easily take by accident on the way down so made a mini cairn to alert us on the way back
Coming over the top of this steep section, it eased a little for a while although we were walking in fresh slippery snow and clag and it was bouldery, requiring concentration. We could see the final pull to the summit looming out of the clag ahead of us and set off up more steep slippy boulders.
The final bit
Eventually we made it to the top – it was a total whiteout, blowing a hoolie and snowing. Three people we had seen ahead of us had made it there and we were surprised to see the same guy we had met of Sgorr Ruadh on Thursday in similar conditions, along with 2 others….thanks for taking this photo for us!
Summit!
They set off and after a quick bite we weren’t keen to hang around either. Sad to miss out on summit views, but knowing it wasn’t too likely anyway we headed back down. We met a large party of people coming up final steep bit who said they were staying at the bothy. Soon after meeting them, the clag started to clear and we were treated to stunning views of Torridon, our walk two days ago and towards what we thought was Kintail. Wishing we had been 15 minutes later, we started snapping away.
Beginning to clear
Looking back to the now clear summit
Towards Kintail
Sgorr Ruadh
Continuing down, we reached the steep section and managed to not take the wrong path – thanks Pete – before arriving down at the bealach for a photoshoot….
Impressive Torridon
Geoff posing in front of An Ruadh-Stac
I was all up for heading up An Ruadh-Stac but was outvoted. Geoff offered to wait in the car for me, but I didn’t trust him…
Looking across to BLM and Sgorr Ruadh we were trying to work out where we would have come down on Thursday if we had come across to MCD. It all looked pretty impossible and we were glad we hadn’t tried it
"route" down...
Heading back down the glen
Looking back up the glen
Carefully negotiating a river crossing
All that now remained was the long walk out. Back at the car we made quick work of a packet of wine gums before I called shotgun and we all enjoyed the ride back in comfort.
Arriving back in Gairloch we were greeted by the most incredible sunset, had time for dinner and showers before it was quiz time!
