Above: Cruach Innse (left) and Sgurr Innse from Lairig Leacach bothy.
Sgurr Innse and Cruach Innse
MunrosNone
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CorbettsSgurr Innse
Cruach Innse |
GrahamsNone
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BothiesLairig Leacach
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Distance/Ascent7km 642m
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Estimated Time5h 00min
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NotesI am sure that there must be some way to scramble up the south side of Squrr Innse even if it involves zig-zagging up rakes and ledges. Never climb up anything you cannot climb down!
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3 January 2017
Sgurr Innse has been high in my to-do list ever since I visited Lairig Leacach bothy during the summer of 2004. I have always been curious as to whether a reasonably direct approach could be made rather than approaching via the saddle between Sgurr Innse and Cruach Innse. So off I headed towards the tiered crags of the south face of Sgurr Innse. I knew that I could reach the final tier of crags with relative ease, having read Malcolm's walk report published on Walkhighlands. I aimed to head right at the crags to contour anti-clockwise and see if I could find a safe way up.
I set off from the bothy around 0830, the other occupants, Bobby and Correen, having already left for spean Bridge. I was pleased to find tracks heading up to the south of Sgurr Innse and as I reached the saddle, I surveyed the possibilities. I took my camera out so I could trace my route of ascent later. I turned on my camera and . . . . Doh!
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I had left the xD card in the computer! I would have to make do with the camera on my phone.
Looking at the drags from this view, I decided that I could probably follow the upper terrace rightwards and at some point find an easy way up. If I found no way up I could simply retrace my steps and follow Malcolm's route leftwards to the pinnacle.
As it was, there was a clear path rightwards, as seen in the bottom left of the photograph below. This fizzled out at some boulders at the bottom of several sections of largish, angular scree. There were a number of variants to choose from, all of which would be a little strenuous but straightforward.
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My route was more easily seen in this photo which was taken the next day on my ascent towards Stob Coire Eassain. Please excuse the W.A. Poucher style with the black and white image and the route shown with a white line.
The route brought me out onto the southern summit with a pleasant amble past a lochan, only shown on the 25 000 map and on towards the modest summit cairn. It was not too blustery on the summit and I tried to position my phone on the rocks of the cairn to take a couple of selfies, none of which came out particularly well.
However, I am reasonably pleased with this panoramic shot: left Stob Choire Easain, right of centre Stob Ban and Stob Choire Claurigh, partly shrouded in cloud to the right.
The advantage of following the standard route as given in the SMC guide to The Corbetts And Other Scottish Hills and similar routes given on the internet is that the descent from Sgurr Innse involves retracing one's footsteps. I followed a path which seemed to reach a T junction, with a pathe descending a shallow gully to the left and the alternative contouring round to the right. I thought the latter may gain height around the corner as another way to the top, so I took the left hand option. The gully was wet and most of the hand holds were loose. There was also some bits of ice. Two-thirds of the way down, I could not see the route all the way down to the jumble of rocks below as the gully steepened so I decided to head back up and check out the right hand option. This went round a bend before dropping down left. This was difficult ground in the wet but I would hesitate to call it a scramble.
Once down the steeper ground, there was a lull in the wind. This turned out to be the lull before the storm! It seemed the right opportunity to take a selfie while still on Sgurr Innse, albeit not the summit; this time holding the phone at arms length.
Once down the steeper ground, there was a lull in the wind. This turned out to be the lull before the storm! It seemed the right opportunity to take a selfie while still on Sgurr Innse, albeit not the summit; this time holding the phone at arms length.
Heading towards Cruach Innse, my path must have narrowly missed a group of three, as I saw them when looking back at Sgurr Innse. They seemed to set a good pace up towards the finer of the two peaks, especially one member of the party who seemed to be increasing his lead on the other two.
I continued up towards Cruach Innse in deteriorating weather and as the ridge levelled out towards the cairn, I was buffetted by head on winds and light precipitation. I did not even consider trying to take photos. I sat down for about 10 seconds to regain my breath, touched the top of the cairn and headed straight back down.
As I neared the saddle, I passed a man and we had a little chat. I assume that he was the stronger frontrunner in the party I saw earlier. He told me that the others had headed down to Lairig Leacach and the track back to Coire Choille Farm. I did see them a bit later, but not to speak to, as they headed north while I was heading south back to the bothy.
I had originally planned to include the Graham, Cnap Cruinn, but with deteriorating weather, I felt very satisfied with my achievements for the day, especially as I had found a relatively direct route to the top of Sgurr Innse, which may appeal to other purists like me.
I arrived back at the bothy at around 1330 to find a large group of around eight, of which five (Lucas, Pieter, Blair, Mike and Callum) were stopping the night. Their plan was to climb Stob Ban. To me, it seemed a bit late for that, but I did not say anything. They looked young, fit and strong and I remember the route as being straightforward, especially when the path is not covered in snow.
I had left a 10kg bag of coal in the car as well as a pack of 6 briquettes, so my plan was to have some couscous and a cup of coffee before heading down to the car to pick up fuel for the bothy stove. Once refresshed I heading off along the track on my bike into an increasingly strong headwind. About halfway back (in distance but not descent, I met Jamie, Kim and their dog, Harris. They were carrying large packs and it turned out that they were heading for the bothy. On telling them my plans, they told me that they had plenty of wood and coal for the night, so I may not want to bother dropping down to the car and then faced with the steeper reascent back up through the forest. I decided to head back with them. The walk back to the bothy seemed very quick, with the lively conversation and tail wind to help us on our way.
The only downside of this decision was that I had very little fuel for the third night and I would have liked to have left a bit of fuel for the next visitor.
I continued up towards Cruach Innse in deteriorating weather and as the ridge levelled out towards the cairn, I was buffetted by head on winds and light precipitation. I did not even consider trying to take photos. I sat down for about 10 seconds to regain my breath, touched the top of the cairn and headed straight back down.
As I neared the saddle, I passed a man and we had a little chat. I assume that he was the stronger frontrunner in the party I saw earlier. He told me that the others had headed down to Lairig Leacach and the track back to Coire Choille Farm. I did see them a bit later, but not to speak to, as they headed north while I was heading south back to the bothy.
I had originally planned to include the Graham, Cnap Cruinn, but with deteriorating weather, I felt very satisfied with my achievements for the day, especially as I had found a relatively direct route to the top of Sgurr Innse, which may appeal to other purists like me.
I arrived back at the bothy at around 1330 to find a large group of around eight, of which five (Lucas, Pieter, Blair, Mike and Callum) were stopping the night. Their plan was to climb Stob Ban. To me, it seemed a bit late for that, but I did not say anything. They looked young, fit and strong and I remember the route as being straightforward, especially when the path is not covered in snow.
I had left a 10kg bag of coal in the car as well as a pack of 6 briquettes, so my plan was to have some couscous and a cup of coffee before heading down to the car to pick up fuel for the bothy stove. Once refresshed I heading off along the track on my bike into an increasingly strong headwind. About halfway back (in distance but not descent, I met Jamie, Kim and their dog, Harris. They were carrying large packs and it turned out that they were heading for the bothy. On telling them my plans, they told me that they had plenty of wood and coal for the night, so I may not want to bother dropping down to the car and then faced with the steeper reascent back up through the forest. I decided to head back with them. The walk back to the bothy seemed very quick, with the lively conversation and tail wind to help us on our way.
The only downside of this decision was that I had very little fuel for the third night and I would have liked to have left a bit of fuel for the next visitor.
Footnote: The five young men arrived back the bothy before dark, having reached the bealach between Stob Ban and Stob Choire Claurigh.