1-2 September
The Annual pilgrimage to Glen Brittle with its diverse weather conditions combined with a turn out of 26 members and guests saw a successful weekend. Friday nights planning discussions where tempered with “ambitious routes and poor weather forecast conditions”. Saturday arrived and the alcohol induced plans of the night before were put to the test.
Ryan Slater, Andy Taylor, Sarah De Rees and Joe Glennie scrambled up the West Ridge of Sgurr Dearg towards the In Pinn but turned back shortly before the summit (of Sgurr Dearg, not the In Pinn!) due to high winds making the already wet rock unpleasant and dangerous, especially with poor viability and numb fingers. Alan & Fiona Duncan, Cameron Beattie, Graeme Morrison, Mick Greenshields & Dave Galloway departed the hut by 0800 to catch the 0945 ferry from Uig to Harris. Arriving in Tatbert at 1120 and catching a bus at 1205 for the four and a half mile journey to the Maaruig bridge at the foot of Clisham. They made the summit in two hours and the top of Mulla-fo- dheas an hour later in wet greasy conditions. By the time they got down to the whaling station the rain was in, they got a soaking on the four mile trek back to Tarbert with an hours wait for the 2000 ferry to Uig, home for 2300.
Ella Grant,Drummond Beattie, Ali Erginsoy, Margaret Patterson and Natacha Mihajlovic had set off despite the uninspiring weather hoping for a decent scramble to the top of Sgurr nan Eag. They followed the track to Coire a Ghrunnda in deteriorating conditions. As the terrain became increasingly slippery and route finding tricky, the party decided to retreat just short of Loch Coir a’ Ghrunnda. They had a quick lunch before returning the same way.
Martin Collins, Graeme Jones and Illona Morrice found a break in the cloud and achieved a bit of rock climbing before setting off for Macleods Table. This they concluded is best left alone and viewed from afar.
Sunday came and Ali, Illona and Andy Brooks enjoyed the Pinnacle Ridge forty five minutes ahead of Ryan and Joe who had spent most of the morning in indecision and procrastination before making up their minds. The weather improved considerably as the day wore on, justifying their late start. As a reward they had a swim in the burn on the descent. Grand plans to conquer Coire Lagan were soon abandoned by Dave, Graeme M, Evelyne, Mick and Natacha as the rain came in over the Black Cullins.
They left the hut early intending to summit Sgurr na Banachdich at the very least despite the rock being slidy in places, the scramble up the corrie was enjoyable and from a linguistic point of view, instructive – free German expletives on the way up. All made it safe to the top and had a well deserved lunch. The clag broke up every so often to reveal moody views of the ridge, however it was considered unwise to proceed to the In Pin. They descended via Sgurr nan Gobhar as the sun broke through in the early afternoon.
They were followed by Bob, Alan, Fiona and Margaret taking the same route up into Coire na Banachdich and heading for the ridge at Bealach na Banachdich. Slight navigational problems led them on to the ridge just south of the bealach but higher up towards Sgurr Dearg. They continued across the ridge and had an excellent scramble onto Sgurr na Banachdich. Returning by the same route was no less interesting with a descent through a water soaked chimney. There was also a lucky escape for Alan who stood on a huge boulder which decided it would take off down the coire. Luckily for him he was nifty enough to jump onto another rock in the nick of time.
Monday saw the best weather, Ryan and Joe climbed an excellent route up eastern buttress of Sron na Ciche on wonderful rough gabbro. They had good views of Andy Illona and Ali topping out onto the Cioch .They had intended to do Direct Route but probably climbed Chimney Route due to route-finding errors, the great views excused everything. Ali, Andy & Illona enjoyed Cioch West and the Cioch Nose and the sight of an Eagle to rounded off their day and the weekend.
In conclusion, whets the appetite for next May.
Dave Galloway