Playing with my phone camera

Today we went into the mid section and summited Sgurr a Mhadaidh, Sgurr a Ghreadaidh and Sgurr na Banachdaich in excellent style.  Everyone was climbing exceptionally well so I ended up carrying the rope for nothing more than to keep me warm!  We made great time over the 3 peaks and in the scorching heat too.  We all knew that a swim in the pools was on the cards!  And it was so refreshing and warm!  An absolute must on a hot day in the Cuillin!

More photos HERE

The team happy on their 8th Munro of the trip

The could just cleared after I got the second team up

The siege continues today and the team and I headed for the Inn Pinn.  We were the first team there and got on right away.  Unfortunately for Andy and Ian, they went up first and we were surrounded by cloud.  Views were obscured as was the exposure.  As Ian is a professional photographer there were plenty of shots being taken, plenty of good results too, check them out!  Nothing my amateur camera could produce!  After I took the rest of the team up the Pinn we headed for Sgurr Mhiccoinnich.  After some scorching hot scrambling we arrived at the summit to be asked by a chap 'Are you Mountain Rescue?'  Unfortunately we weren't but we did have two doctors in the team.  A chap had fallen off whilst scrambling but was not in an easy place for me to get to with the team.  Fortunately the Mountain rescue were on the scene very quickly and the chap was winched away to safety.  I hope he is ok.  Very impressive flying, as always, by the helicopter team!

The cloud dropped

So nice to have these slabs dry

Andy focused as the chopper comes in

The team on Sgurr Dubh Mor

After a busy weekend of best man duties, getting Graham to his wedding on time, I was back on Skye.  This week started off with taking the team over the Southern Munro's of the Black Cuillin.  The aim of the week is to complete all the Munros and the team are very psyched.  Forecast is perfect!

Heading upto Sgurr Alasdair

Misty Skye

Our first summit

Taking a breather as the cloud clears and the exposure creeps in

Looking back to where we have been

After a good 3 months break away from Skye I was back and this time working for Moran Mountain.  Driving to Skye for a day trip is only usually done by me if I have a day off and want to go climbing, but this was different.  Despite climbing and skiing in the Alps and sport climbing in the south of France for over two months, I missed Skye, I had to go up.  Whilst on the Summit of Am Bastier, with Grant and Graham, the clouds opened, exposing the magic the Cuillin holds.  I was almost lost for words up there, gazing into a misty abyss, rocky peaks emerging like ice bergs in the sea.  Our first summit, Bruach na Frithe, was negotiated through thick cloud and drizzle.  There was no weather that would dampen our enthusiasm today!  Doing this peak first gave Grant and Graham, experienced hill walkers, a gentle start.  From here Am Bastier was their second objection.  Fortunately the rain was subsiding and the rock was drying, as the clouds cleared the exposure was obvious.  For Grant, the excitement brought him to his knees.  Cursing, crawling.  We waited to regain composure before making our way to the summit.  Our approach to Sgurr nan Gillian went like clockwork.  The summit views over to the Red Cuillin were spectacular but the Black Cuillin was cloaked by a heavy duvet.  The elation (exposure) brought Grant to he knees once more, he crawled off the summit to the start of the South East ridge where we made our descent.  Very impressed with both Grant and Grahams determination to keep going and pushing hard when their legs turned to jelly, well done chaps!   Being back on Skye was bringing back all my fondest memories of the Island; my first ever traverse, the one day winter traverse , new winter route , climbing at Elgol, Kilt Rock and Neist .  Plus many more fun memories with clients both new and old.  Looking forward to spending more time here this summer.

Eerie atmosphere

Threading the needle

Today my ribs have been feeling better so Kenny and I headed East to Dunkeld to find some dry rock.  Last time I was here, I managed to climb Hamish Ted (7b+) so I was keen to see if I could remember the moves, let alone do them.  Unfortunately the first sequence of moves was very depended on the muscles I injured so after getting to the top I decided it wasn't a good idea to try again.  Kenny climbed the route on his first red-point of the day and was totally chuffed with that.  We then went on and climbed some more gentle trad routes Coffin Corner (HVS 5a) and Deaths Head (E1 5b) before Kenny had a look at the moves on Marlina (7c).  A good day but another week should bring things back to normal.

Still injured but I felt an desire to see how my ribs are healing.  I headed down into Glencoe with Kenny and Blair for some sport climbing on Buachaille Etive Mor.  It was no surprise that my ribs still haven't fully healed and climbing was sore, pulling hard and making dynamic moves was not a good idea.  Taking falls isn't a good idea so I opted to just top-rope instead which was fine.  I was trying to remember the moves on Uncertain Emotions (7b) so when I regain fitness I can get back on it before the summer is up.  The beauty about this route, in my current condition, is that there aren't any big stretchy moves and also your generally on your feet most of the time so minimal strain to my upper body.  However, to say it is pain free would be untrue!  Kenny was working the moves in the Railway Children (7c) and Blair was working Admission (7c+).

Since I went to Pabbay and Mingulay there has been a slight lack of activity.  Unfortunately on my first day on the Islands I tore my intercostal muscles which affected the rest of the trip quite alot.  I still managed to climb but in a great deal of pain, masked with pain killers.  On return to the mainland I went to the phisio who confirmed what I had thought and gave me instructions to active rest and stretches.  Today I had enough of resting and headed to The Camel with Blair and Kenny with the intention of climbing but decided not to.  I pulled onto a few hold at the base of the crag and knew that I shouldn't be doing anything tricky.  With the easiest route at 6c+ I decided take photo's and went for a wee explore around the hill.  I was meant to be working all this week with John, which would of been fine, climbing upto E1 is still ok but climbing at my limit is out of the question for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately John had some work to be getting on with and couldn't make it.

Today I wasn't a mountaineering instructor.  Today I was Graham's best man.  And the start of the stag do was to climb the Forcan Ridge, Glen Shiel.  Armed with a bottle of the finest Talisker!  After sumitting and carrying down the empty bottle of Talisker, we made our way to a bothy, had a BBQ, a fire and lots of drink....the rest is blurred memories!

Me, Craig, Craig, Big Ben, Lee, Graham and Phillipa Hole.  And Codie the dog

Graham practicing his moves for the first dance!

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Last technical section before the summit.  Next stop.....Talisker stop!