globally warmed glamaig

Mon, May 26, 2008

Sunday, after our epic traverse of the Cuillin ridge between Sgurr na Banachdich and and Sgurr a’Ghreadaidh, Graeme and myself had an easier day bimbling up Glamaig from Sligachan.

We crossed the old stone road bridge and headed up the drier out path beside the Allt Daraich, which looks like it could be a quagmire in wet weather, although today it was blazing sun from a cloudless sky. Turning left through the gate further up, we headed over the moorland, where the path turned right and started heading up Druim na Ruige, so we squelched across what was left of the bog back to the river. The ground was so dry after 2 months of minimal rain and sunshine the bogs crackled underfoot, except where a particularly tenacious swamp lurked, into one of which Graeme trod. It would be best to cross the Allt Daraich at the top of the pool and small waterfall, where you can see a dyke that has been cut through by the flow. That way, you can follow the path all the way to the Bealach an Sgairde more or less.

Once across the burn, the path continues for some way beside it, passing a nice spot for tea ’n tiffin where it turns into the narrower part of the glen, heading up towards the bealach. Sheltered from the north east wind, it was sweltering in here. Eventually the path cross the burn just below the bealach and following sheep tracks across the glen side, the pull up to Bealach an Sgairde is rather steep, following the obvious grassy patch going up the coire headwall.

From the bealach it’s a grinding slog up the very steep screes. We found it best to head left and link up the grass patches although further up it steepens on scree and there really isn’t an easy way through it. It’s one of the tougests ascents in the Cuillin, due to the mobile scree. Once on the summit though, it’s a superb grassy ridge about 100m long with fantastic views in all directions.

I usually come up the north east ridge from near Sconser, which, although steep, is mostly grassy and avoids the scree from the Bealach an Sgairde, which we proceeded to descend. All in all, a fine day out in superb weather.

You can see all the pics here.