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Me,Gammy leg walker & JB likes a beerGuide, Richard (paddy) mcguire)Just over 6 hours walkingWeather perfect (compared to the previous week)Digs, The old inn at carbostGammy legs 50th munroJB likes a beer 60th munroMe, just another day older About a year ago my wife started asking what i wanted to do for my 30th birthday with the main topic being a party and i said i would much rather be up a hill out the road hoping that she would take me on,so she arranged with the her dad and james to organise a trip to skye for the inn pinn, a surprise she only managed to keep from me for around 12 hours
So after much anticipation we set off on friday morning in the usual **** rain with not much hope of getting a decent day but we all said as long as it was dry with light winds we would settle for that.
We where staying at the carbost inn which was an ideal location for the cuillin,this was to prove a good choice as the rooms,staff and food where all excellent (if you do visit the carbost a sirloin steak with talisker sauce is a must)
It was an early night on friday with just a few beers
as we were all pretty nervous about our trip so it was an early rise with not much sleep.Paddy had arranged to meet us at 9 o'clock which we thought was late but it was only a 15 minute drive to the car park.
As we arrived we noticed another party guided by tony hanly who where also heading for the inn pinn,after a quick check of the ropes etc we where on our way(followed closey by the party of 7)
The start of the walk here was really testing as paddy was setting a fair pace and we where almost struggling to keep up.
After around half an hour he stopped to let us have a breather and we where able to take 5 and have a look at the already stunning views to loch brittle
We set off again now trying to catch the group in front with an obsession that there was going to be a large que at the base of the pinn
We approached a the first hands on section which paddy called the chimney and passed the group at the start of the climb,this was the last we would see of them until the top of sgurr dearg.Climbing the chimney was great and the views to sgurr alasdair and out to sea where impressing.
It wasnt long after this that we were told to put the poles away as we where going to have to use our hands at sections, i really enjoyed the climb to sgurr dearg although there where a few exposed sections but by this time we were surrounded by cloud.
We soon arrived at a part of the route where paddy said you would normally see the pinn but not today but as we walked round a section there was a short climb to the top of sgurr dearg when all of a sudden this huge rock is facing right in front of you,although i have seen many pictures and videos of this it is a little frightining when you first see it especially from the base.
After a quick drop of the bags and on with the harnesses we made our approach down the slopes,as paddy set up the ropes we could only stand and admire what was in front of us and i have to admit by this time i was really looking forward to it
With a lot of reasurance from paddy we where ready to go, Paddy went up first and then shouted on gammy leg to follow then there was me and james bringing up the rear
All the nerves where now forgotten as paddy shouted on me to go with james behind, i have to admit i enjoyed this from the start except one section on the 1st climb where there was a badly eroded foot hold which required more upper body strength to get me up,this apart from the descent was the only worrying moment i had but still it was no problem.
It was a good feeling even getting to the 1st section where it wasnt long before gammy leg was soon heading up again
This section was apparently the easier climb but although it was well clagged in you could almost feel the emptiness all around you, it was now that paddy was worth his weight in gold as he kept encouriging us up,this section felt really narrow and exposed but before i knew it we where all at the top.
We had minutes here as paddy set up the ropes for the descent and although we knew the work wasnt done we where still lapping it up making it to the top
The abseiling was to prove the most difficult bit for me as i hadnt done anything like this before and after watching JB and gammy leg going down smoothly
it was my turn.
Paddy again was great here but its such a hard thing to get the mind to tell the body to hang over such a high drop almost horizontally and to put your life into the hands of someone you have just met
This is when we could really celebrate our acheivement although we werent off the hill the hard work was done,it was now time to watch the next group coming down after us.
After a quick bite to eat we where soon on our way and followed the same route down and had a chance to get some more pics
So all in an excellent weekend with a wee message to anyone put off by the inn pinn that if we can do it so can you
also that apart from the group of 7 which only 4 done the pinn that we only passed 2 other walkers the whole day and there where no ques but paddy did say it wasnt the peak time of the year.
Would also highly reccomend a guide especially paddy as he was brilliant and also great company,we also got chatting to tony hanly on the climb and at the carbost inn they can both be found here
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/guides.shtml(forgot to start the satmap at the carpark)
Also a big thank you to my wife for booking me such a great trip for my birthday,couldnt have asked for any better
The weekend was rounded off with a drive up to torridon to see next years target, Liathach
Thanks for reading
Alan