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Sgurr na Stri Spectacular (happy ending this time!)

Sgurr na Stri Spectacular (happy ending this time!)


Postby Jaxter » Tue Feb 11, 2020 6:02 pm

Route description: Sgùrr na Strì

Sub 2000' hills included on this walk: Sgùrr na Strì

Date walked: 10/04/2019

Time taken: 7.45 hours

Distance: 25.36 km

Ascent: 858m

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Sgurr na Stri…a hill that both Malcy and I had camped on before, separately, but the forecast was looking so good I suggested it might be worth a punt. Also, last time I’d been there I’d had a camera failure and had come away with rubbish phone photos so was keen to rectify this (I took a spare as well this time :lol: ) We’d been thinking of heading to Skye from Applecross anyway, and this sealed the deal.

Sgurr na Stri Mark II, it was on 8)
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Sligachan was busy with tourists but before long we were far enough along the track that they were well behind us. Marsco looked incredible up ahead with Sgurr Hain and Sgurr na Stri itself just visible in the far distance 8)
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Magnificent Marsco
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We walked on – under the crags of Marsco
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As we picked up a little height we could see one of the two lochans that are on either side of the watershed (info from a local last time I was here!) and the Cuillin Ridge in the background 8)
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Pinnacle Ridge
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Bla Bheinn
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It was such a hot day we were a little worried about getting enough water – I’d had a similar panic last time and filled up far too early and found a burn close to the top. But we decided to top up early anyway, and by the time we were on the ridge we were carrying a lot (I say we…due to my injury Malcy was carrying way more than his fair share of stuff :crazy: )

Height gained – looking back to Ruadh Stac and Marsco
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The final climb to the ridge was steep and tough – I was trying so hard to go slowly to avoid aggravating things (more!) but I was so excited 8) Sgurr Hain was prominent and I forgot how set back from it Sgurr na Stri itself is :roll:
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Bla Bheinn and Garbh Bheinn
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Pinnacle Ridge reflecting in the water – everything was so still 8)
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And then…after glimpses of it all the way along we were finally treated to a view of the whole ridge – magnificent 8)
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Struggling to fit it all in :wink:
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Sgurr Hain and Sgurr na Stri…a long way!
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From here we ignored the path down to Loch Coruisk and followed the less obvious branch around the base of Sgurr Hain and up Sgurr na Stri. Where the slabs ought to have made things easier, the big bag, short legs and injured muscle were making things awkward for wee Jaxter. Malcy stopped at a burn to top up more water and I plodded on, seemingly endlessly upwards, until I saw over the edge and suddenly nothing really mattered any more 8)
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Malcy appearing over the edge with Gillean behind
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Maybe they’ve come to give us a lift to the top? :lol:
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And then, after what felt like hours (nearly 4!) we were there. The packs were dumped and we were able to enjoy the wonderful views – absolutely worth the effort (but there was never any doubt of that :lol: ). I wanted to jump around with excitement 8)
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Loch Coruisk and the Cuillin Ridge
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It was hazy out to sea but the views of Eigg were still awesome 8)
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What. A. View 8)
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It was time to pitch the tent and get some tea on – despite the oppressive heat earlier it was relatively breezy up top :shock:
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I have tea so I’m happy!
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Bla Bheinn and Garbh Bheinn
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The sun was beginning to drop behind the ridge
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If you’re not here you probably hate me :lol:
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Tea minion
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Taking a turn at being tea minion
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Had to be done!
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The sun dropping between Sgurr nan Eag and Sgurr Dubh Mor
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Eigg 8)
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With the sun gone it was chilly (it was only April afterall :lol: ) so we got sleeping bag cloaks out and made dinner 8)
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All was still and quiet, we were alone on our hill 8) We could see one torch light down at Loch Coruisk but it was amazing to be so far away from the crowds :D
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The following morning my alarm went off, and I had to remind myself where I was! Then I needed to pee, but once that was dispensed with I was able to drag my camera out and enjoy the pre-sunrise glow 8)
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Malcy enjoying the views
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Jaxter modelling sleeping bag cloak :lol:
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Due to the haze I wouldn’t sure how much of a sunrise we’d get but we were pleasantly surprised when a giant glowing ball of sun appeared 8)
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The sun up, we were crossing our numb fingers for the magical alpenglow on the Cuillin that we’d both experienced on our previous trips….and it was starting to happen 8)
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The mainland – a bit too hazy for detail
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Bla Bheinn and Garbh Bheinn
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The glow was done, the sun was up and we were both cold and tired so went back to sleep for a few hours :lol: When we woke up it was definitely time for breakfast and as we sat around in the sunshine we started to be joined by the first few day visitors who were quite envious of our camp spot :lol:
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Zoomed to The Storr – just visible through the haze
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We spent a while doing a recce for a future trip up Gars-Bheinn – too big a day for an injured Jaxter now but one we were both keen for…
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A big bird – someone might be able to tell me what it is :wink:
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The Inn Pinn 8)
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Pinnacle Ridge and the Northern Cuillin
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Am Basteir
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Sgurr Dubh Mor
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The Bad Step is down there somewhere….and some wonderful almost Hebridean green sea 8)
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Gars-Bheinn, Sgurr an Eag & Sgurr Dubh Mor
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Eventually it was time to leave – we were running low on water and it was going to take us another 4 hours to walk out – possibly more if I got sore when I started moving again :shock:

