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So day 2 on Skye and Dougie had booked us in with a guide to do the Inn Pinn. meant an early start from the memorial hut, so we parked the van at the bridge not far away for the night.. Still managed to be late though
There were 4 others also in the group, all nice folk
The path was the same one as yesterday for a while, past the big gorge with the waterfall..
but this time taking the right hand fork, and heading up to the ridge on the right. Jonah the guide set an unrelenting pace, but I only go so fast, and the rest of the group seemed happy enough to go with my pace.
There were several other groups out to do the pinn as well, and because we were larger in numbers, we got a couple of breaks to let them go in front.. Guides etiquette I guess..
We were soon on the steeper ground, the odd shower threatening, and some fearful gusts. Jonah said that it may be that we wouldn't get to go up.
just as my legs were nearing exhaustion, we reached the top of the steep bit and flatter ground beyond. We reached a rockier section and got the safety mumbo-jumbo talk, put on our harnesses, and got a brief lesson on scrambling as we made our way up a wee chimney.
We got our first views of Corrie Laggan, always brilliant
even in the rain
Then we got our first views of the Pinn
A fun traversing path took us over, several of the groups in front still going over, so we sat at the top of Sgurr Dearg and waited. Wind was strong & baltic!
Eventually it was our turn and Dougie and I were nominated to be int he first of 2 groups. We made our way down to the bottom of the Pinn, Jonah somewhat irritated by the length of time the group in front was taking. He roed us up and set off himself. i was first on the rope, but the rock in front looked really quite easy so I was feeling very confident. I started up, Dougie just a few metres behind. Up the easy bit, then crossed over, and we were on the main spine. Jonah had told us what to do at the crux, but I wasn't exactly sure what he meant, but didn't find any troubles, apart from one moment where the holds were so good I just used a bit of friction.
half way up, I met Jonah, who clipped me onto a sling, and after the other had got on the ledge, he scampered off up the rocks like Golem
Soon the rope was tight and it was my turn to go again, but it was all easy stuff. The ridge is so narrow you can fit your arms right round, which gives a brilliant sense of security to counteract the exposure
Then we were at the top, some of the party in front still not down. Gave us a few moments to enjoy the top
We made our way down to the lower ledge and waited a couple of minutes for Jonah to set up the rope for the down part.. I've been scared of abseiling ever since an incident on a brick tower as a teenager, so i wasn't really looking forward to it much, but another hail shower hit and being pelted, cold and wet, fair took my mind off it as I went over the edge. Just wanted to get to my rucksack and extra clothing..
Dougie was next
He made it down safe, the weather showing no sign of relenting. Everything had turned rather slippery, and I didn't envy the nextt group that had to go over.. They managed fine, as we waited, getting colder by the moment..
There had been talk of going up Mhic choinnich but that idea was shelved and we practically ran back the way we came, hardly stopping all the way down.
Another braw day out in the Cuillin, but weather looked like it would be closing in for the next couple of days