
Quality winter mountain day. Staying at SMC Ling Hut, start and finish from there. With friends Martin, Bruce, and Paul: all experienced mountaineers, combined age of party 249 years! I had most local knowledge as this was my umpteenth visit in both winter and summer, for the others it was there first time in Torridon.
Followed path to Coire Mhic Fhearcair, scrambled over scree and grass to base of gully. Snow conditions firm, frozen neve, all of us solo-ed route simultaneously with crampons and two axes. Topped out near Sail Mhor and followed main Beinn Eighe ridge to Spidean Coire Nan Clach, in deteriorating conditions of snow and rain with poor visibility. Detailed route-finding required on the rock step scramble west of Coinneach Mhor, with hoar and verglas on many sections.
We descended via the Coire Nan Laoigh path, reaching the road in the dark at around 7.30. Back at the Hut for a well-earned dinner; 11 and a half hours out in total.
Area :
Northern Highlands South (winter)
Extending from Torridon in the north to Knoydart in the south, and including Glen Shiel, Glen Carron and Applecross, Northern Highlands South includes many brilliant winter climbs of all grades and styles. The quartzite cliffs of Beinn Eighe and the corries of Bheinn Bhan have become forcing grounds for modern mixed climbing, while Liathach nearby offers many fine, steep, traditional ice climbs. New winter climbing possibilities are being discovered on the mountains throughout this area on an annual basis.