Stay at home

[Chris Henshall]

Wednesday, 11th. July:
This was the last day of a trip introducing a bunch of school lads to the Black Cuillin and, after a couple of days of very poor weather, we managed to salvage an excellent day despite a good deal of swirling mist.
Starting at Sligachan, we headed up very slowly into Coire a Basteir and then up onto Sgurr a Bhasteir with the slowly improving weather allowing us occasional glimpses of Pinnacle Ridge to our left before we hit more solid cloud. I remember that the ridge south and west to Bruach na Frithe was relatively straightforward before we retraced our steps and descended to the north of the Bhasteir Tooth and up onto the summit of Am Basteir from the east. We'd reserved Sgurr nan Gillean for the last top of the trip so headed east and, after roping the lads up for an awkward ascent of a very greasy chimney, we enjoyed some excellent scrambling to the summit. We were reluctant to leave the heights but, eventually, headed sown the South East Ridge and picked up the tourist path back to Sligachan.

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We took about 14 hours to return to the Kentish lowlands in a minibus on the following day, arriving back at about 9.00.pm. Skye seemed a long way away...