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As I probably won't be heading to Skye in the near future I thought I'd pull a report out of the archives to remind myself of one of the best days I've had on the hills.
My 2004 visit to Skye was notable for a couple of chance meetings. Firstly I was Just getting ready to do Blaven when I bumped in to a Dutch walker I'd walked down from Banachdich with 2 years previously I ended up walking to Blaven with him. Secondly I met up with a walker (Mike) who had been staying at Pete Thomas's place in Portnalong 3 years previously and was staying there again, as I was.
I decided to do a couple of walks with him and his girlfriend, the other was Bruach na Frith which I may bore you with later.
Setting off from Glen Brittle we headed past the Eas Mor waterfall in it's spectacular gorge and onto the spur end of the West ridge of Sgurr Dearg. After a steep initial climb to the shoulder of the ridge the gradient eased until it narrows dramatically. If my memory of past trips is right there is a path for some of the way to the summit but spurred on by Mike's enthusiasm and my desire not to look wimpish in front of a lady
we stuck to the crest of the rige to the top. Views back to Lock Brittle and Coire Lagan were amazing. Today I actually saw Sgurr Alasdair too and the full length of the Great stone shoot, places I'd been to the previous year and not seen a thing due to mist. We hadn't really seen any one on the ascent but on reaching the summit of Dearg we were greeted by a dozen or more people all waiting for their moment of glory - the ascent of the Inn Pin, the true summit of Sgurr Dearg. I have to say the first time I did this I was most put out to find that I couldn't say I'd bagged a Munro as I hadn't done the Inn Pin. Still the views were fantastic and we were grateful the weather was still excellent.
This was an ideal time for a well deserved rest so we spent a good hour or so watching climbers ascend and ab of the Pin. One guy, obviously an expert was up in a couple of minutes and wandering around the slope on the top like he was walking down the street before rigging up climbers for the descent. Talk about no fear!!
It was time to move on so we made the steep descent to the Bealach before scrambling the ridge to the Summit of Sgurr na Banachdich. Banachdich is just about the halfway point on the ridge and it's position allows clear views to both North and south of the ridge. Loch Coruisk looks impressive 3000ft below too.
We headed West on the final leg of the round gaining the ridge of Sgurr nan Gobhar following it to it's abrupt end above Glen Brittle. Now all we had to do was to get down. Mike suggested we go down the gully which splits the spur as if it has been slashed with a knife. "O.K". I said and with much, slipping, holding on for dear life and cursing (all of it from me) we made it down the incredibly steep slope in one piece. I've now named it Mike's Gully in his honour, although I'm sure it's a well used rout on and off the hill. It was then a straight forward walk back to the car and off to Portnalong for a drink or 4 and a review of a fantastic day out.
Neiter my words or my pics can do justice to this or any of the sights to be seen on a good day in the Cuillin but I'm posting some anyway.
- Loch Brittle in the morning sun.
- Sgurr Alasdair and the Great Stone Shoot
- Climbers on the Inn Pin
- Mike (and friend) on ridge to Banachdich
- Sgurr Thormaid
- South to Sgurr Dearg and beyond to the end of the ridge.
- The ridge to Sgurr Nan Gobhar
- Sgurr Dearg and what appears to be a near vertical wall at the head of the Coire Banachdich
- Sgurr Nan Gobhar. "Mike's Gully" plainly visible running down the centre