Skye Day 4, the hill that has everything

[Fife Flyer]

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The original plan was to split the reporting duties between the 5 of us, especially as there will be 5 reports to compose. Anyway, Simon has come up with 7 excuses as to why he should be excused writing duties, I won't list them as I would hate to embarass him - only joking
So here we go again day 4 on Skye and yet again the forecast 'could be better', the meeting place was at Sligachan and today's target was to be Bruach na Frithe, which I can almost pronounce - probably not to Simon's standard as he is the resident hill expert, especially when it comes to pronunciation
Once again it was a 9am start and it was actually quite pleasant, we had been advised by Paddy (guide) to bring our ice axes as he was anticipating things to get 'interesting' higher up We asked if crampons would be required and the polite reply was - if we needed crampons we would be turning back, sounds a bit ominous
We set off from the parking area at Sligachan and followed a well established path that was a tad damp in places, but nothing to register it on the bog factor scale.

DSCF1885 by Martin Beswick, quick pose before we hit the path

DSCF1888 by Martin Beswick, first of the showers

DSCF1893 by Martin Beswick, water feature

The plan was to go up via the north ridge and descend by Fionn Choire, the next few shots are of the ascent up the north ridge, which as we got higher became rather spectacular

DSCF1899 by Martin Beswick, going up

DSCF1903 by Martin Beswick, looking back to Sligachan

DSCF1906 by Martin Beswick, still going up

DSCF1912 by Martin Beswick, North Ridge, looking pretty interesting

DSCF1913 by Martin Beswick,

At this point I will apologise again for the 'rear end' shots, for obvious reasons I couldn't be at the front so I was "tail-end-Charlie", not so good going up, but ideal for the descents The north ridge was an interesting and excellent route up, the views the east were enough to motivate anyone to carry on

DSCF1917 by Martin Beswick, starting to get interesting

DSCF1920 by Martin Beswick,

DSCF1925 by Martin Beswick, still ascending

DSCF1932 by Martin Beswick,

DSCF1935 by Martin Beswick, not sure what Paddy was pointing at?

DSCF1937 by Martin Beswick,

DSCF1938 by Martin Beswick, Must have missed something, as everyone is looking!

DSCF1943 by Martin Beswick,

DSCF1946 by Martin Beswick, looking back down the ridge

DSCF1947 by Martin Beswick, we have now reached the snow line, quite a bit further to go yet and this is the middle of May

DSCF1951 by Martin Beswick, still going up

DSCF1963 by Martin Beswick, another shot looking back - how did we get up that

DSCF1964 by Martin Beswick,

DSCF1968 by Martin Beswick, Andy, a picture of elegance and grace

DSCF1971 by Martin Beswick, one last shot back before we entered the cloud

DSCF1974 by Martin Beswick, One of the bigger summits on the island

The summit was reached and like most of the summits we had to take it in turn to 'touch the top', yet again we were denied any views. I have a feeling that the summit was rather exposed, so the cloud may have been our friend. As it was rather chilly on top, we didn't hang around. The route up had only a slight dusting of snow, the route down was the opposite. As the hill was quite popular the footsteps in the snow were easy to follow and the deep ones avoided
The descent was fairly straight forward, but great care had to be taken especially on the rocky sections with a thin layer of snow.

DSCF1978 by Martin Beswick, and onto the descent, one obvious addition to the equation, more and deeper white stuff

DSCF1981 by Martin Beswick, Follow the leader down

DSCF1986 by Martin Beswick, much deeper snow now

DSCF1989 by Martin Beswick, Then out of the clag this monstrocity appears - WOW

DSCF1992 by Martin Beswick, looking back

DSCF1996 by Martin Beswick, Simon taking a picture of Paddy taking a picture etc, etc

DSCF1997 by Martin Beswick, zoom to folk on the north ridge

DSCF1998 by Martin Beswick, 6 guys we met on the summit from Burnley, on a drinking sorry walking holiday

