Beinn Sgritheall - disgusting ascent well repaid
Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2017 7:32 pmThis was a very intense day, but totally worth it, as I hope the photos convey.
A beautiful slow morning drive from digs at Shiel Bridge over the snowy Mam Ratagan, through Glenelg to the remote Arnisdale followed by a tense period of weather watching.
Forecast was for very strong winds and poor visibility up until 1400 then a sudden shift to clear skies was expected, with the winds diminishing throughout the day.
Bit the bullet and left Arnisdale, later than I would've liked (1130), to reach summit for 1400, praying to the Metoffice.
Subsequently lost half an hour to energy sapping snow, wind and the disgusting ascent from Bealach Arnasdail up the eastern slope of loose scree to the final approach.
It was all part of the deal though as this final approach to the summit followed by a sunset descent to Lochan Bhealach Rarsaidh was a delight. Praise be the Metoffice.
Sunset views of Kintail, Knoydart and Skye in winter conditions from a ridge. Not bad.
Phone (for pictures only) failed at -15 just before hills turned pink and moon came out
I've made peace with it now as pictures just wouldn't do the experience justice: silhouetted Knoydart skyline across the staggering Loch Hourn to the south, glowing moon reflecting off the snow lighting the way (no need for head torches), wind now minimal, silence.
Could not follow any discernible path off the ridge to the road, so freestyled it. Required some retracing of steps and slight reascent to bypass crags. Reached the road and considered kissing it. The Walkhighlands description is entirely accurate.
Met no human being on the 45min walk back to Arnisdale which bizarrely was in t-shirt temperature of 4 or 5 degrees, despite the starry skies.
Back at the car for 1715. Well-chuffed with my day.
- Arnisdale after 10 mins
- Getting rather steep rather quickly
- Bealach with deceptively disgusting ascent to come
- Looking back, first rays
- View after conquering the disgusting scree
- Straightforward(ish) ridge walk ahead
- Foreboding but still amazing
- Peaks near and far
- Narrowing ridge conquered
- BS summit (any angle will do, it's all amazing)
- Benefits of a late start
- Ample opportunity for bum-sliding
- This is getting silly now, photos every 1-2 mins
- "Ohhh, this is getting better and better and better" (John Motson, Ger 1-5 Eng, Sep 2001)
