6-7 June 2009

About 25 members and guests had a wonderful action-packed weekend on Skye!  The weather was generally bright and sunny with a bit of a cool wind, which for Skye is about as good as it gets.  Even the midges only made a brief half-hearted appearance at the Glenbrittle campsite.

Saturday was dominated by groups doing the circuit of the awesome Coire Lagan.  Alan Duncan, Fiona Duncan, Bob MacDonald, Val Kemp and David Brown Douglas set off up the west ridge to Sgurr Sgumain.  Bob did some good route finding and got them to the chimney between Sgurr Sgumain and Sgurr Alasdair.  The views were spectacular, with a rainbow to end the day.  They also saw a small dog carrying its reluctant owner up the hill (see below).

Fiona Gingell, Allison Bache, Chris Harding, Imke Meynecke, Graeme Henderson, Richard Knack and Daniel Moysey all did the circuit of Corrie Lagan, the best bits being the “bad step” just before Sgurr Alasdair, Collie’s Ledge and the ascent of the Inaccessible Pinnacle.  Fiona and Richard had the pleasure of leading up the easy side of the Inaccessible Pinnacle and the rest of the group top-roped the steep side.  Back to the campsite after a short day of only 12 hours for some beer and lots of food.

Dave Galloway, Spence Julian and Oliver Galloway joined the crowds doing the circuit of Coire Lagan.  Spence particularly enjoyed the more adventurous route up Sgurr Alasdair via the chimney.

Graeme Morrison, Simon Willatts and Penny (Graeme’s dog) started at the south end of the ridge and worked their way over Sgurr Alasdair, Sgurr Mhic Choinnich and finally the Inaccessible Pinnacle.  At one point it all looked a bit precarious as Penny took offence at being carried/pushed up a rather steep and exposed scramble, but everyone survived.

Ella Grant, Drummond Beattie, Margaret Paterson and Graeme Gunn had a nice trip up Coir’ a’ Ghrunnda and then up scree slopes to Sgurr nan Eag.  There were plenty of stops to admire the views.

Sarah de Rees realised a long-lived dream of a cultural day on Raasay.  She walked from the ferry terminal up an old railway track to a disused iron ore mine and then on to the deserted settlement of Hallaig on the west coast.

The real mountaineers, namely Ali Erginsoy, Illona Morrice and Andy Brooks, headed into Coir’ a’ Ghrunnda weighed down with ropes and lumps of metal and proceeded to successfully ascend a multi-pitch V Diff climb called White Slab.

Sunday turned out nice again, although the starting hour was generally a bit later than the day before.  Graeme Morrison, Simon Willatts and Penny went up the northwest ridge of Bruach na Frithe, which was great because it involved minimal dog carrying.  They got to the summit via a series of ledges, which avoided an otherwise awkward step near the summit.

Fiona Duncan, Alan Duncan, Bob MacDonald, Drummond Beattie and David Brown Douglas climbed up to An Dorus where they then scrambled on to Sgurr a’ Ghreadaidh.  They then returned to An Dorus and went up Sgurr a’ Mhadaidh.  Fiona and Drummond returned to Glenbrittle by the same route.  Bob and David, who were staying an extra night, continued along the ridge and on to Sgurr Thulim.  It was all topped off with a meal and a well deserved drink in the Sligachan.

Fiona Gingell, Illona Morrice, Joe Glennie, Sarah de Rees, Ali Erginsoy and Daniel Moysey considered the tourist route up Bla Bheinn, but settled on the spectacular traverse from Clach Glas.  Based on consultation with the “experts”, it was decided to take a rope (and then some gear), but then we consulted some more “experts” and it was all left in the car.  The right choice in the end.  However, the scrambling was quite exposed and the 20m “Difficult” graded chimney was exciting.

If only every weekend meet could be as good as this!

Dan Moysey

More photos from this meet can be viewed here