Another bad nights sleep, but this time met with a gorgeous looking morning. I was feeling pretty tired so despite the beckoning weather, I struggled to get out of the lodgings.
I parked on the side of the road. Another couple were setting off as I was getting ready and so I figured I could use them to determine the exact starting point, this was particularly fortunate as they demonstrated a wrong choice at first - which saved me from making the same mistake!
The sun was beating down now,which was gorgeous, but I started to realise that I'd chosen the wrong clothes and was soon battling with trying to keep cool. The views down Glen Shiel were stunning. My muscles ached in a pleasant way (proving that I'd pushed myself yesterday), but I soon picked up pace and overtook the couple who'd set off before me.
I looked forward to seeing the ridge - I wasn't sure how technical it would be, but at least I knew that there would be lots of choices in terms of levels of technicality. When it appeared before me, it looked suitably inviting and intimidating at the same time.
I started the ascent and quickly move from the path to take the direct ridge itself. A man of about 20 years my senior was about 100 yards in front of me, I wondered what route he would be taking. There were some pretty technical bits, right from the start. The thing which always surprises me is the level of exposure that can be felt just by moving 5 or 6 feet away from the path. I got to the top of the first section and realised that I'd hardly even begun, I laughed it off and continued on the remaining section - again sticking solely to the ridge itself. The sun was still beating down, but the air was cooler and it was in all ways perfect weather for this type of activity. The views remained stunning, but despite the distance that could be viewed (Skye, Mull, Jura, Nevis), I felt too exposed to really relax and enjoy.
I got to the top of the next section expecting things to even out, but again found that the majority of the ridge walk awaited me. My nerves were starting to fray and I started to avoid taking some of the most exposed and technical sections in preference for the path. Again, I completed the next section to realise that several sections remained.... I wanted to rest in the sun for a while, but couldn't relax. I was enjoying myself, but only a very particular and somewhat indecipherable way.
I took on a tricky descent to a small col where an escape path descended to the left. I continued on the ridge until I came to a sudden vertical descent of about 50ft. The expletives that burst form my mouth caused my fellow walker to turn round from quite a distance in front of me. I nearly shouted him to ask how he'd descended. I really couldn't see how it would be possible to descend this without a rope. Why hadn't the guide books even mentioned it? Surely I'd done something wrong? Then I remembered the path at the col and realised that this (hopefully) would route around this section.
I returned to the path and tentatively started to descend - tentatively because even this route was very steep and the path was eroding badly. I was relieved when it became clear that I would rejoin the ridge further along. My nerves were now so frayed that I decided to stick to the path and avoid any optional scrambling. Fortunately there were no more false summits to the ridge and I soon came to the actual summit of The Saddle. Much relieved.
I knew that the remainder of the route would be vastly simple in comparison and so I was able to reflect on my level of enjoyment of the scrambling section. How dangerous was it? Did I actually enjoy it? One thing was for sure, I was pleased I'd done it and would certainly do it again - on another day, and next time with suitable friends.
I descended, came to the col and the reascended to Sgurr na Sgine I passed the couple (who'd set off slightly before me) on their descent. They'd bypassed the Forcan Ridge as the woman wasn't sure she could handle it, by advice was don't do it if your too nervous....
The route was boulder strewn, but while slow, interesting. I was tempted to return to the and take then gentler, but longer route back, but I decided to follow the guidebook. It was clear that I wasn't going to have such a heroic conclusion today as my time was going to be approaching the top end of the range of time advise by the guidebooks - the Forcan Ridge had really slowed me down.
On the plateau I used the sticks again to propel me along, but soon tired. And was the a muscle spasm on the front of my lower right leg?
I was dreading the descent as it looked like it was going to be steep and relentless. As I got to the start looked down, I realised that my concern was well founded. I was quite close to the road in terms of distance, but I was 800m up. I started the descent and within about 10 steps I realised that it was going to be painful - I had shooting pains from my knee to my ankle (I now know that this is called shin splints).
I made the descent slowly and painfully. Counting steps and setting myself short distance targets all the way. The GPS helped to give me confidence that I was making progress and that I'd make it eventually. I tried several different walking styles - quasimodo seemed to be the most effective.
I eventually made it back to the car and set off back to the hostel feeling decidedly less victorious then yesterday.
I had one of the best steaks I'd ever had at the pub, followed by a cheeseboard - i was desperately hoping that protein would ease my muscles.
While in the pub I googled the "bad step" on the route and found numerous accounts of people doing it, including a woman in her 60's.....
Another early night.
Munro - The Saddle, Sgurr na Sgine
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