Setting the scene
By late May of 2009 plans were finally coming to fruition for an expedition to bag the notorious Black Cuillin of Skye. with this in mind me and Dad headed out the week before we left for Skye and two days before my final economics papers (with hindsight not a good idea)to tackle the Aonach Eagach in Glencoe. We had a beautiful day for the ridge and we got to the car park at the Three Sisters without much trouble,albeit a 100 mile drive to get there. However on the way we were treated to stunning views of Rannoch Moor and the hills surrounding it.
The plan was to hammer across the ridge and fall into the Clachlaig Inn on the other side for a well earned pint before the 6km walk back to the car along the West highland Way, finally putting it to some good use.
'you don't need a rope for this'
From the Three sister's car park we followed the new path up on the shoulder of Am Bodach and quickly gained the summit. We were immediately treated to the ominous sight of people roping up ready for the traverse.
Having negotiated the 20m of scrambling down the far side of Am Bodach with ease we were feeling pleased as we hauled ourselves onto Meall Dearg. Ahead of us stretched the crazy pinnacles.
We confidently passed over the first three pinnacles and were going well until when decending a slab down towards the gap between Pinnacle No.3 and No.4 Dad lost his footing and fell about 10 metres rolling over a ledge in the process. Understandably I crapped myself and was all ready to call out the Mountain rescue when he went into shock. However 45 minutes later we started off again, both of us now very shaken. i would like to thank everybody on the ridge that helped him that day.
Beating a retreat
We did however reach Sgorr nam Fiannaidh without further cockups and began the decent to find that the route down Clachlaig gully to the pub was closed, both of us had forgotten to read the section in
The Munros (as per usual). we now faced the six kilometre walk back in blistering sunshine. Apart from the little 'accident' the aonach eagach proved a spectacular scramble and well worth while the drive there (and back). the down side of the story is that Dad contracted cellulitius and the trip to Skye had to be cancelled. So it was back to school on Monday morning with another war story to tell.
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