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 | Despite our late night the night before, I was up early, washing the dirty dishes we'd abandoned in the dark, etc. Isdale wasn't feeling too well and wanted to take a day off to laze around the campsite. This gave Alasdair and I the opportunity of tackling the Forcan Ridge, taking in the Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine, all of which Isdale had already done. We got off to a late-ish start, driving halfway up Glen Shiel to the starting point. |
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 | Despite our leisurely start to the day a good stalker's path up the first section meant that we made fairly good time. We did indulge in lots of lengthy rests, though, since it was another hot, sunny climb. There were superb views looking across Glen Shiel to the Five Sisters on the other side. |
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 | The ridge was great fun, but made for slow going. We avoided the "tricky pitch" described in the SMC guidebook by taking a slippery, but easier, side route. While we were on the ridge we encountered the first few wisps of cloud blowing over. |
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 | It was nearly three in the afternoon by the time we reached the summit of the Saddle, the day's first Munro. By this time it was beginning to cloud over but there were still spectacular views through the clouds. |
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 | There was a good path all the way over to Sgurr na Sgine, and back along the ridge to the summit of Faochag, then a long descent to the road. This was much faster than the previous evening as there was still an excellent path. I was using one of Isdale's "poser sticks" as he called them, which made it much easier on my left knee during descents - I decided to get myself one as soon as possible. |
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 | The Forcan Ridge from Sgurr na Sgine |
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 | The midges started into their evening attack as soon as we got down to low level again, so we dived into the car and drove back to the campsite for tea of pasta and sauce. This was followed by a trip to the tea-shop for tea, ginger beer and millionaire shortbread, after which we took a drive up to Mam Ratagan and down to the shores of Loch Duich, in search of some Seton Gordon-ish sunset piccies. |
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 | Isdale was by now feeling better, and we decided to try for the big one the next day: the South Glen Shiel Ridge. This, we all agreed, would need an early start, which I was of course more enthusiastic about than anyone else… |
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