Toezi, Steg and I awoke in the big tent. The night had been fairly cold once the wood-burner had gone out, but we were expecting some heat in the air once the sun crested the Cuillin.
We knew that our plans were derailed a bit having missed off Sgùrr Alasdair yesterday. The chat the night before had been to go ahead and just do the Inaccessible Pinnacle on it's own. Over breakfast we discussed options. Steg was feeling better than the day before, but Toezi's ankle was causing a lot of pain. It wouldn't be fair on any of us if we couldn't do the InPin together. Ultimately, Toezi decided to give the day a miss and Steg and I would press on and climb Sgùrr Alasdair in what would be hopefully a shorter day than previously.
We left the campsite at 0905 and walked up to the fork in the path and headed NE. Where the ground started to steepen, Toezi left us to head back to the campsite, his ankle was definitely not up to a day on complex terrain.
The sun started to crest the hills and it started to warm up again.
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| Sun cresting the Cuillin |
We headed into Coire Làgan on an easy enough path with a couple of scrambles. It was very similar terrain to the previous day, with a hanging valley and loch combo. This loch was slightly smaller and heart-shaped.
Soon enough we saw the Great Stone Chute - this light grey scree slope was our way up to the gully from where we would ascend Sgùrr Alasdair.
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| The Great Stone Chute and Loch Coire Làgan |
Climbing this was tough work - for every few steps you make, the scree slides down beneath you. It was a hard slog and I could see Steg getting futher and further back, but I could still see him and neither of us were in any danger.
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| Ascending the Great Stone Chute |
We got chatting to a nice man and Sgùrr Alasdair was to be his last Munro. We took the right turn up the chute and then came out on the bealach right at the top - between Sgùrr Alasdair and Sgùrr Thearlaich.
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| View of the InPin from the bealach |
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| Sgùrr Dearg, the InPin and An Stac (and moon!) |
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| View down the Great Stone Chute |
There were a few people passing by who were doing the full ridge. I hung about for Steg and took some more photos and chatted.
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| The Day 1 hills |
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| Looking down to Loch Coir' a Ghrunnda |
We made the slightly hairy ascent of Sgùrr Alasdair. As with the previous day, lots of exposure, very careful moves and keeping an eye on each other. We made the top just before 1300.
Our plan was to come down the same way, and we met the Compleatist on his descent too, so congratulations were made and then we made our way down the chute. It was hard at first, but once we got the rhythm going we started to make good time. Strong quads were a bonus. I was down before Steg, so got a shot of him coming into the light.
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| Steg coming down the Chute |
Back the loch, we stopped in the sun for some food. No rush today, so we had time to spare.
We headed down from the Loch back out to the track and then back down to the campsite.
On the way, we saw a large bird of prey.
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| Bird of Prey |
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| Sea Eagle? |
I might have been projecting, but this looked like a White-tailed Sea Eagle - this is their habitat. Would be good to confirm though! A few minutes later, I saw a little Wren fly out of the foliage at the side of the burn. That's the biggest and smallest birds in the country all within a few hundred metres of each other.
We were back at the campsite at 1550 and had plenty tales to tell Toezi.
Distance: 14.93km
Time: 6h 47m
Ascent: 1,075m
Munros Completed: 214
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