The joy of moving on rock: visiting 6 Munros avec des amis dans le grenier

6 Skye Munros over the two days.

Day 1: Am Basteir and Nan Gillean from the Slig (Alistair, Carol, Graeme, Adele)

After minor navigational alterations seeking bare rock we ended up on the North East Ridge to Sgurr a Bhasteir.  This yielded pleasant scrambling and a bonus introduction to the day.  After cutting under the Tooth we quickly followed the ridge directly to the ‘Bad Step’.  Overcoming this with a short abseil to the left we summited and were soon back at the ‘Bad Step’/ VDiff slab which we all decided to solo rather than the planned ascent where we’d left the rope.

Over to Nan Gillean and along the ledge.  A long conversation on which route to follow resulted in back footing up the extreme midge infested Tooth Chimney Continuation along the West Ridge to the summit was swift as we continued to be chased by the midge heavy in the humid and stifling air.  The descent along the south east ridge provided its interest to be followed by the screes, with a few ‘foot breaks’ during midge happy hour, back to the Slig’s steaming Chicken Balmoral.

Day 2:  In Pin and the ridge to Fater (Alistair, Carol, Graeme, Adele, Pieter)

A large club party (within some clag) followed the ridge up to the In Pin, with our wee gang staying on to summit.  Some trepidation and other emotions followed.

A big bag of courage was located and at first Alistair, with Carol and Graeme roped behind, did the deed! Round 2 Alistair led new member Pieter with mission accomplished once more.

The fresh breeze soothed us and the cloud lifted providing spectacular views. Adrenaline was high and some ‘post In Pin’ fears rippled about as we moved along the Main Ridge to Banachdaich, Moody and Greedy or in best gaelic ‘Greta and Fater’.   Not long after we were back at the Hut for food, singing and a deserved late night.

N.B.  It was really grand to see folk again along with new members.

Words by Alistair Jeffs (probably), photo by D Moysey