Royster23 wrote:OK Cheif, for one I think I'll stand by my point and the authors point of the orignal post. He is trying to make it clear that in wet conditions, he found it terrifying! And he's previously bagged 70 munros in all conditions. I think that is a vital bit of information to conflict most walk reports of this ridge, which in my opinion, underestimate its difficulty. Walkthehighlands is the name, for some people, grade whatever scrambling is not the game, its bagging munros. So for the novice and less educated than your good self, these walks need to be documented from different views on how they they found it. This surely gives the next novice an idea of what they could be facing, which is Not a walk in the highlands! And hopefully not a rescue helicopter. Curved ridge on Beuchaille Etive Mor is not adopted by walkthehighlands for obvious reasons, Aonach Eagach is not much less of a risk, No??
Yes, the OP has succeeded in making it clear that, in the conditions, he found it terrifying. That is commendable honesty, and as you say, there is value in hearing personal views of how people find a particular route in particular conditions. But does that personal perspective justify a categorical judgement that no ordinary Munro Bagger should attempt the AE ridge even in favourable conditions? The question that remains unanswered is whether the poster would have completed the traverse with some enjoyment and a sense of achievement in dry, summer conditions. The fact that he got as far as he did suggests to me that he may well have done. Giving orders to other Munro baggers like "DO NOT attempt the Aonach [Eagach] unless you are an accomplished climber / free climber" is uncalled for, when what are really at issue are the conditions / time of year in which the traverse was attempted and the judgement / experience / skill levels of the poster himself.
Bear in mind that in hill walking as well as other mountaineering activities, the participant is responsible for his/her own decisions, actions and judgement. The Walkhighlands site caters for people who aspire to compleat the Munros, as well as those who are content with gentler walks at lower levels. To compleat the Munros means bagging all the Munros including those in the Cuillin of Skye, some of which are more difficult, exposed and potentially dangerous than anything on the AE traverse. Hence, many ordinary Munro Baggers who are not accomplished climbers may justifiably consider the AE traverse to be good and sensible practice for the more demanding challenges they'll have to face in the Cuillin in order to achieve completion.