My Brothers, My Sisters, and My Grandad Monty...

[andrewdoggett]

So we're in the pub at the Kintail Lodge Hotel on Friday evening; 'we're' being some of you lot and me... And somehow I get challenged into a walk off with Monty on the Saturday... I'm thinking this isn't a good idea; he's pretty fast as you all know; and I've previously promised my good lady I'll do these hills with her; but everyone else seems keen for the match up, so what the hell, I'll go along with it... And sometimes where women are concerned it's a whole lot easier to ask for forgiveness, not permission... So forgive me Vicky, but I had to make sure Old Grandad was okay in the high winds...

So at 08:00 I'm picking Monty up who's just about ready; Stretch (thanks) makes me a coffee, and then we're off up to the Cluanie Inn for the off... It's shelving it down with rain on the drive up; and the forecast isn't great; nevermind what's a bit of water right?

So we're off, the weather influenced a waterproofs on decision which was a mistake... It's a punishing start to the day; slopes rising steeply from 200 metres all the way to the top of Aonach Meadhoin, and Monty is off at a decent speed opening up a 20 metre or so lead. Dig deep I say, this always had the hallmarks of a punishing day...

In not much over an hour we're at the summit; having a quick bite before making tracks for Sgurr a'Bhealaich Dheirg munro number 2 of the day...

Monty with the ridge to Sgurr a'Bhealaich Dheirg behind...

As we carried on across the brothers the weather wasn't too bad; enough of a wind to keep from overheating; and the clag came and went... My legs were now warmed up we'd picked up the pace and I was thinking today wasn't shaping up too badly after all...

Monty giving a flash of yellow on the Brothers Ridge...

The ridge was looking good and fairly straightforward with the ascent of Sgurr a'Bhealaich Dheirg a couple of hundred of metres or so of climbing ahead...

The ascent of Sgurr a'Bhealaich Dheirg

Monty felt like some energy juice so before the ascent really kicked in we ducked out of the wind and he cracked opn a Red Bull... Red Bull without Jagermeister; this was all wrong I thought...

Monty tries to hide the Red Bull in his pack...

It didn't take too long to reach the summit with the final fifty metres or so an awkward crossing of wet slippery rocks, but nothing difficult, and it's an impressive cairn when you get there...

Monty arrives at the summit of Sgurr a'Bhealaich Dheirg

Onwards then to the final brother, Saileag... As we're walking I'm thinking this must be a sensational walk in sunny conditions...

Onwards toward Saileag...

Looking back along the ridge the views look equally as stunning; the rain has still abated; although the wind had picked up a bit. But at this stage we were thinking, this could clear up you know...

The view back toward Sgurr a'Bhealaich Dheirg

It wasn't long before we arrived at Saileag; a bit of a nothing peak in it's own right, but on a good day the view of the sisters from here must be something else... Monty had spent much of the morning trying to convince me his poles were red, but they're not, they're very pink...

Monty's pink poles on Saileag...

The sisters were threatening to reveal themselves... But managed just to keep their most precious parts covered up...

The sisters covering their best parts up...

We made fairly short work of the descent to Bealach an Lapain; the going easy; but path finding still difficult for Monty...

Path finding heading toward the sisters...

By now Monty was starting to feel the ascents and we were taking it pretty easy on the ascents to avoid cramp setting into Old Grandad. I did the decent thing and told him what happened on the hill would stay on the hill... We carried on...

Monty starting to feel it...

The Sisters were looking better and better... And the ridge becoming ever more interesting...

The Sisters Ridge...

And Monty was looking in fine shape... Don't believe a word of it if he tells you he was tired, or hungover or otherwise not in tip top fettle...

Monty in fine fettle...

And then it all started to go wrong... What should have been the most stunning part of the walk became the site of the worlds heaviest rain outside of a monsoon... THe winds picked up; the clag came in; and Monty kept stopping to enjoy the view of the clag and eat...

Braving tough conditions on Sgurr na Ciste Duibhe...

At this point news comes in from the troops on the South Ridge... Seems like they're having a tougher time of it, and only three of the nine are continuing on... On the second suummit of the day, we're feeling quite virtuous with only two to go...

As long as they're enjoying it; Polly clearly is... The text arrives... "Having a ball in the sunshine. Get off to feed antelope. Stretch's sandwiches were stolen by a flock of golden eagles. On our second summit. Can't wait for more of Monty's knicker wetting jokes"

Someone's made an impression then

It's fairly slippery on the descents with the wet rock but we're up and over Sgurr na Carnach and heading down for the final ascent of Sgurr Fhuaran when the cloud finally begins to lift, and the rain stops... One to go Monty; head down and get your ass up there

Monty with the ascent of Sgurr Fhuraran behind...

