First off, let me apologise for the lack of blog in the past few weeks, or rather the not updating it after completing recent walks!! It has been the result of a few personal issues that have contributed to this. Without going into any detail I must confess to suffering a lack of inspiration in the past two weeks...self inflicted and fully deserved on my part!! I must also point out that my last blog contained a rant that I wish to retract...based on recent events. I previously stated that the hills were all I ever needed to make me happy and fulfil my dreams (or words to that effect, the thought of going back to read them makes me cringe) and that all else was filler for me...but I was wrong!! The hills may contain most of the ingredients to fulfil me but lacks the ONE vital spark required for me to enjoy the experience fully...namely having someone to listen to all my outpourings of glee upon completion of another summit bagged...lesson learnt too late as usual!!
At least I know I can always rely on Jelly McBaby...or can I???
At least I know I can always rely on Jelly McBaby...or can I???
Since that last climb on 15th April there have been no fewer than seven new summits bagged in three separate adventures...including a five summit spectacular on Sunday past!
Where to start then?? Arrangements were made with my now regular walking companion, Louise Miller, to come up to meet her on Skye (where she presently works/resides at the Glen Brittle youth hostel) last Monday. The forecast was to be mixed whilst in Skye but the lure of attempting any of the Cuillins was too much to resist for this bagger. The, almost entire, trip was done in incessant rain, which just seemed to get worse the closer I got to the Isle...especially as I arrived at Eilean Donan castle on route.
Upon arrival in Skye on Monday 23rd April I was met with the most severe downpour and feared that the trip would prove to be nothing more than a washout...thankfully not the case.
As it turns out the downpour was a regular event at the time I arrived, all week at the same time apparently, and stopped within an hour of my arrival...the skies cleared...the sun appeared...a late drive to the foot of the Cuillins to take in the sunset was in order...and I'm so glad I did as the pics would prove to be some of the best I captured in my three days there.
With such views to inspire a walker the following day could not come soon enough...my night would be filled with hope that the weather would hold sufficiently to allow me to walk amongst such beauty...
Unfortunately Mother nature is a cruel mistress!!! The following day started with an overcast sky...low cloud and a slight damp feel. Undeterred we set off to the start point at Sligachan...parked by the MRT base (as the other car park was full) and started our walk in from the path further back than intended. We soon approached the bridge over the river, duly ignored it and set off along the path for the white cottage.
The weather seemed to be holding for us as we strolled along the path, passed the cottage and headed off along an excellent approach path to the foot of Bruach na Frithe...plenty of decent views along the way, including some waterfalls and pools amongst the Allt Dearg Mor on the way up it's gradual incline. We followed this track to the high point of the bealach between Bruach na Frithe and Sgurr Basteir...all around on the traverse the views had been stunning...from Loch Sligachan with Sgurr Mhairi above it...to Marsco with Bla Bheinn behind it...Bruach na Frithe outline...Am Basteir hiding beyond Sgurr Basteir...Sgurr nan Gillean looking mean and moody in the lowering mist!!
As we approached the ascent track around Fionn Choire there was a definite descent of cloud/mist above us...the Cuillin was not for making it an easy day for us!!
From the moment we started our climb up Fionn Choire the mist grew thicker and limited our visibility of the peaks around us. The path follows the ridge around the corrie initially, before breaking off to the right and bearing through rockier underfoot conditions...mostly scree at this stage...as it gained height. When we arrived at the top of this initial climb the grass slopes gave way to real menacing rocky outcrops...jagged pinnacles of rocks against the backdrop of the corrie!! Thankfully the mist had dropped to such a level that it was impossible to make out the worst of the route...which meant that Louise was quite happy to traverse the path around the pinnacles, rather than have to navigate across them. We continued on the rough faint path, now trudging through thicker snow lying in our way, as it wound around the pinnacles, leading us ever higher to our destination. The path then started to take a down turn through the rocks and we continued following this until I felt we were descending too far...then came the decision to climb away from the track, up through the rocks in a straight line for the summit cairn...Louise happy to follow.
So we dragged ourselves up through snow covered rocks, good scrambling opportunity, trying not to think of the potential for disaster that a slip would inevitably lead to, until we pulled up onto a ledge not far beneath the summit.
We picked up the last of the path here and followed it to the summit cairn...phew!! Once at the cairn we were surprised at how warm it felt, and wind free for the first few minutes, compared to the climb up. Indeed we were able to loiter for longer than I normally would on my own, even enjoying a hot cup of herbal tea for a change (I knew it would be cold so prepared a flask for the occasion). The usual pictures were taken at the cairn...Jelly McBaby was in sombre mood for a change...but posed away anyway...he would later reveal that things were just not right and that he felt a change was needed...cryptic little thing that he is!! We came to an agreement that he would see through the trip to Skye and I would allow him to do what he had to do afterwards...
Having had a high level heart to heart with my vicarious walking partner (if only every relationship were as simple as the one between a walker and his Jelly McBaby) we decided to get off the summit as the wind had returned and the temperature was dropping rapidly!! The return route was to follow the path (without deviation this time) back down through the snow and round the side of the pinnacles...past the rocky outcrops...back around the corrie to the grassy slopes above Fionn Choire. From here the views returned, slowly, as we dropped through the cloud level. Most of the walk back was done in similar conditions as the walk out...except it started to rain...almost bang on four o'clock...AGAIN!!! We returned to the car in a respectable 6.5 hrs...before the drive back to Broadford...for the worst chips I have ever had the misfortune to attempt to eat!!!
The read the start of this blog with mixed emotions, wondering what was going to happen. However,I enjoyed reading the report as it was a walk similar to one my husband did a few years ago. He also found the path seemed to be dropping down too much and actually disappeared:( Loved looking at the photos.
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