High Skye

Our first munro: Sgurr na Banachdich: a 5 mile (8 km) 3110 foot (948 meter) hillwalk in the Cuillin Ridge.  We expect a 5-6 hour hike.

Preparing to head out.

The weather is perfect. We hope it holds!

We begin the hike up. No, that's not the summit.

We walk up along the river.  No, that's not the summit

Mountain girl.  The summit is up behind the peak just to the right of Alice's head.

A few clouds roll in.

I think we need to go up there...

Fantastic view!  No, not the summit.

The mountain seems to go on forever. Each small ridge reveals another 300 meter scramble. We are tired.  We pass a few folks coming down off the top.  They encourage us to keep going...

We get to the top: 3192 feet at 57.31N, 006.14W...

EW's GPS records the moment.

And it is!

The summit. A few clouds don't spoil the view.  Photo: Fred

The summit ridge.  Fred in the foreground, Carl and G in back.  Photo: EW

A 360 video view. Decidedly amateur but you'll get the idea.

Summit selfie.

Carl on top! Photo: EW

Gravity helps on the descent, still challenging. 

Alice picks her way through the summit boulder field.  Photo: EW

Going down is easier for some.

In consideration of what we've done.

From where we came. 

The silence is absolute. No one is left in the hills.  We head home.

Onwards, to the Ben!