The Northern Three.

After such a wet day yesterday and a serious amount of kit drying, it was very nice to get a dry start today. Grahame and I started from Sligachan and walked in past the Basteir Gorge to the foot of the West Ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean. We had a couple of glimpses of sunshine and a view of the fabulous Pinnacle Ridge, dark imposing rock towers rising out of a rugged coire already chaging to its autumn colours. We wanted to climb the northern three Munro's of the Cuillin Ridge and the best way seems to be to start with Sgurr nan Gillean, traverse Am Basteir by abseiling down King's Chimney before reaching Bruach na Frithe.

The West Ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean has the imposing pinnacles at the top of the first chimneys. We found a little dry rock going past these which was very welcome! As we went through the eye of the needle at the top of the ridge the clouds came in and we did not get a view from the summit but at least we had been given an impression of where we were on the way up. As we climbed back down the rain came in so we had a slippery climb up Am Basteir. The cave at the top of King's Chimney gave us a welcome bit of shelter from the heavy showers.

From the foot of the chimney it is a simple walk up to Bruach na Frithe, one of the easiest peaks to reach in the Cuillin. We did not hang around in the rain looking at the view of the inside of the cloud. Instead we walked back down past the Basteir Gorge to Sligachan with Grahame having completed his Cuillin Munro's. Well done Grahame! It's not easy in the wet and we certainly had a lot of wet weather thee last two days!