1A - CUILLIN NORTH
One of the missing abseils would have come off Am Basteir down this way. Photo Adrian Trendall
6.0 miles 1310 metres
Start Sunday 07.00
Sgurr nan Gillean 08.15
Am Basteir 08.38
Bruach na Frithe 09.01
Finish 09.15
Squares: green - start, Yellow - changeover. Circles summits: green - this leg. Photo Colin Matheson
Time: Estimated 2.49 Actual 2.15
Steve writes:
Arrived Sligachan at approx 6pm and met up with rest of the team; Tony Walne and Ross arrived during discussions on plan of action! Very windy + wet so doubtful about start on Sunday. To pub for meal + pint followed by more discussion – decided to make decision early in morning therefore off to share Tony's tent – apparently Eddie wandering car park at 2am looking for us, luckily didn't find us!
Up at 5am; conditions improved so decide on 7am start; Tony set off at 6am to set up abseil on Sgurr nan Gillean.
Conditions at 7am fairly good, wind light but still cloudy on top but clearing. Set off on time with Bruce (Tom's dog) following, chased by Tom! Continued at good pace and reached Bealach Basteir in 1hr. Met Tony and climbed 40' chimney (Nicholson's?) arrived 1hr 15mins feeling good; clouds clearing but no view to Sligachan.
Photo-journalist Walne kept busy on top + on return abseil down chimney – nearly dropped baton on abseil – held in my teeth but – caught in elbow!
Continued up Am Basteir: 1.38 (23.15 split); cloud cleared so good view down to Sligachan. Slight slip (6 feet) on short climb off Am Basteir but no problems; pushed hard around base of A B to reach col in 16 mins (point I would have abseiled to, therefore not lost much time) – decided night before not to abseil because of poor conditions, what a shame!
Continued to Bruach na Frithe 2.01 (22.25) and down to revised changeover point at gap below Sgurr na Dhairnich. Changed to Craig and Alun who'd only just arrived! Total time 2hrs 15mins (split 14.12).
After short rest Tony and I set off down Coire a Tairneilear + reached pools in Allt Coir' a Mhadaidh – couldn't resist temptation to go in therefore Tony had to also! - it was very cold! Didn't attempt to swim under arch – too deep + too cold! Dried off with helly hansens + jogged out to keep warm but upset Eddie who was waiting with Ifor on the road.
Back to Sligachan for a pint of shandy + short sleep.
Peaks done 3 Hours elapsed 2 Peaks to do 274
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