ekmc reports

CLUB REPORTS

Free the Skye bridge - Easter 2005

The motley crew of Brian & Isabel, Tom & Winnie, Sam & Angela and David & Janet all pulled into the Torvaig campsite on Friday and Saturday of the Easter weekend. Saturday dawned sunny and warm and a group set off to Coire Lagan. Brian & David continued up to Sgurr Alasdair to have a look see on the ridge and a wee look around. It was all very steep and we watched a couple of teams doing the whole traverse looking down the abyss of the TD gap with some trepidation. We returned down the stone shoot and met up with various others on the way back to Portree to meet Sam & Angela who already had the BBQ on and a feast was had.

Sunday was poor and a low level option along Glen Sligachan to Loch Coruisk was chosen, although overcast we stayed dry and had a pleasant walk, the only sour note being when some of the party saw the descent to the loch from the shoulder of Sgurr Hain a mutiny was called and everyone stayed aloft, justifying the decision by saying they could see the loch from there. Brian & David salvaged some honour by conquering the lofty peak of Sgurr Hain (418m).

Monday the cloud was higher but a keen wind was blowing from the NE. Brian & David set off for Bla Bheinn and ascended from the Elgol road. Bitterly cold on the summit there was no time for hanging around but the cloud stayed clear of the tops for the day and a late lunch was taken at the big boulder in the Coire Uaigneich. Isabel had been scoping out some other lower level routes in the area during the day and the Millers left for home that afternoon. Janet, Sam & Angela, Tom & Winnie went to the Storr for a visit and had a good day as the North part of the island stayed in sunshine.

Tue was an off day but a short detour to Neist point counted as a walk as well as the countless craft shops and galleries. Wed saw David & Janet going into the Red Cuillin but poor weather and horrid scree left us less than amused.

Thu was bright and sunny but Sam, who had been knobbled by his wife to ensure he didn’t go up on the ridge, had to opt for a bike ride instead of exercise. So Janet took Sam & Angela on a wee 54 kilometer jaunt up the coast to see The Kilt rocks and Staffin Bay. The wind changed for them and gave them a wee head wind all the way home so they were stuffed by the time I got back from the main ridge, having done Sgurr a Mhadaidh, Sgurr Ghreadaidh, Sgurr na Banachdich , Sgurr Dearg (the top, not the Inn Pin) then Sgurr Mhic Choinnich. The final descent of the An Stac scree here gets you down 1000 feet in about 2 minutes, great! A good day indeed on the main ridge.

We all went out to sample the local delicacy of Highland Spice Indian curry on Thursday night then endured a howling gale and had to take our caravan awnings down at about 2am lest they be blown away (gale not curry induced). Came home in poor weather on Friday.

David Jamieson

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Free the Skye bridge - Easter 2005