Cuillin Central - on Sgurr a'Ghreadaidh. 11am,12/06/95
In. Pinn., east ridge. 2pm, 12/06/95 ~ That roped party was already on the route when I arrived, so I walked some way up an Stac and had my lunch. Half an hour later they were quite near the top, so I went back across and set off up the ridge, which normally takes me about four minutes. I'm not sure why I felt embarrassed at reaching the top at the same time as them, but I did, and tried to sidle off back down unnoticed. Maybe it felt as if I was trying to show off, a cardinal sin in my upbringing.
Looking down the east ridge of the In. Pinn. 2.30pm, 12/06/95 ~ From about a third of the way down. The Pinnacle looks steeper from some angles than from others (the view from Ghreadaidh shows the true gradient of the east ridge), but I'm surprised at just how vertiginous it appears here. It doesn't feel difficult, but does demand care and concentration. Dry rock and a well-behaved wind are more or less essential for a safe solo ascent and descent.
