As I mentioned Torridon is about the ridge lines. Beinn Eighe is one of the THE things to do. So, thanks to a break in the weather, we did it. Simples.
We did an East-West Traverse. This meant that we could step out of the van strait on to the lower slopes of the mountain. The traverse links the two Munros of Spidean Coire nan Clach (993m) to Rudah-stac Mor (1010m). It has a couple of knife edge sections of ridge but is other wise a spectacular and airy ridge.
After a steep climb up the headwall of Coire an Laoigh we reached the ridge from there it was a short assent to the Cairn on the false summit of Spidean Coire nan Clach. Then a knife edge ridge to the real summit. Which we then had to reverse to get back to the Cairn before beginning the traverse.
The weather was almost perfect. I don't think we could have hoped for better. the only down side was the brutally long walk out at the end. 7km back to the cars!
I can't gush words enough to do justice to the quality of this ridge. So I'm just going to post a whole load of pictures. After all a picture paints a thousand words, so here are 6000 words.
We did an East-West Traverse. This meant that we could step out of the van strait on to the lower slopes of the mountain. The traverse links the two Munros of Spidean Coire nan Clach (993m) to Rudah-stac Mor (1010m). It has a couple of knife edge sections of ridge but is other wise a spectacular and airy ridge.
After a steep climb up the headwall of Coire an Laoigh we reached the ridge from there it was a short assent to the Cairn on the false summit of Spidean Coire nan Clach. Then a knife edge ridge to the real summit. Which we then had to reverse to get back to the Cairn before beginning the traverse.
The weather was almost perfect. I don't think we could have hoped for better. the only down side was the brutally long walk out at the end. 7km back to the cars!
I can't gush words enough to do justice to the quality of this ridge. So I'm just going to post a whole load of pictures. After all a picture paints a thousand words, so here are 6000 words.
Descending the first Munro.
Looking back towards the first Munro.
Sarah and Sue heading off along the ridge.
More ridge line. Its near vertical on the north side (left) and not much better to the south.
We came from the left and went to the right on this panorama of the ridge.
Feeling very happy on the decent. Triple buttress in the background (Photo Sarah Secker).
Days like today really make bad weather worth it. Until you have experienced the bad weather you really can't appreciate the good.
Im sure my photographically minded friends will cringe at my gratuitous use of filters, but I took all of these with my iPhone through a phone case. Sorry.
Im sure my photographically minded friends will cringe at my gratuitous use of filters, but I took all of these with my iPhone through a phone case. Sorry.