It's a steep climb to finish but nothing uncomfortable... We don't stay long at the top, there's nothing to see, and it's cold in the rain and the wind, so we begin the descent... It's a decent path and the main route takes you over toward Sgurr nan Saighead...

Monty with Sgurr nan Saighead behind...

It had properly cleared up now, and the descent looked like we were going to be free of rain... The scenery was stunning, as is so often the case in Scotland...

Looking back toward Sgurr Fhuaran

Even the sun made an appearance...

Looking toward Beinn Bhuidhe...

On the descent it was hard not to stop and just keep turning around to absorb the view...

Looking back...

Mind you Monty didn't mind stopping too much; he'd been doing it all day; more bananas, salt, liquid, chocolates, oh yes he used all the tricks... Still I did enjoy our little conversations...

Me: So Monty how many is that now?
Monty: 191 he says...
Me: Not many left then?
Monty: No, and there'll be one less if they downgrade that Fisherfeld one...
Me: Haven't you climbed those Monty?
Monty: Yes
Me: So how will there be one less for you to climb then?
Monty: Well 283 less 191 is 92, and 282 less 191 is 91...
Me: Errr, don't think it works that Monty, they're taking away one you've climbed so your total goes down too...
Monty: No there's definitely one less...
Me: Not to worry I'll get you an abacus for Christmas...

The conversation...

The rest of the descent is straightforward; Monty falls over a couple of times; I take a slide on some adverse camber steps that only have been built by a senseless non walker And we're done, a pub to pub time of 8 hours and 10 minutes for the 21.6 km with 2120 metres of ascent...

I ordered my beer, Monty his cola; and watched on as he died in front of me as the sun set over Loch Duich...

RIP Monty...

Monty's in Heaven...

The Stats...

The Stats... Satmap

And the route...

2011 - 09 - 10 - Sisters of Kintail.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

[Bod]

Great report Andrew.....fantastic efforts from you both. It was a fantastic weekend and so good to have shared in all the FUN!.................

[monty]

Nice report Andrew as expected. Some nice photos there and some not so nice ones Your being too kind though. After the first summit and you started running I was struggling. I pretty much held you up for the rest of the walk

We must walk together again sometime but if we do I will ensure that I do not consume vast quantities of alcohol the night before

[victoriajarrett]

I was looking forward to reading everyones reports from the meet but after reading this i'm even more gutted that i missed a great weekend... but who knows maybe next year i will be a little closer to the hills than down here in The South...

Andrew, with forgiveness comes the making up so i am looking forward to see how you plan to do that!!! However, after looking at the stats it does seem like a punishing trek and even more so than the south ridge which finished me off for 2 days!!! We still have The Saddle though...

Fab report... and, congratulations for hitting your half-way point... and well-done Monty - Andy does like to push hard and he doesn't take any prisoners...

[pollyh33]

Interesting report and photos Andrew!

Monty sure did make a very strong impression on me. What a gent! Sorry to say the six river crossings later that day proved even more knicker wetting!!

[malky_c]

Hmm, not such bad weather in the end then. It was surprisingly sunny and warm in Inverness considering the bogging forecast!

Good effort - I have this in my sights for better weather (I refuse to do the 5 sisters twice in this kind of weather). Nice to see it can be done in little over 8 hours - means it should just about fit between busses

[iainwatson]

as always a great report andrew,thats a fair walk so well done to you and monty for completing it in the changeable weather

defo a walk i'll do next summer in the good weather

[Graeme D]

Hilarious!

[ChrisW]

Fantastic report and pics Andrew, it was like reading a 'Top Gear' race report, really enjoyed this

[Musicfinder]

Superb report and photos! The weather may not have been the best, but you made the best of it. Looks like a fantastic walk, especially with better weather. Hopefully I can plan a holiday and flight over to participate with a similar walk next year.

[Johnny Corbett]

Brilliant report Andy. Think you're gonna have to carry a de-fib for Monty next time you're out with him, doesn't look like he's got much left in the tank

[Graeme D]

Brilliant report Andy. Think you're gonna have to carry a de-fib for Monty next time you're out with him, doesn't look like he's got much left in the tank

Yeah, I don't think the poor guy's gonna make it...... to 282 Munros I mean . Or is it 283? How many you got left Monty???? 283 minus.... now how does it work again???!!!!

[BlackPanther]

This report should be in "WH hall of fame" if one existed Fantastic story. Looks like you both had great fun despite the weather. Well done!
Having climbed the 3 bros last spring, I'm still looking forward to tackling the Sisters

[mountaineagle]

A great day out in some good weather.

[kevsbald]

Poor Monty? Poor Monty nothing, he's on 191 Munros and has left me for dust...not that I'm racing him.