Ratagan, March 15-22, 2008.

March 15: Left home at 10.30, and the day developed into a shopping trip-stopped off in Carlisle and then again in Perth, getting very forgetful. I then spent the night in Wester Caputh just north of Perth.


March 16: Left Perth at about 9.00, then had another bout of shopping at Pitlochry, arrived at Cluanie at about 11.30. After some faffing trying to decide the best place to park, I left the car by the Cluanie. I set off at 11.45 for Aonach Mheadhoin, and reached the first snow at 500 metres. I then headed for the summit via Sgurr an Fhuarail, and reached the top at 2.30. I met two people, Richard & Barry, who were also staying at Ratagan coming in the opposite direction. I then carried on to Sgurr a Bhealaich Dheirg, which took ages, due to deep snow and poor visibility. I reached the summit at 4.50, about 2k from the previous top. The summit cairn was a big one. I then carried along the N.E. ridge which was very narrow, when it gained height, I took the easy way out, and dropped down to the East where I ploughed on through some deep snow. I then ascended to the bealach, then walked some distance along it, then headed South towards the Cluanie, made it back to the car at 8.00pm, then on to Ratagan, where I saw none other than Mark Smith in the Dining Room.


March 17: An attempt on the South Cluanie Ridge. I debated whether to do the whole ridge in one go, or in several portions. I decided to see how things progressed. I parked at the Cluanie and set off at 9.30. I made good time on an excellent track, in fact the old road to Tomdoun, now interrupted by the flooded Loch Loyne. I left the track and headed up a well marked path up the SE ridge of Creag a Mhaim, which I reached at 12.55. I had some lunch in the sun, then headed on to Drum Shionnaich, then Aonach Air Chrith, which was a reallly spectacular summit, which required a sharp turn to the SW. Then on to Maol Chin Dearg, which I reached at 5.00. I decided to call it a day there, and descended back to the Glen, a very quick descent, back at the road at 6.30, then a 40 minute walk back along the road, and back at the Cluanie at 7.10.


March 18: Left the car a short disatnce W of where I came down yesterday. I set off at 9.10. A bit of a grim start as it was snowing. I ascended by yesterday's descent-a bit of a grind, but got to the top at 12.15. I joined the ridge and and dropped down to Sgurr Coire na Feinne, then on to Sgurr an Doire Leathain, the first munro of the day. I had some difficulty finding the summit as it was some way along the northern spur of the ridge. Then on to Sgurr an Lochain (no 250), then descended to the col below Sgurr Beag, descned to the road, back at the car at 5.20.


March 19: Set off at 9.10 forthe first top of the day, Faochag, an unremitting slog, very hard going up very steep ground, then carried on to Sgurr na Signe, and had lunch just below the summit. I descended to the south on bare rock, tricky with crampons on, then NE to the col just below Sgurr a Bhac Chaolais, then ascended steeply to its summit. I then made for the bealach, then on the long ridge to Creag nan Damh, the last top of the Cluanie ridge. There were about 6 false summits on the ridge, plus a very exciting descent from the last bump on the ridge to the summit. I descended to the north after clearing the summit crags, then ascended Sgurr a Chuilin, then doown some very steep ground to the NW, and back to the car with no walking along the road. The end of the South Cluanie Ridge after 3 days!

March 20: Lousy weather, so took a rest day, went into Kyle, a pretty dreary place, then on to Eilean Dolan, then over the Mam Ratagan to Glenelg where the ferry to Skye had just started up. I drove a little way back, then walked along the beach. I then went back to Ratagan via Glenelg, and then investigated the camp site at Moyle.

March 21: Set off from Morvich, and geared up at the car park as it was raining. I walked down Glen Licht and then past the hut at the end of the glen. I crossed the river (burn?) by a new bridge, the old one had collapsed at a slightly drunken angle. I headed for Camban on a suoerb path, although uphill. I left the path at some waterfalls, and spent some time avoiding crags. It might have been better to have stayed on the path a bit longer, and avoid the crags and doubled back, but ran out of patience as usual. I then headed in the direction of Saileag, up the south ridge. A bit of up and down in trying weather, very windy, felt cold in spite of having all my layers on. I put my crampons on when the incline allowed, and made the summit at 2.10. I headed towards the col, and faffed around trying to find the best descent route. I got to the lowest part of the col, then descended without difficulty. I reached ground free of snow, which was absolutely saturated. I reached Glen Licht House, then headed back along the path I had walked down earlier in the day. I was walking into a head wind and it was snowing-I felt quite intrepid. I got back to the car at 5.50, an excellent day, although a bit trying at times.

March 22: Home day, set off home, good conditions, no traffic jams, but a long drive home.