A quick hit on the In Pinn

An early start from Slochd to bag the In Pinn on the Skye Cuillin with Steven then back home to a midge free Cairngorm for tea!

More photos on our Facebook album here.

To book guiding or a Skye Cuillin course see https://www.talisman-activities.co.uk/product-page/cuillin-ridge-munros

Cuillin Ridge Munros with Michael (28-31 May 2016)

Great weather and great company ticking off the Black Cuillin Munros with Michael :-)
lots of great photos on our Facebook album here

To book a course or arrange guiding on the Skye Cuillin  Ridge see https://www.talisman-activities.co.uk/product-page/cuillin-ridge-munros

Cuillin Ridge Munros (14-17 May 2016)

Four great days guiding on the Cuillin Munros with Pete and Guy with the help of Julie Baum (MIC) on day three.

The guys did really well and completed all the Cuillin Ridge Munros in good style bar one, when we abandoned the final summit Sgurr nan Gillean, after completing Bruach na Frithe and Am Basteir, due to the wet and windy weather.

Clear and dry on the first day then low cloud and occasional light showers on days two and three before we got a good soaking on the fourth and last day!

Plans have already being made for rock climbing and a return visit to complete more classic Cuillin climbs such as Pinnacle Ridge and the Cioch, along with the rest of the team, Andy and Dunc.

To book a course or arrange guiding on the Skye Cuillin  Ridge see https://www.talisman-activities.co.uk/product-page/cuillin-ridge-munros

Cuillin Ridge Traverse, Munros and Classic Climbs May 2016

A few of our confirmed dates in May 2016 for guiding on the Cuillin Ridge on Skye. You can book or find out more by following the links below:

• 28th May -1st June 2016 for more details on our Facebook page, click here.
• 14th May -18th May 2016 for more details on our Facebook page, click here. 

To book a course or arrange guiding on the Skye Cuillin  Ridge see https://www.talisman-activities.co.uk/product-page/cuillin-ridge-munros

Guiding on Skye's hardest peak with Alan

Not the best of weather or midge forecasts but another great adventure with Alan and Fi on the misty In Pinn.

Braving driving rain and icy winds on greasy rock, climbing the UK's hardest Munro summit was touch and go but Alan was well up for the challenge.

 Nil viz all day until we started to head back down then a brief clearing and the Cuillin gave us tantalising views of where we had been!

Alan took up climbing in his sixties and has been on a number of great winter climbing adventures with us over the past few years and likely be back for a good few more .. ;-)

More photos on our Facebook photo album here

To book a course or arrange guiding on the Skye Cuillin  Ridge see https://www.talisman-activities.co.uk/product-page/cuillin-ridge-munros

Soaked on the the misty In Pinn!

A lot wetter than all the online the weather forecasts led us to believe. In the continuous downpour we climbed Sgurr Dearg's by the West Ridge's waterfalls, with the promise of drier weather by mid-day.

Unfortunately it just got wetter and wetter. As the guys weren't experienced trad climbers, were soaked and were starting to become hypothermic, if we hung around for several pitches on the unprotected whaleback, we had to abort climbing the In Pinn by the East Ridge on safety grounds.
This gave the guys the ultimate challenge of attempting to climb the West Ridge (with rope above) in the lashing rain and polished greasy foot and sloping hand holds!

Unusually for the In Pinn, we didn't meet anybody else all day until on the descent, when we heard some voices calling out in the mist, "is it OK to follow you down...?" as we scrambled down the gully waterfalls and through the crags.

The poor guys from Ireland, were both very experienced but had been trying for several hours to find an easy way back down and had been down and up several dead end gully lines.

They were very relieved to see my bright yellow jacket glowing like a beacon appearing from the gloom and happily followed behind as we picked up more lost soles!!!!

At the end of the day I binned yet another pair of old mountaineering boots completely trashed by the gabbro, see the photos on our Facebook album here!

To book a course or arrange guiding on the Skye Cuillin  Ridge see https://www.talisman-activities.co.uk/product-page/cuillin-ridge-munros

Guiding on the In Pinn and Cuillin Ridge

A birthday surprise for Chris from his wife Hayley, a days guiding on the In Pinn and then a climb up Sgurr McConnich.

Near the summit we ended up in a Nadir Khan photoshoot of a colourful Paul Tattersall running on the crest for RAB clothing, see https://youtu.be/uE765znqiV8!!!

We had perfect summery weather with very few people or midges on the Cuillin Ridge, where was everyone this perfect weekend? 

To book a course or arrange guiding on the Skye Cuillin  Ridge see https://www.talisman-activities.co.uk/product-page/cuillin-ridge-munros

Cool on the Ridge!

The forecast sounded good and sunny for the west coast so at 6.00 am from Speyside, Don, Gerry and I headed off to the Cuillin Ridge on Skye to climb Sgurr nan Gillean and Am Bhasteir.
There's was a surprising amount of low level snow on the western hills but fortunately much less on Skye.
The peaks were initially in the cloud as we hiked from Sligachan at 08.15. They had more fresh snow on them than expected, though no areas of old icy winter snow remained, as far as I could see.
During the afternoon the cloud lifted with spells of watery sunshine. Later we had some stunning views while heading up from Am Basteir on to the west ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean.

A bit wintry on the north side of the ridge and especially so in the chimney (understatement!) but fortunately easily cleared by advanced kicking and punching techniques!

The snow was mainly avoidable once on the west ridge crest, where we practised our alpine rope-work on the delightful mainly dry rock. Back down via the never ending tourist route, for 5.00 pm, a fish supper and the drive back to Inverness.

To book a course or arrange guiding on the Skye Cuillin  Ridge see https://www.talisman-activities.co.uk/product-page/cuillin-ridge-munros