Ratagan March 2008
March 15: Left home at 10.30, the day developed into a shopping trip- stopped off in Carlisle, then again in Perth, getting very forgetful. Then arrived in Wester Caputh where I had booked in for the night.
March 16: Left Caputh at about 9.00 for another shop at Pitlochry, arrived at Cluanie at about 11.30. Ater some faffing deciding where was the best place to park, I left the car by the Cluanie at 11.45, and headed for Aonach Mheadhoin, in the first snow at about 500m. Went via Sgurr an Fhuarail, and reached the top at 2.30. Met two people, Barry & Richard, who were staying at Ratagan coming in the opposite direction. I then went on to Sgurr a Bhealaich Dheirg, which took ages, deep snow and poor visibility. Reached the summit at 4.50-a distance of about 2k maximum. Summit cairn was big, then walked along the N.E Ridge, very narrow, when it ascended took the easy way out and dropped down to the valley, to the E, in deep snow, then ascended to the bealach, had to walk for some distance along the bealach then headed South towards the Cluanie, made it back to the car at 8.00, then on to Ratagan, where I saw none other than Mark Smith in the sitting room.
March 17: An attempt on the South Cluanie Ridge, debating whether to attempt the whole ridge in one go or do it in separate attempts. I decided to see how I progressed. I parked at the Inn and set off at 9.30. I made good time on an excellent track, in fact the old road to Tomdoun, now interrupted by the flooded Loch Loyne. I left the track and headed up a well marked path up the SE ridge of Creag a Mhaim, which I reached at 12.55. I then had some lunch in the sun, then headed on to Druim Shionnaich, Aonach air Chrith, spectacular summit, which required a sharp turn to the SW. Then on to Maol Chinn-Dearg, which I reached at 5, decided to call it a day there, and descended back to the Glen-a very quick descent, back at the road at 6.30, then a walk back along the road for 40 minutes and back at the Clunaie at 7.10.
March 18: Cluanie Ridge Part 2. Left the car a short distance W of the point where I met the road yesterday. I set off from the car at 9.10, as it was snowing. A bit of a grim start to the day. I ascended by yesterday’s descent, a bit of a grind but got to the summit at 12.15. I joined the ridge, and dropped down to Sgurr Coire na Feinne, then on to Sgurr an Doire Leathain, the first munro of the day. I had some difficulty finding the summit, as it was some way along the northern spur of the ridge. Then on to Sgurr an Lochain, (No 250), then descended to the col below Sgurr Beag, then descended back to the road, and back to the car at 5.20.
March 19: Set off at 9.10 for the first top of the day, Faochag, an unremitting slog, v hard going up steep ground, then headed on to Sgurr na Sgine, and had lunch just below the summit. I descended the summit to the South on bare rock, tricky with crampons on, then NE to the col below Sgurr a Bhac Chaolais, then ascended steeply to its summit. Then NE to the bealach, then on the long ridge to Creag nan Damh the last top of the South Clauanie Ridge. There were about 6 false summits on the ridge, plus a very exciting descent from the last bump on the ridge to the summit. I descended to the North after clearing the summit crags, ascended Sgurr a Chuilin, and then down some very steep ground to the NW and back to car, with no walking along the road. The end of the South Cluanie Ridge, after 3 days!
March 20: Lousy weather so took a rest day, went into Kyle, a pretty dreary place, then went to Eilean Donan, finally went over the Mam Ratagan to Glenelg, where the ferry to Skye had just started up. Then drove a little way back and walked along the beach. Went back to Ratagan via Glenelg and investigated the camp site at Moyle.
March 21: Set off from Morvich at 9.00 am, geared up at the car park straight away as it was raining. Walked down Glen Licht , and passed the hut at the end of the Glen. Crossed the river by a new bridge, the old one had collapsed at a slightly drunken angle. Walked towards Camban on a superb path, although uphill. Left the path at some waterfalls and spent some time avoiding crags, it might have been better to stay on the path a bit longer and avoided the crags and doubled back, but ran out of patience, as usual. Then headed on the line towards Saileag up the South Ridge. A bit up and down in difficult weather, very windy and snowy felt a bit cold in spite of having all my layers on. Put the crampons when the angle allowed and made the summit at 2.10. Headed towards the col, faffed around deciding on what was the best descent route, decided to get to the lowest part of the col, then descended without drama. Got to ground free of snow, which was absolutely saturated. Got back to Glen Licht House then headed back along the path I had walked along earlier in the day. I was walking into a head wind and it was snowing, I got back to the car at 5.50, excellent day, although a bit trying at times.
March 22: Home day, set off home, good conditions no traffic jams, but a long drive home.