DSCF2001 by Martin Beswick, zoom shot looking at Carbost

DSCF2005 by Martin Beswick, still looks amazing

DSCF2006 by Martin Beswick,

DSCF2016 by Martin Beswick, busy hill

DSCF2023 by Martin Beswick,

DSCF2037 by Martin Beswick,

DSCF2040 by Martin Beswick,

DSCF2049 by Martin Beswick, Nice new bridge

DSCF2050 by Martin Beswick, Water feature

Another great day like all 5 days that will be remembered for along time, especially as I have the photo's to look back at.
As this is my last public Skye WR I would like to thank Paddy, you were an absolute star, the thing that probably worries you the most is we WILL be back. Also thanks to Simon for inviting me and 'letting' me do another report, also to Karen, Jimmy and Andy. I think we helped each other through one or two tough moments, maybe slightly more than one or two I think we even kept Paddy amused with some of our banter.
And finally (bit like a speech) huge thanks to Karen, for the candles, I will let Karen explain that story
I now hand the baton over to Karen who "volunteered" to compose the final report, I won't steal her thunder suffice to say it was an epic

[AJNicholls]

This really was an awesome day.

[NevJB]

Amazing - hard to believe it is in the second half of May.

[simon-b]

That was a great day. Although the snow kept us off Gillean and Basteir, we got pretty close to the Basteir Tooth during the descent, which was quite amazing. And I don't think either we or Paddy had realised we'd get a bit of winter skills training as a bonus!

[weaselmaster]

Martin - that report has really depressed me.
I'm about to set off on my *summer* holidays to climb the corbetts of sutherland and skye and it looks like i'm going to have to pack winter boots and crampons as well as ice axe. Surely something not right there

Looked a good day out - we did the route in reverse, about the same time last year in glorious sunshine and *no snow*

[Mal Grey]

Thanks for reawakening the jealousy that I'd just suppressed after reading Day 1 (have I missed Days 2 & 3 somehow?). Great report, brings back some good memories.

Seeing the Bhasteir Tooth come looming at you out of the cloud is a memorable moment. Took me a good 2 seconds to say "sod that, I'm dropping down and coming at it from the other side, not climbing Naismith's route almost straight up".

[AJNicholls]

have I missed Days 2 & 3 somehow?

Day 3 is for me to write up but am having difficulties with Flickr and an iPad rather than a proper computer whilst here in Fort Bill.

[Fife Flyer]

Martin - that report has really depressed me. I'm about to set off on my *summer* holidays to climb the corbetts of sutherland and skye and it looks like i'm going to have to pack winter boots and crampons as well as ice axe. Surely something not right there Looked a good day out - we did the route in reverse, about the same time last year in glorious sunshine and *no snow*

Al, weather is bizarre at the moment, even Paddy said in 20 years of guiding he couldn't remember a May this cold

Thanks for reawakening the jealousy that I'd just suppressed after reading Day 1 (have I missed Days 2 & 3 somehow?). Great report, brings back some good memories.

Hi Mal, I will be submitting Day 2 soon, as the "course photographer - unofficial" we are struggling to find a way of posting photo's from someone else's Flickr account

[Mal Grey]

have I missed Days 2 & 3 somehow?

Day 3 is for me to write up but am having difficulties with Flickr and an iPad rather than a proper computer whilst here in Fort Bill.

Ha, no worries, hope the weather is good up there so you can get on the hill instead of tech-wrangling!

[SAVAGEALICE]

looks a grand day!

[riverlodge]

if i have managed to add the pic correctly, shows conditions just a few days earlier on the 14th May.

[simon-b]

We actually descended directly below the north faces of the Basteir Tooth and Am Basteir, and down via Coire a' Basteir. Must have been the gabbro telling us we were elsewhere . Thank goodness we were with Paddy, none of us could have found our own way in the Cuillin.

[The Rodmiester]

Superb stuff Martin, glad to see your enjoying your Skye experience I have not done the North ridge as yet, looks interesting. Question is rock and a bit of snow or bog, water in abundance, squelch I'd take the rock snow anytime.

[AnnieMacD]

What an amazing experience - and in May. I've been following your progress and looking out the window every day and thinking, "Oh no, another crap day for FF and gang!" That descent down by the side of Am Basteir looks interesting.

[BlackPanther]

Lucky you guys, you could use the bypass path on BnF western ridge! We had to stick to the very crest because of slushy snow. I almost had a heart attack

Glad to see you all enjoying the scrambles Shame that weather didn't exactly play up. How typically Scottish...