Walkhighlands

What a week this has been, 3 days on Knoydart, that I loved and yesterday was the hill that most non climbers dread the Inaccessible Pinnacle along with Sgurr Mhic Choinnich. Yes it was challenging, yes it got the adrenaline flowing and yes I kind of loved it. The walk report for that day was passed across to Pam (pamfox) as the In Pin was her very first Munro, can you believe that, has anyone else ever started the journey on the In Pin?
We were lucky with the weather yesterday, especially as our guide Paddy did stress that there was a possibility of thunder later and if that did happen we would be off the hills pronto Thankfully the forecast bore no resemblance to the actual weather and todays was very similar.
Paddy did warn us that Gillean would be the hardest hill and he certainly wasn't wrong Not only was there more exposure, there was more rope work and definitely more hands on.
The plan was to meet at the layby in Sligachan at 9am and we were all early and were on our way at 9am. The hills couldn't be seen due to low cloud, there was little or no wind and it was very, very humid. It wasn't long before we were all leaking and Paddy was setting a good pace, the initial part of the walk has a very gradual incline but the humidity made it seem harder

Photo of my boots after yesterdays descent down the scree, lots of shades of grey

No blue sky - yet

Karen managed to persuade Paddy to stop so we could cool down for a second

Still a tad overcast, still going up

Looking back down





Getting steeper

Trying to brighten up

Harness & helmet time

Looks pretty scary to me





We have now reached the first of the rope ascents, this one is probably the longest but was fairly easy as it was up a chimney with plenty of hand and foot holds. As chief photographer I was snapping away like there was no tomorrow. I won't post all of the "climbing" photo's, hopefully the ones I select will give you a flavour of what to expect











Sorry Andy I seem to have lot's of your ascent

The faces say it all

Karen's turn





On you go Simon







I went up next sorry Pam & Jimmy, your turn will come

Every face tells a story?

It wasn't that difficult Simon

Starting to brighten up

Who is going to appear next?

The next manoeuvre was probably the hardest of the day, it involved working your way round a large rock that was in the way, sounds easy but if you look down there is a reminder that you are very exposed After getting round the rock you then have reach across another massive drop, place your hand on the rock opposite and then eventually get your feet across, before then trying to pull yourself up. Hopefully that describes it

Karen volunteered

Long legs make it easy

Unfortunately Jimmy is the only one with long legs

Nice view

Another awkward rock to negotiate



Pam being supervised

Smiling at the moment

More hands on

Jimmy long legs

Andy pointing out a blade of grass

An easy bit

The way up

Bet you weren't expecting that?

Weather definitely improving

Still going up

Nice little window

Not far now

Happy summit faces

After a brief rest and a few photo's it was time to move on and head down, we knew it would be even harder descending as it usually is. Great care and concentration were required

Heading down

Down through the window

Hands on as it's a long way down

Rope time again, descending down the chimney. I volunteered to go first so that I could get some 'action' shots on the rope

Pam next down







Safely down

Looking down towards the Slig

Andy next





Time for a smile





Nearly there

I'll let Andy explain

Jimmy next



Smile time

Down safely

Simon next





Nearly down

And finally Karen



Smile time

Showing off, one handed

Safely down

Time to move on

Going up for a few minutes

Looking back

Next photo's are of a very short rope descent, once again I volunteered to be heroic and go first

Simon

Jimmy

Karen

Pam

Andy

On the way up to Basteir

Summit of Am Basteir



Now the long descent, we would of course have to climb back up the step using the rope again so get ready for the last few rope photo's This time I would be last to ascend using the rope.



