We had a grand scramble with an opportunity to play with the ropes on the approach (passing wood anemones and primroses in bloom) . The gneiss/pegmatite slabs are rough and either hold little vegetation or enough to provide reassuring ledges- very different from yesterday's lichenous mica schist. We were zapped with hail and heavy snow high on the route but its easy to zigzag and avoid the steps you don't want to do. The group coached each other through the slab sections and used the rope to protect the final steps up to a stunning sunny view as we made our way the short hop to the summit of Meall na h-Airigh (Rounded Hill of the Shieling) passing frogspawn laden pools and a large pellet of undigested bones, fur and insect exoskeleton from a raptor.
The sun was out and the views north to Glenfinnan were lovely with the viaduct clearly visible. A little further east the 2 tops of Gulvain stood out against the blue sky but it was the view along Loch Eil to Ben Nevis that we followed down the east ridge and back to the van parked at Callop.
The West Ridge of Sgurr Connich
A little navigation
A little rope work
Must be spring
The gorge
Onto the ridge
Rough slabs
Change in the weather
Hail...
...and snow
Round the corner
The Loch below
Loch Shiel
Come on up
Loch Shiel below
Topping out
Top team
Time for a drink
Aha! A pellet
Fresh snow on Ben Nevis
Glenfinnan below
Time to go!
