As I climbed over the coire floor and on to the shoulder of Sgurr nan Gillean, some cloud was sweeping in adding an atmospheric feel to the morning. It had been a while since my last Munro outing and although I was at 2000 ft, I was beginning to feel it. Time wasn't an issue as it was just gone 0800.
I eventually made it on to the ridge proper and looked South to see Sgurr na-H-Uamha, a long awaited view of perhaps one of the most impressive peaks of the Cuillin. I was not interested in doing this as I figured the climb up to the Munro proper would be tough enough.
The ridge to the summit looked like it was a km long, rather than the 300m or so but there was no doubting how airy and exposed this would be. I carefully took my time, deliberate with hand and foot. Things were going well until I'd say the last 150m or so. I seemed to be getting pushed further West than I wanted and the scrambling was quite intense. I was very conscious of the yawning coire away to my left, with the Basteir tooth poking up on my peripheral vision.
I eventually scrambled on to a large slab and made my way along to the crevasse, before the summit cairn. I couldn't believe how small (and exposed) the cairn was. I began to get very worried, wondering how I'd get back down. It is the most uncomfortable I've every felt at a summit in Scotland and I was very keen to get off the peak, as safely as possible. There was a lot of bumsliding/gripping and the occasional jump down off the slabs. Eventually, I reached the basalt-like funnel and began to relax a bit more. Once back down to the bealach, I sent a message to my wife saying I was down safe and that I'd had a bit of a scare. At Munro 260, I have to consider whether a guide will be needed for the 5 Munros left over on the Glen Brittle side.
