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Kintail was the destination chosen for my monday's trip. The weather forecast was not so good for most of Scotland: rain, poor visibility and very strong wind...Kintail area promising for visibility and no rain, but strong wind there as well
I was looking forward to climb some rocky mountains and despite the wind I wanted get the views, especially in such a beautiful place as Kintail is. This idea was supported by the fact that I have been there in Summer, but misty tops everywhere - I missed the views from the South Glen Shiel Ridge. Then I was more lucky when doing the Kintail Brothers & Ciste Dhubh & Am Bathach later in the Summer, but somehow I love the Winter's views more than the Summer's greens
Decision made, prepared all my mountain stuff incl. Ice-axe, crampons, goggles and spare insulated jacket I set alarm for 3:00 am. I expected difficult scrambling and the strong wind so I left my camera at home and decided to make photos by my mobile phone as it will be easier to remove and handle in the worse conditions - spare battery and my outdoor charger packet like usual
Checked the recent forecast in the morning again I left home at 4:15 am, then heading to Kintail via Stirling, Perth, Dalwhinnie, Spean Bridge... It was rain almost all the way, which made me worries about the trip, but hope dies as last, I believed it will be ok there. The rain was really heavy in some areas and the road full of water...holding the steering wheel strongly because of the flooding, it kept me awake all the way
My goal was to enjoy the day in mountains despite the wind or any weather difficulties and my priority was the views. So, if there is an dillema about the time, I was decided to enjoy the Forcan Ridge, even if it means a delay and one Munro only in the worse conditions, rather than to do both Munros by the easier way there.
- Arrived around 8:30 am, parked my car at the layby of A87. Quiet there in the morning, daylight just started...no rain, good visibility, but strong wind !
- Very good initial path over the gate after crossing the road ( short distance back on 87 ). Easy ascent to the 1st level...
- Looking back down to the road, Five Sisters opposite...
- Towards North-West
- The Saddle: Sgurr na Forcan in the front, Forcan Ridge hidden behind...
- The bottom of the ridge, there is a path on the left which you can use to get the Munros only ( The Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine ) avoiding the Forcan Ridge.
- Easy scrambling on the beginning...looking back to Glen Shiel
- Five Sisters...Kintail Brothers...Glen Shiel again from the higher level
- The ridge...this part is still comfortably doable
- Towards North-West from the ridge
- Sgurr na Forcan - South side...
- ...and Sgurr na Forcan - North side
- Looking back, this part of the ridge done without any serious difficulties...Glen Shiel in the background
- North-West again...
- The ridge continues...
- Happy for the clear views around: Glen Shiel North part...viva Kintail !
- The Saddle finally visible, but this part ahead is more difficult, especially in Winter conditions and the strong cold wind...Let's the real scrambling begin !
- The view from the ridge, some clouds are coming to Glen Shiel...
- Some harder work with good concentration ahead...the rock is wet, icy or snowy in some places...any mistake or bad step or grip means fatal finish. It looks like short distance from here, but some descents and ascents, knife ridge in some places...it will take more time...and the strong cold wind is really dangerous on the ridge
- Sgurr na Sgine...and Knoydart mountains in the distance
- The challenging adventure ahead...
- Towards North
- The rock...and the view
- Looking back...
- ...this part done
Here is a video - views from the summit:sorry for the unsteadey video as my hand was shaking in the strong wind... The report incl. the summit, the trig point and the views around, continues in the comment ( post ) below