PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS PART OF A 3-DAY EXPEDITION
The following morning, the two of us who were navigating in turns re-adjusted our plans. It was clear we were making slow progress and the weather today was worse. A constant rain which we knew would be snow higher up. It was a slow and torturous ascent into Coire Domhain, and up the steep pathless slope to the ridge and finally to Sgurr Fhuaran. It was snowing now and the wind had picked up considerably, but it was a wet snow. We had to use quite precise navigation. It wasn’t an easy ridge in almost zero visibility with heavy packs. By the time we reached Bealach an Lapain, it was getting dark and we were all knackered. We could just about hear cars going along the A87 – a world away. How we managed the scrambles in the howling wind and white out conditions on Sgurr nan Spainteach I`ll never know. We were also wearing ski goggles all day. We dropped off the ridge on the north side of the ridge as we were too exhausted to head up Saileag. We tried to find somewhere even vaguely flat where we could pitch our tents. We eventually found a more gentle slope, but it would have to do. It was dark now.
- Significant mountains (Munros) including the main section of the Sisters of Kintail
- Navigation skills used on a ridge in white out conditions
- Knowledge was increased and skills practiced - Scrambling with heavy packs and dealing with the exhaustion and conditions.
- Over 5 hours
- UK winter mountain terrain
- Crampons carried, ice axes used for the steep asscent - scrambling (almost using climbing techniques) and steadying in the wind.
Area :
Glen Affric and Kintail
South of Loch Mullardoch you will find the Glen Affric and Kintail area whose southern boundary is the A87 road to Inverness. The Five Sisters of Kintail, Beinn Fhada, Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan and Carn Eighe are just some of the impressive peaks in this area, and all have their own unique selling points such as remoteness, size, steepness or height. As a result, peaks in the list are all over 900m.
