Thursday 14 May 2015

Forcan fine day!

I did the maths and struggled to believe that its been 18 years since I last did the Forcan Ridge- where did the time go? I've done it twice in damp summer conditions and once absolutely buried in snow but today was the perfect day to remind me of just what an exceptional route it is!
With Ben Nevis labouring under the misapprehension that its still winter I needed a good plan B for Mike and Malcolm's last day with me and the Forcan Ridge seemed to fit the bill. Dave was joining us again and I fixed up Ruairidh to body for him to get some more practise towards his MIA Assessment.
With an immaculate forecast we were soon sweating our way up the excellent stalker's path before gearing up for the ridge.
There is plenty of snow around in the Coires of the Saddle and it covers many of the paths on the ridge that avoid the best of the scrambling so we had to stick to the crest throughout- great news as that was the plan anyway and excellent schist holds abound! At the drop off before the final section to the munro top we decided to abseil just for the hell of it (but I nipped back up so we wouldn't need to leave any tat) and then it was a sunny meander to the Trig pillar with views east to Ben Nevis and west to Skye and beyond.
A great few days with Malcolm and Mike. Top routes, some top weather and top craic! That's what its all about :-)
 Snowy but the crest is clear
 The steady walk in
 Beginning the fun!
 Schist
 Bring it!
 Dave and Ruairidh
 A proper 'Ridge'
 Dave working it
 Happy Dave
 "Posing… moi?"
 Bottom of the abseil
 Nearly there
 To the top
 "We climbed that!"
Down we go...

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