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

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

Last weeks Cuillin Ridge course

A few photos of Ken, Godfrey, Mark, Karin and Fi from last weeks Cuillin Munros and scrambles course. Karin (ML) again came along to shadow, assist Fi and myself and bag a few Cuillin Munros and climbs. Overall we had several days of superb clear weather along with a few very claggy, wet and blustery days where a cool head, carefull foot and map work were essential.
Total reliance on a GPS is dangerous on the Cuillin' and Mark's trusty Garmen was at times more than 500 metres out on the narrow ridges and steep coires due to weak or obscured satellite signals!!!
Everyone bar one, found the hills, steep, exposed and hard work but very very rewarding at the same time and achieved their ambitions.
As a bonus Godfrey, Ken and I managed to avoid the worst of the twenty plus In Pin queues!!
After the course Fi and I stayed on for a day's sunny rock climbing on the south face of Sgurr Alasdair and would have stayed on longer if the midges hadn't arrived with a vengeance on Saturday evening!! See Fi's blog here for more details.

A YouTube video of Ken and Godfrey climbing the Inn Pinn can be viewed 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

Really Cool on the Cuillin Ridge!

We're just back to a snowy Aviemore from ten days guiding on the Skye Cuillin Ridge Munros.

Between Fi and I we managed four guided (2:1 ratio) ascents of the In Pin and many of the trickier Munros while avoiding the worst of the cold windy weather.

The weather has being unseasonably cold since the start of May with fresh snow and good skiing still on offer in the east Highlands on Cairngorm.

Out west passing through Glen Sheil there was hardly any old snow left on the hills. However arriving on Skye there was fresh snow falling on the Cuillin Ridge.

Most of the snow melted back by Tuesday but the fresh snow and rimed rock ended a few ridge attempts on Monday and made some of the easier peaks treacherous.

We met one experienced ridge traverse team from Ireland who'd spend three and a half hours descending on iced slabs from their bivy cave a few hundred metres along the Sgurr a’ Ghreadaidh ridge to An Dorus to escape!

Fortunately there was less old snow in the corries and gullies than in the past avoiding the need for Jenny, Len, Scott and Karin to carry ice axes and crampons. We had all the winter kit just in case though!

A YouTube video of Jenny, Len and Scott climbing and abseiling off the Inn Pinn can be viewed here.

After the first Cuillin Ridge course finished we eventually (no mobile reception!) met up with Emma, Fiona, Alan and Craig for some more Munros including climbing the In Pinn.

The weather outlooks all looked dire with more snow, wind and and minus 4 on the summits. So we decided to climb the In Pin on Sunday rather than the original schedule for Monday or Tuesday. We made the right choice and had a great day. On Monday we awoke to fresh snow down to about 500 metres with more forecast for the next few days!

Later we drove back east to the fresh snow in Aviemore. Maybe some summer skiing and easy summer winter climbing!!!!

There are still a a few places available on our next Skye Rock Climbing and Cuillin Ridge course. The courses and private guiding on the In Pin start on the 31st May-4th June 2010.

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