SUILVEN
- AFFAIR WITH A MOUNTAIN 1989-1990
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 In 1988-89 I worked as a "voluntary worker" for the British Geological Survey in various parts of Scotland. Spring 1989 saw us up in the Assynt district in some decidedly wintry weather, as here where we're putting out a soil-surveying grid with some difficulty! |
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 The view out west from our work area was dominated by two mountains - Suilven and Cul Mor, here about to get swamped by a snow-bearing Cb! |
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 and here with crepuscular sunrays overhead... |
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 ...Sulven was also visible, more side-on, from the place we rented at Knockan. This pic was taken in May well after 11pm on a long exposure.... |
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 The following Autumn I returned to have a go at climbing some of the peaks, but the trip was fairly thwarted by intensely showery weather.... |
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 ....I did get up Cul Mor only to be rewarded on top by a hailstorm with the stones stinging exposed flesh, driven on on a gale-force wind.... |
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 The following April saw an unseasonable heatwave - what a contrast from the previous year's images.... |
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 ...so I was climbing in perfect conditions. Here on Stac Pollaidh, Suilven's Torridonian sandstone ramparts seemingly stride across the bare-rock, hummocky landscape of the ancient Lewisian basement. Canisp, in a similar geological setting, sits behind in the distance. This feels such an ancient land - a place to sit and dream on such days. And as for Suilven, well it was time to have a go at it... |
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 The mountain is not accessible by road, which is no bad thing. A walk-in of several miles to the base of the crags is made from the fishing port of Lochinver. On this day the temperature was climbing steadily with heat-hazes shimmering off warm slabs of Lewisian gneiss. The ascent route is a gully which runs up to the ridge about halfway along: from there an airy path goes either way to the summits..... |
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 ...really a "spacewalking" job this! This is the middle section looking to the Eastern summit... |
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 ....and this is the Eastern summit, showing the rocky obstacles that have to be turned when climbing it - not at all techical but the exposure is amazing.... |
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 ...here is the main or Western summit looking along the ridge, with a flat lawn on the top and precipitous drops falling away on all sides. And the rapidly spreading fog wasn't the only cause for concern... |
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 ...looking south towards Stac Pollaidh the distant sky was darkening slightly and general murk was becoming more noticeable. The forecast had been for thundery showers moving up from the south later, so having paid my respects to the Western summit I got off the mountain quickly and headed back to Lochinver at a fast pace. The first big raindrops hit the car just after I had arrived and distant thunder could be heard - good timing! This is one of the best hill-days I have had in the UK - highly recommended, but do pick a clear day to get the best reward for the effort required to get there!! |
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