Gars-bheinn to Sgurr Dearg

[litljortindan]

The evening of my thirty third birthday was spent under the stars on Gars-bheinn. The way there had been fairly easy until I got to the base of the scree after which a lot more care and balance was needed.
Timed my arrival at the top quite well, in time to catch the lowering sunlight and magnificent views over the Cuillin to the north and equally magnificent views south albeit the actual sunset was blocked by the ridge. The summit cairn either contains a shelter or has a shelter beside it inside which I curled up on the most comfortable rocks I could find.
Managed to sleep for spells until the cold woke me up and sometimes I just gazed in wonder at the sky above. A short night anyway so any discomfort similarly short lived.
If the sunset had slightly eluded me no such problem with the sunrise. Not special by any means but certainly a special situation and, eventually, great light again over the ridge.
I was using the Andrew Dempster guide to aid progress but the going was very straight forward until route finding for the scrambling route up Sgurr Alasdair's west ridge. This was where me and my companion had got stuck eight years before but we had tried to round the north side whereas Dempster's route veers right (south). We did manage to get to Sgurr Alasdair the next day though I think but from the other side. Anyway, the scrambly ascent turned out to be sheer entertainment rather than the route finding trauma I feared and I was soon at the summit. Not quite as pointy as one might suspect but a grand viewpoint nonetheless.
Ascending the shelf onto the way up Thearlaich also proved to be easier than its descent had been all that time ago. In truth, just a big step and a big stretch to negotiate in descent but a detail that has stuck in my memory.
The weather started to dullen and my appetite for further progress started to diminish with it. I consulted Dempster on the wisdom of An Stac but was put off by the steepness and length as was the case further up with the Inn Pinn. Also, one of a passing pair of ridge baggers kind of sneered at me for relying on what they termed "the Noddy book". Well I'd had a good day up to this point but with the dulling weather and tiredness I easily persuaded myself to head down west from Sgurr Dearg.

img051 by John Little, on Flickr

img058 by John Little, on Flickr


img003 by John Little, on Flickr
Dramatic view from just north of my bivvy spot though not quite the ideal sunset viewpoint.

img059 by John Little, on Flickr

img060 by John Little, on Flickr
Next morning.

img061 by John Little, on Flickr

img068 by John Little, on Flickr

img065 by John Little, on Flickr
Readyish after a cold night at the rocky Gars-bheinn cairn shelter in a survival bag spent largely looking at the starry night sky rather than sleeping.

img067 by John Little, on Flickr
Soay and its mainland.

img070 by John Little, on Flickr
From the first Munro, Sgurr nan Eag, back to Gars-bheinn, Sgurr a Choire Bhig in the middle.

img069 by John Little, on Flickr
Sgurr Dubh an Da Bheinn top and Gars-bheinn bottom.

img063 by John Little, on Flickr
From Gars-bheinn to Sgurr Alasdair.

img066 by John Little, on Flickr
The way down from Sgurrs Alasdair and Thearlaich.

img064 by John Little, on Flickr
The foot of An Stac I think.

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