2 Days on Skye, home to Glen Nevis

Kev and I went to Skye to deal with some unfinished business he had with the south end of the ridge. Saturday started damp but improved. We made good time into Coir a' Ghrunnda and on to Sgurr nan Eag. From there we did the Dubhs but on the way back to Sgurr Dubh na da Bheinn something disagreed with Kev's stomach wildly and his breakfast made a spectacular return. He decided to go and sleep it off at the campsite so after walking him down into the Coire I headed round to Coire Lagan to visit the Cioch in improving weather. I went up by Collies Ledge chatting with a party of 3 on the way and abseiled down the gully.
Day 2 and Kevin finally got to do the Innaccessible Pinnacle. We walked up the west Ridge of Sgurr Dearg with David and his dad Sam who were headed the same way. Another damp start gave way to clearing weather as he left the belay half way up- I think his eyes almost popped as he took in exactly where he was! We abseiled off of the short side and after a chat with the other parties heading up we went down the An Stac screes to Coire Lagan. After some serious sunbathing we returned to Glen Brittle via some of the excellent path side gabbro bouldering.

Came home this morning to sunshine so arranged a quick cragging trip this afternoon with Graham. I wanted to get on to Rubberface and since Dundee buttress was on the way it was the ideal opportunity for G to hop on his first HVS lead with Dundee Weaver which he dispatched quickly. Unlike me on my route...... The trouble with slabs is that you can stand around contemplating how crap that smear looks and how few handholds there are (and trying to avoid thinking about where the next/last/only runner is). Anyway the guidebook says bold E1 5b and I'd agree, adding delicate and technical. The sun reflecting off of the schist made it feel very warm once I made it through the awkward first bold (I still don't remember how, once I started climbing I just kept going until I found a ledge to stand on and some gea to place). I felt like a sunbather holding one of those reflectors to their face as I tried to find a better sequence than the poor smear and worse handholds half way up.... until I strapped one on and committed to the move. A few midges in the trees todays but the bright sunlight was keeping them at bay- back to Skye tomorrow!