Seana Mheallan West - Pink Walls

I managed to get lost on the walk in today!

Last night we were joined by Don & Wendy. Don joined us today for the climbing while Wendy was going to follow on later in the day. We started from Glen Torridon and headed up Seana Mheallan on some fairly rough and steep ground. Mick, John & Robert were up front with Don & Kathy behind with myself isolated in the middle. Coming over a rise I'd lost sight of the first three but continued on up. Over the next rise there was still no sign of them and as I was near the top of the hill and running out of potential crags I dumped the sac and wandered round before deciding to retrace my steps. Kathy then appeared with the news that Robert had retraced his steps to find us, informing us they'd taken a sharp right at the top of the previous rise - thanks mates!

John and I paired up for today and our first route was meant to be a warm up 4b, however both of us thought it far harder than that and subsequent reading of the guidebooks had one at 4b and the other at 5a - the 5a one gets my vote. Next Mick was off up a 5b and offering a top rope to whoever fancied - I took the opportunity and was well pleased to get up it cleanly with a fairly strenuous layback at the start. Finally Robert had already lead Mick up a VDiff and I really should have taken the opportunity to do a bit leading myself - but my head's not quite there yet, so I whimped out and gave John the lead. A pleasant enough climb on which I kept asking myself how I'd have felt leading - the answer was very nervous.

Wendy had joined us earlier using a far pleasanter approach and when she and Don descended before us they were good enough to move our transport to the end of their track - much appreciated by all of us.

Photo Mick on Mechanical Sheep 20m E2 6a **

My routes today:

Skate 20m HVS 5a * - John Lead, I seconded
Hadrian's Wall 20m E1 5b ** - Top Rope
Clingfilm 15m Very Difficult * - John Lead, I seconded