trip report - 25th May 1997
| Date: | 25th May 1997 |
| Mountains: | Sgurr Alasdair (993m), Sgurr Mhic Choinnich (948m) |
| Group: | Edinburgh Academy Half Term Senior Meet |
| Conditions: | Thick cloud above 600m, wind increasing through the day |
Not put off, however, we headed straight from the tents along the newly-crafted path leading into Coire Lagan, and ultimately up the Sgumain Stone Shoot - a wide gulley filled with enourmous boulders, saying goodbye to the world as we entered into the cloud. From the top of the Shoot, it was not hard (with a teacher who's done the Skye ridge countless times, at any rate!) to find Sgurr Sgumain. With aforementioned teacher, we were also able to find the right way up to Sgurr Alasdair.
Given I was just following a teacher, where we went next isn't entirely clear. Due to increasing winds and lack of visibility, we didn't go along the top of the ridge, but instead went off somewhere to the East and traversed to the col, avoiding (I think) the great Stone Shoot. I'll have to go back there sometime and figure out exactly where we did go. In any case, we ended up at the col, and, after lunch, began the ascent to Sgurr Mhic Choinnich. We took the "traditional" route of some steep scrambles and then around Collie's Ledge. I saw a picture after of exactly where Collie's ledge went, and was really quite glad that there had been so much cloud around! Anyway, assuming three points of contact all the way round, we ended up on the other side, and, dumping rucksacks, went on up to the summit.
As we sat on the top, a man appeared from the other (steep) side of the hill wearing trainers. I felt a bit inadequate...
The original plan had been to continue along the ridge and do the In Pinn as the final climb of the day. The wind was picking up, though, so we decided perhaps best not to. Part of me was relieved, although a bigger part slightly dissappointed. Still, one for a better day than this. Instead, therefore, we headed down to the col below An Stac, and down the An Stac screes back into Coire Lagan (and out of the cloud).
Day 3 was originally planned, but when we woke, we could see even less of the Cuillin than we could the day before, so we upped our tents and headed back to Edinburgh. Needless to say, by the time we were back on the mainland, the weather had improved greatly - even to the extent of considering climbing something on the way home, but by that stage getting home and showered was too attractive an option.
