Success on the InPin

Last Saturday I drove up to Skye with a friend, Stewart to meet Cris Bonomy at the Glen Brittle Hostel. We arrived about 6.30pm in glorious sunshine and the Cuillin were looking majestic with the clear blue sky in the background.
On Sunday morning we met up with the guide that Cris has been out with before, though on this visit he was taking a day off and his colleague Lochy was going to be our guide for the day. The original plan was to climb Sgurr Mhic Choinnich and The InPin though because of the weather forecast a final decision would be made later. We set off about 9am from the Memorial Hut and followed the path until we reached the path that you take east to Sgurr Dearg. Lochy decided at the junction that we would go for the InPin first as the black clouds were rolling in and sure enough, when we got up onto west shoulder Sgurr Dearg the rain came on and after a short while the waterproofs went on. As we gained height we were in the clouds and as the paths narrowed with steep drops, maybe just as well  you could not see them. Before we knew it we were at the ridge facing the InPin as Lochy had us going at a fast pace.

Had an energy bar and drink before putting our helmet and harness on, then slowly down the stone and scree slope to the east ridge of the InPin to be given our last minute instructions before being roped up and then commencing the climb. Lochy pointed out the lower part of the route as he went first followed by Stewart, Cris then myself. The climb was a bit of a haze for me as I was so focused in looking for the hand and foot holds and the wet rock did not make it easy. We reached the half way mark and had a few minutes rest and a wee chat and encouraging each other and it would not be long before we reached the summit. The second pitch was easier though more exposed with just one tricky part near the top which we all managed without too much bother. Next we were on the summit then  sitting on the ledge getting instructions for the abseil. Stewart went first and got down with no problems then Cris was next. Because she had not done an abseil before she was fairly tense and Lochy and I knew when she had reached solid ground as the screams stopped which must have been heard back at the Glen Brittle Hostel. I went next and for me was the highlight of the day.
We went up to the ridge where our rucksacks were, had lunch congratulated each other and because of the wet weather the guide decided that we would miss out Sgurr Mhic Choinnich and just descend the way we came up.
We went to the Carbost Inn for a celebration drink,where we met Sarah and her Mum who were up in Skye for the weekend attending a wedding. A great day and Cris was pleased that she did the InPin as she thought she might only achieve Sgurr Dearg, though the guide was having none of that.
Because of the weather and the speed we were doing I did not take any photos though Stewart managed a few and when I get them I will post one as proof that we did do the climb.