This was unfinished business from our trip in the Autumn of 2013 when we had failed to get up to the highest point on the Isle of Skye by using a route that avoided the Great Stone Chute. On that occasion our route finding had been faulty – we were actually fairly close to the bad step on the final section to the summit, but just couldn’t get there because of a difficult section. Our mistake led to one of the several long walks out from Coire Ghrunnda – a lovely place , but it’s a long slog out from there.
Today however we chose the normal route up the Stone Chute. The day looked miserable from the bottom in Glen Brittle. No rock climbing was needed, but we wore helmets as a precaution because of falling rocks in the chute.
The weather improved dramatically as the day wore on and when in Coire Lagan even the Stone Chute looked not too bad. Of course, on that score we were deceived because only about 1/3 of the chute was visible. The ascent is a long slog up into a narrow gully which is much harder than the visible part. There were two other parties in the chute at the same time as us. One man with his son and a dog (which injured its paw on the sharp gabbro and basalt rocks of the gully) and two men that looked absolutely petrified with fear as they descended the gully. The ascent was two steps forward, one step back on loose stones for 1000 ft. Betsy proved herself to be a very talented scree climber though and found ways through it all.
As we approached the end of the gully the weather cleared, the sun was warm and the views outstanding.
The descent was every bit as grueling as the ascent. It started to rain gently and we were very happy to get back to the car at about 8:40 pm having spent 10 1/2 hours on a 5.75 mile hike!.
