Quinag - Spidean Coinich

Climbed by year and month

Climbed by year and month

I had a new lens coming. I also hadn't planned another walk although I had one in mind. I fancied finishing Quinag. The lens came earlier in the day than expected, and well, why not take it for a walk. So after a quick bit of weather forecast checking I packed Gerty so Skye and I could overnight at the car park and then walk the following day.

This is the tale of Spidean Coinich, the mossy peak.

The MetOffice mountain forecast on Friday morning seemed quite positive - cloudy sun, dry until evening I think.

That wasn't quite how the weather was to play out. What's a wee bit of drizzle here or continuous rain there, eh?!

We started out with a steady pace, and surprisingly I soon realised I was holding a slow, but nevertheless, an alpine pace. Leaving the built path at the cairn, we then crossed onto the SE ridge of Spidean Coinich and it was here the climbing really began.

There is a lot of rock here. Long strips of bare rock abound, you just link them up and keep on climbing. Skye did a pretty good job of keeping us to the path when it mostly faded.

Just below East Top the ground changes to largely boulder fields, the pace slowed further. Across a small col lay the final pull up to the summit. It was with a great deal of gratitude that we finally spied the summit itself. Despite a wee breeze over the summit the midges were out and biting.

I umm'd and argh'd to myself trying to decide which way to descend. Back the way we came, or onward across the airy ridge. Eventually I figured were up here for the views and the whole experience, so just carry on and see what happens.

The ridge turned out to be the best part of the hill. Airy and narrow in place, most of the time it was plenty wide enough to keep me and Skye happy. Remarkably she was calm and confident on the ridge, and didn't give me any cause for concern!

Dropping into the coire for the return to the van the rain started, it was full waterproofs, jacket and troos. We didn't too wet, it was mainly annoying. However, not long after we were inside the heavens opened. Good timing, it was torrential.