Once more…into the Mist Dear Friend !

Thursday 14th October 2010

Up bright and early, in my cheap campsite, at the foot of Stac Pollaidh. It was a bit of a damp, and dreary morning, so to brighten the day…I treated myself to eggs and soldiers…and what a delight it was ! although as usual when I stuck the bread in, the yolk came flying out over my clean trousers – although they would get dirtier before the end of the day !

So off I set around 9-30 a.m. just as a group of 3 French climbers arrived, and in my ‘excellent’ French gave some guidance…they were talking of scrambling and ropes – what was I doing on my own ? Undeterred I set off up a well made track from the car park, up towards the mountain which was completely covered in low lying mist…I was hoping for it to clear up soon.

   However, things weren’t looking too good,as I arrived at the Bealach, between the two tops I still couldn’t see very much, as the mist swirled around me,obscuring most things.

I decided I would climb the west top first, and so set off scrambling over the rock pinnacles,up and down and around, it was good fun, and I realised what the french meant about ropes then ,although a rope on your own isn’t much use! As I neared the western top my was was barred by a huge pinnacle of rock, reached across a deep gully, with a seemingly impossible climb (at  least without a rope!) and I decided to look,see and turn back…however I looked again, and decided it would be a shame to miss out on the top, and so went for it… and with a lot of pushing,pulling,gasping and divine help…I made, squirming through a rocky corner,and up onto the top of the barring pinnacle, and out onto the top..brilliant ! Now I only had to get back down and through again..which as you may guess I made a lot easier than coming up.

I then set off across the ridge pinnacles, for the eastern Top, which I reached relatively easily, and just as I was doing so, the mist lifted giving views all around ! 

Well, that’s a bit of a pain,I thought, and quickly decided to do the Western top again, so that I could get the best views out to sea! I promptly set off again traversing the ridge, up and down the pinnacles towards my goal…however, as I was reaching the Western top…the mist came down again, and as I squirmed my way up the route again, I was confronted by a misty top..again. So, I did what anyone would do – I sat down, got my butties out, and thought ‘I’m not going till the mist does !’ Thankfully after about 10 minutes it cleared again, and I was able to get views all around me - it was worth the extra climb.

And, after getting my fill of the views, I climbed back down, across the rocky ridge, and back to Wally, for a mug of Minestrone soup, and time to plan my next days adventures, and as it was such a good spot decided to stay where I was, and travel to my next destination early in the morning..