Paddy about to romp up, showing us the hand & foot holds





Paddy all ready for us to 'romp' up

Andy first

Karen

Pam

Simon

And finally Jimmy

The end of the ridge

Final descent

Long way down to the Slig

Above shot zoomed

Bit of catching up to do

The descent down was straight forward and we were back at the vehicles by 6pm, Jimmy was heading back home to Alnwick and was anticipating arriving home at about 2am. The rest of us were heading to the Slig (pub) for a well earned drink and a bite to eat
After 2 really tough days on Skye we had achieved our goal of visiting all 12 summits, it had only taken us a year, we were really thankful that the weather finally had been kind to us
A massive thanks must go to Paddy, as without him none of us would have ever achieved our goal
Also thanks to my colleagues for all their support, we really did try and help each other, especially when we were all well out of our comfort zone
For me the journey is now nearing the end and what a journey it has been so far, my final Munro is Ben More on Mull. Unfortunately I have to wait until Saturday 13th August before I can compleat, naturally I want my children to share the special moment with me and that is the earliest date they can all make it
As the WH community have also been fantastic to me since I joined in May 2013 I would like to invite anyone who wishes to join me on Mull? If you fancy joining me, please PM me for the gory details
So this time the 'next' is obvious, but I will of course have to keep fit in between time, so the Borders will be back on the menu.

Good effort all

Paddy sets a fair pace doesn't he Martin

Some great shots of the climbing on Gillean. Definitely the toughest on the ridge I would say. At least you got some relatively good weather for it.........rained all the time the day I did these two hills

Nice one Martin, well done sir it looks like you all had a great day , many happy faces.
Good luck for 13/8, I hope all goes according to plan

Cracking report once again Martin. Thanks. Great time on a pair of awesome pointy hills.

Trip home ended up taking me 12 hours after a fuel diversion in Perth and a couple of stops for naps around Penrith and Birmingham.

Fife Flyer wrote:(pic)

I'll let Andy explain

Erm, not sure I can explain what's going on in that photo and keep the forum within the realms of a "PG" rating. People are welcome to ask me at your compleation if they're desperate to know!

Your report brought it all back to me Martin. The detail and photos are great. Thanks for the loan of your sticks too

You told it just like it was, Martin. The exposed bit on Gillean was just a little hairy. A mixture of elation and relief that 5 of us finally finished the Skye Munros, I think. And what a first 4 for Pam over the 2 days!

Good luck with your own final island Munro.

Thanks, Martin (and everyone else). The memories of our two days on Skye will linger for a very long time. I spent a lot of time being scared spitless, but wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I think it's taken until today for the adrenalin to start to ebb away.

K.

Thats fantastic Martin.

Having read about your exploits and efforts, I am feeling a lot more confident about taking on the Cuillin.

Congratulations on a great day and your forthcoming compleation.
Your opening paragraph question "has anyone else ever started the journey on the Inn Pinn?" prompted this reply.
I climbed the Inn Pinn at Easter 1979 on my first visit to Scotland - never having heard of "The Munros"!
I remember the day vividly.
After an icy and "entertaining" ascent of The Cioch on Sron na Ciche we traversed across the snow slopes of upper Coire Lagan to find the Inn Pinn plastered in snow. We soloed the East Ridge, brushing the snow off the holds with our hands and down the snow free West Face.

And thereby started the next 37 years (to date) of Scottish mountain climbing!

This is fantastic - well done all of you! Looks like you enjoyed it as well

AJNicholls wrote:

Fife Flyer wrote:(pic)

I'll let Andy explain

Erm, not sure I can explain what's going on in that photo and keep the forum within the realms of a "PG" rating.

Dunno, Andy, seems to me that you could just say "Aw nuts, that was really fun" leaving punctuation, emphasis, and accompanying noises up to individual interpretation / imagination.

kmai1961 wrote:

AJNicholls wrote:

Fife Flyer wrote:(pic)

I'll let Andy explain

Erm, not sure I can explain what's going on in that photo and keep the forum within the realms of a "PG" rating.

Dunno, Andy, seems to me that you could just say "Aw nuts, that was really fun" leaving punctuation, emphasis, and accompanying noises up to individual interpretation / imagination.

Nice one Karen, you creative wordsmith Guess you've done it for me.

Well done and good luck for the last one!

Just brilliant Martin
and Karen as well!
Like Hugh, I may think again about tackling SnG
Give my apols for the 13th - (you and Polly the same weekend!) but have a well deserved celebration.