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Yesterday I started my WH spring meet with MCD, it was a great day! I managed to secure myself a wonderful camping pitch at Gairloch afterwards which was only a 3 minute walk to the youth hostel and 2 minutes to the campsites 5 star shower facilities.
My pitch next to the beach
Thursday evening I was informed the weather would be great on Friday so I decided to take advantage and do some Torridon giants solo - Beinn Eighe Western Summits.
An early rise at 6.00am to crashing waves and that sandy beach filled me with excitement for the day. I popped into the youth hostel for breakfast before heading to Torridon.
On reaching the car park at Torridon I was rather miffed at the rain that was pounding down, I did think about leaving these for better weather but eventually convinced myself the weather would improve.
So off I went on my merry way, without crampons, an ice axe, or poles
5K in a nice little lochan looking to some Torridon Corbetts.
Before long I reached Coire Mhic Fhearchair and those Triple Buttresses and beautiful lochan.
I walked around the lochan, after having a 30 minute lunch, and eyed up the ascent up the scree chute. I didn't much fancy this, alternatively I set my eyes East and decided to scramble up the boulder field which would just about top me out at the 1st Munro.
On starting my ascent the wind got up and I endured some snow storms! I just kept pushing upwards, always mindful of loose builders, and soon reached the ridge. I had a short walk to the summit of Ruadh - stac Mor.
First Munro Summit.
Didn't hang around and quickly made my way to the bealach, sneaking a look at the scree chute I avoided
Ahead of me a group of 6 walkers ascended up the snow filled ridge to Coinneach Mhor, I followed their footsteps. At the cairn they went to bag a nearby top. The clag meant poor visibility so I pulled out my compass only to see it vanish
I now faced a dilemma! Head back down, wait for the clag to clear, or follow the small group and ask for a loan of a compass. I felt the best bet for keeping safe was to follow the group. As I reached them and explained my situation the clag cleared and I could see my destination clearly. I was offered a compass but took the counter offer of tagging along with the group as they would be heading to do the second munro - Spidean Coire nan Clach. The group were all members of the Austrian Alpine Mountaineering Club, most of them based in Yorkshire.
So off we all went along a most brilliant ridge
The summit was soon reached
Due to not having an ice axe I decided to descend the West side of Stuc Coire an Laoigh as the East side was steep and smothered in snow, I did try this route but it was too dodgy. My descent was fine as the underfoot conditions presented a mixture of scree and bouncy grass.
My descent route
I was soon back at the car and had a nice chat with an older couple who informed me they climbed these two hills over 40 years ago, I'm sure the gear was different back then! Great to see them still returning after all those years.
I jumped in the car and headed back to Gairloch, had my dinner, had a shower and waited by my tent for the sun setting...just awesome!! Great end to a great day! Tomorrow I would take on Slioch with some WH members
Sunset looking to the Isle of Skye...
