Skye Weekend 23^rd-26^th May 2003

I used to be innocent, nay, naïve, until I discovered Skye. Sure, I had flirted with the Cuillin, even had some fumbled encounters, but something had always stopped me from going all the way. But now I had a partner who persuaded me that now was the time to live fully, to go for it without counting the cost. To try for the ultimate Pinnacle, previously indeed Inaccessible.

"Leave protection to me" he asserted manfully, and led me on that rollercoaster experience of fear and trembling , into which joy, relief, and, yes, yes, yes, ecstasy, gradually mingled, until at last I was at the very climax of an unforgettable experience. It only remained to swoop downwards, plunging into the depths as into a deep sleep.

As we lay in the sun afterwards, languor creeping over our limbs after our exertions, I felt no sense of guilt, only a great thankfulness and feeling of peace enveloped me. "C’mon, get a move on" he rasped at last, "we’ve still got two more Munros to do today"

Everyone remembers their first time - how was it for you?

(extract from forthcoming novel - please send large cheques to reserve your copy)

Skye ridge first timers were Mary and Alan Cunningham, and Hugh Bourhill on Bruach na Frithe, Robert Bone on Sgurr na Gillean and Ann Dean on the Inn Pinn.

Monica Farrow, Henry Perfect, Liz Maitland and Ann Dean were shepherded up the Inn Pinn by an excellent team of climbers, namely Arthur Whittaker, John McPartlin and Roger Dean. By dint of getting up there early, and also through the climbers’ knowledge of the route, we beat the queues and also had blue skies and perfect conditions. All agreed that it was an unforgettable experience, thanks to Arthur, John and Roger. Ann and Roger went on to do Sgurr Mhic Connich , Sgurr Thearlaich and Sgurr Alasdair.

Other expeditions that day, which turned out mainly fine with showers after a misty start, were to Bruach na Frithe (Alice Mitchell, Colin Farrow, Alastair Morrison, and the previously mentioned first Skye ridge ascent of Mary and Alan Cunningham and Hugh Bourhill) Glamaig, Beinn Dearg Mor, Beinn Dearg Mheadhonach, Bidean Druim na Ruaigg (Garrey Whyte, Rosemary Masterton, Caroline Thompson, Alan Stevens, Chris Huxham and Dave Crowther) Marsco (Dave Broadfoot and Gill Cook) the Cioch attempted (Ingrid Parker and Bill McIntyre) Sgurr Eadar da Choire (Phyllis and James Smith) Sgurr a’ Mhadaidh and Sgurr a’ Ghreadaid (Brian McDaid, Ruth Keighley, John Anderson, Carol Proudfoot and Madeleine Easton.

The mist did not lift this time, and some people experienced heavy showers of rain, which put them off their planned routes. Phyllis and James, for example, went on a foraging expedition to Portree and returned with the first of this season’s Skye strawberries; Garrey, Arthur, Rosemary and John McP explored Piper’s Cave, and returned with unconvincing explanations of its name.

Henry and Alastair however did Sgurr Mhic Connich; Brian, Ruth, John Anderson, Carol, Madeleine and Robert Bone did Sgurr nan Gillean, as did Colin, Monica and Liz Maitland; Roger, Ann, Mary and Hugh did Mhadaidh and Ghreadaidh, as did in a separate party Dave Broadfoot, Alice and Gill . Caroline, Alan S, Alan C, Chris ‘n’ Dave had a long but lovely day on the Trotternish ridge.

Although most people disappeared off home, some people braved the wet conditions to continue to tick off summits - you would almost suspect that they wanted to complete their Skye Munros! Colin, Monica, Liz, John A , Garrey, Rosemary, John McP, and Robert did Am Basteir, the last four named continued on to Bruach na Frithe. Gill and Alice climbed Sgurr na Banachdich.

Alastair and Henry had an excellent adventure on the way home. Stopping to display their Skye-learnt scrambling on the west ridge of Beinn Fhada, they met a team doing a TV programme for the Adrenaline Challenge. They had set up a veritable cat’s cradle of ropes for an abseil for the contestants which looked about 400 feet long, but Henry omitted to state whether Alastair and he had taken advantage of this to show them how it should be done!

Congratulations to the large number of people who finished their Skye Munros this weekend, in spite of the weather - Henry, Alastair, Ruth, Monica and Alice. Liz Maitland went with Garrey, Rosi and John A on Tuesday to finish on Sgurr a’ Mhaidaid and Sgurr a’ Ghreadaidh.

I thought the independent hostel (The Old Schoolhouse or Skyewalker) at Portnalong was really good, in spite of its inability to decide on its own name, although it got really quite warm inside during the evenings, and midgies got in if you opened a window. There were complaints from some about the standard of meals in the local hotel, but those who went to the Carbost Inn fared better.