The first section was actually easier in descent, and we managed to lose the path so decided to go looking for the monument marked on the map. Captain Maryon who went missing in 1946 was believed to have lain on this spot for 2 years before being found.
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Druim nam Ramh and the Cuillin Ridge
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Northern Cuillin
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We found the path again and from here it felt like a long way home….
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Bla Bheinn and Loch na Creiteach
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Marsco, the 2 watershed lochans and the long way ahead :shock:
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Pinnacle ridge
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Tired but still smiling 8)
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Lochans at closer quarters
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The Inn Pinn!
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We had a stop for some food – we had extra rations as Malcy eats a lot :lol: We slowly plodded on – although I wasn’t as sore as I’d expected I did feel exhausted; a combination of heat and losing all my fitness being injured seemed to be catching up with me :roll:
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Eventually we were at the car – it had actually taken us longer on the way out :lol: Still, exhausted but absolutely over the moon – how lucky were we to get a second shot at Sgurr na Stri. And I didn’t even break my camera this time :lol:

Next day - a little more relaxed!


Sgurr na stri camp easter.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

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Jaxter
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Re: Sgurr na Stri Spectacular (happy ending this time!)

Postby Alteknacker » Wed Feb 12, 2020 12:06 am

Just wonderful! SnS is definitely the best viewing point in the country, if not the world. And you sure got the weather for it (just nipped in between Ciara and some other Atlantic storm, I guess...)
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Re: Sgurr na Stri Spectacular (happy ending this time!)

Postby Sgurr » Wed Feb 12, 2020 11:34 am

Alteknacker wrote:Just wonderful! SnS is definitely the best viewing point in the country, if not the world. And you sure got the weather for it (just nipped in between Ciara and some other Atlantic storm, I guess...)



Agree it is the best viewing point in the country, but think you need to scrutinise the date a bit more carefully Altenacker. Some lovely photos. I love the one of the cloud rolling down, and envy your summit camp.


We did this by boat from Elgol, so a good deal less strenuous, but as we didn't get the early climbers boat, he "wasted" a lot of time telling us about the other islands and generally being slow. Lovely if we didn't know it all, and great to see dolphins., but it meant we had to phone him from the summit and say we were going to be too late, and arrange a pick up. . Others would be faster than us. Should have thought of camping as that would have solved that problem. As it was, the time pressure was a bit much. MUST RETURN.
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Re: Sgurr na Stri Spectacular (happy ending this time!)

Postby Huff_n_Puff » Wed Feb 12, 2020 7:54 pm

Wonderful photos - envious, who me? :clap: :clap: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :D :D
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Re: Sgurr na Stri Spectacular (happy ending this time!)

Postby malky_c » Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:41 am

Alteknacker wrote:Just wonderful! SnS is definitely the best viewing point in the country, if not the world. And you sure got the weather for it (just nipped in between Ciara and some other Atlantic storm, I guess...)

No, this was after the Applecross meet last April. However on the subject of squeezing a day in between storms, we managed something not a million miles from there today....more to follow :wink:
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Re: Sgurr na Stri Spectacular (happy ending this time!)

Postby Jaxter » Fri Feb 14, 2020 2:23 pm

Alteknacker wrote:Just wonderful! SnS is definitely the best viewing point in the country, if not the world. And you sure got the weather for it (just nipped in between Ciara and some other Atlantic storm, I guess...)

Sorry, confession time - this is from last year after the Applecross meet! Using the bad weather to catch up on some old reports :lol:



Sgurr wrote:We did this by boat from Elgol, so a good deal less strenuous, but as we didn't get the early climbers boat, he "wasted" a lot of time telling us about the other islands and generally being slow. Lovely if we didn't know it all, and great to see dolphins., but it meant we had to phone him from the summit and say we were going to be too late, and arrange a pick up. . Others would be faster than us. Should have thought of camping as that would have solved that problem. As it was, the time pressure was a bit much. MUST RETURN.

Whoops :lol: It's definitely a great spot for a camp - so good I did it twice! Worth going back for sure 8)
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Re: Sgurr na Stri Spectacular (happy ending this time!)

Postby ScotFinn65 » Fri Feb 14, 2020 7:39 pm

Incredible pictures and report. Thanks for sharing :clap:
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Re: Sgurr na Stri Spectacular (happy ending this time!)

Postby dav2930 » Sat Feb 15, 2020 11:02 am

Plenty spectacular images to drool over there! Just the thing to brighten up a dismal Saturday morning :clap:
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