Each year I set my self the challenge for something epic, this helps me keep thinking that "I can do this!".

For 2024 this was to get to the top of a Munro I have been driving past and walking around the base of... Sgùrr na Banachdaich.

This set of mountains is not for the faint of light hearted, they will chew you up and spit you out if you do not treat them with the respect they deserve. I did have my eye on the " Inaccessible Pinnacle on the Cuillin Ridge", this was out as I would defiantly need a guide and some climbing equipment, so for now I would settle for the easier Sgùrr na Banachdaich, a little less tall, however a lot less of a danger as I would be going solo for this hike.

The aim was to best the previous year, as I did plan this once already, however the route was not clearly marked, so the couple I teamed with and I actually ended up in the wrong place. Never the less that was still an epic journey and we all spotted the route on the way back.

With this knowledge 2024 was the time! After much watching of the weather and forecast I found the perfect little brake in the weather, sunny day and not to warm and slightly over cast. I always get to warm and on the side of the mountain there where only a few stops for fresh water beyond a certain hight, so keeping hydrated and out of the blazing sun was something to consider.

My base for the this was Glen brittle camp site at the base of the mountains, a great place I have been going to for years now, the staff are great and the coffee is amazing, not to mention the food!

This was a few miles away from the start of my ascent however a good place for taking other routes to the top. Also important for me to give staff a heads up that I was going to the mountain solo and that if my car was there the next day something was not right. Always best practice when solo'ing out in the mountains to give people an est of time and location just in case, regardless of your expertise. Anything could happen and I certainly did not plan for it to but always best to be safe.

Once Past the hostel on my left it was time to be off the road; finally making my way up the dirt track, following a burn upwards to the first right turn I needed to take. This is a great little route and made me realise how much more exercise I needed to do, especially when carrying a full bag of camera gear and 3L of water, also snacks and spare clothing in case the weather turned on me. The views even at this point where great, crystal clear waters and hidden burns carving through the landscape.

After a few miles more, the right turn was near, looking up I could see this was not going to be a "stroll in the park", the path / route toward above me in front. I remembered the route I took last to the left, the wrong route but still epic one, where you can see the old lava flows.

Half way up this right turn, I though wow looking back from where I had started, I think I had already gained a few 100m from sea level where I started, looking across to the other Munros in the distance, and the road was getting very hard to see at this point.

A few hours had past and I finally got to a point where I could sit and rest, and have a little bite to eat. I sat and rested feeling a bit of the heat and looking out down the valley to the ocean, feeling pretty good with my self although absolutely shattered! Little did I know I was not even a quarter the way up!

Then for the steep bit; and I though the last bit was steep, I sat upright for a rest on the ( part scramble ) I was doing, and the ground was 45degrees, it actually hurt looking up to see the next steps I would be taking.

Still please just getting this far I though, no you have more; lets crack on!

The next bit was a brutal 45 degree scramble, as I was nearing this I took a moment to watch peoples routes as they where coming down, this is something that would help me pick a line to take, as at this point I wanted to assess the route, and there is nothing like seeing to know. A fellow and his dogs came by and we got chatting, he suggested a zig zag pattern and not to take the route the couple coming down where, his reason was it is less time wasted and a little safer. I took the kind advise and watched him and his dog for a while taking this route; glad I did.

When I had finished this section I rested up some more, with all the heavy gear on my back it was brutal, next time less camera, leave the heavy zoom at home! This is when I realised I was just under half way up, and that the route was about to turn from foot sized boulders to a mixture of person sized downwards. I actually though I was done at this point as there was not beaten track, apart from some boulder piles to the left marking a few 100 meter drop and the top to the Munro that I could just make out in the far upward distance.

Well, I said you have made it this far and you are still good to go, push on, do not rush and keep hydrated, from this point on ward there was not fresh water to fill up with again, so keeping hydrated and keeping some water left for the return was important from now on.

Finally I made it to the top, I was absolutely knacked, but the thing that took my breath away more was the view, I had forgotten about all my troubles and that I had actually set of to take a picture of the view from the top!

I took a while to soak it all in, I made it to the top, an overweight overloaded chap made it! It was a good 30minutes time at the top with no one about, just some distant specs of people on the other ridges, it felt like I had the whole place to my self!. Just Epic just Epic.

The real question is... did I get the picture I wanted.... YES, absolutely, it was exactly what I had in mind and I nearly forgot to take it!

The challenge for 2025...... still to think of anything that would surpass this... perhaps a night time galactic centre picture, or a Munro aurora

If you would like to see the video of me getting out of breath and loving it here is the link

Location

The coordinates for Sgùrr na Banachdaich are 57.22054°N, 6.24237°W

Wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sg%C3%B9rr_na_Banachdaich

Photography

Sgùrr na Banachdaich - My Yearly Photo Challenge 2024