Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light
Dave E, Dave H, Iain L, Paul C, Paul T, Peter F, Tony
The Skiing Trip....
Day 1 - Sgurr a Bhastair
A really challenging but rewarding day as we headed into the Black Cullins and the famous ridge. A boggy start from the Sligachan Hotel before we started to climb properly following a stream. The usual dodgy navigation (from Tav) saw us precariously cross a very narrow plank across the stream (about 10 foot above it) only to realise once everyone was across that the true route was on the side we'd just left! Two opportunities for Cookie to take the plunge and he declined both.
Once all safely back on the right side of the stream we proceeded up to a windy col below Sgurr a Bhastair. The route then got really interesting, with a challenging scramble onto the summit. The views of the snow capped ridge ahead were awesome at this point. The top gave way to a very narrow ridge that we picked our way across carefully. And then the surrealist moment of a Tav's tour, as we encountered a snow field with a group of 40 Swiss teenagers sliding down it. The snow proved our final point on the ridge, while some of the group crossed the slippy top to the other side, Tav, Cookie and Peter decided that the snow was not for them.
The routes down the snow varied, with Tav avoiding as much snow as possible, with Dave E and Tony copied the teenagers and slid down. Once gathered at the bottom we faced the long descent and trek back to the car, which was aided by superb views across the island.
Day 2 A less strenuous day planned along some of the Trotternish Ridge.
We had a delayed start as Cookie forgot his walking jacket, requiring a return to the hotel. This proved fortuitous as this gave time for the rain to stop before we started walking. The start the of the walk was a tramp through boggy marshland, before an ascent onto the ridge itself through a small break in the cliffs.
A steady pull uphill followed as we followed the ridge, with wonderful views across the sea to the mainland. A very steep ascent up to the top of the Storr followed, but we were rewarded with amazing views of the Old Man of Storr and across Skye from the top.
By this time the sun had come out and we enjoyed lunch on the grassy top. We returned by the same route to complete a lovely second days walking.
