OM Skye September 2010 meet

Following the success of the OM May 2010 Skye Meet. Iain Gallagher decided, due to considerable interest, to organise a further meet for Outdoors Magic Members to return to the Isle of Skye so that others could attempt the Cuillin Ridge traverse this year.

The cottage had been booked for the dates outlined above and we currently have four OM members booked on to this meet, although there are still 1 - 2 places available that Iain would like to fill.

The package available to Outdoors Magic members is the same as that in May - £350.00 for seven nights self catering accommodation plus a guided traverse of the Cuillin Ridge typically taking between 3 & 4 days. This offer represents fantastic value for money.

The weather in September can be very similar to that in May when it is reckoned to be the best time to be on Skye to attempt the ridge traverse. A complete traverse of the ridge cannot be guaranteed by anyone at any time but since 2006, Iain has had considerable success in guiding Outdoors Magic members across this - the best mountaineering challenge anywhere in the UK. Iain knows the ridge well and to attempt the traverse with him offers as good a chance of success as with any of the local mountaineering instructors working on the Isle of Skye.

If you are interested in joining this OM Meet and have any questions and/or would like to book one of the remaining places then reply to Iain on this thread. The places are to be sold on a first come first served basis and a deposit of £100 is required to secure your yours.

Details of links to reports and pictures from the last meet to follow on the next post. 

I look forward to hearing from you.

Iain Gallagher

A report of the May 2010 OM Skye Meet can be read starting here

http://www.blog.kendalmountaineeringservices.co.uk/2010/06/om-skye-meet-may-15th-22nd-cuillin.html

Pictures taken by me from that trip can be viewed here at

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/kendalmountaineeringservices/OMSkye2010May15th22nd2010#

Outdoors Magic members wishing to attempt this traverse need to be fit and competent mountaineers with some basic experience of scrambling. You will need to provide all of your own personal clothing and mountaineering equipment although KMS will provide you with a helmet & harness as part of the course fee.

Rucksacs less than 40 litres capacity are not recommended for this traverse. You will have a lot of equipment to carry on what will be long days out. Also please do not turn up with approach shoes with which to attempt the traverse. The Cuillin Ridge is not approach shoe territory as people discover time again. A solid pair of walking boots  giving good ankle support and having a vibram sole giving good grip are what I recommend for this trip.

If you wish to express an interest in joining this meet please contact me via this thread.

Regards

Iain

No dates! That was truly dumb of me!

Sorry folks, the dates of the OM Skye September meet are Saturday 11th to Saturday 18th September. Arrive afternoon of the 11th depart morning of the 18th.

Ideally, you will have had experience of scrambling up to grade two. Most of the ridge is grade 1 with some grade two and a little three. Quite a lot is actually just walking! There is some easy rock climbing to be done unless you all choose to do the Thearlaich Dubh Gap which is severe.

There is also some abseiling to be done and a few sections where you may be lowered.

The rope will be used in any situations where I consider it necessary and this also depends on my perception of your abilities.

If you require any further info then don't hesitate to get back to me.

Regards

Iain 

Hi all,

place # 5 has been sold.

There is only 1 place left on the OM Skye September 2010 meet now!

Regards

Iain

a beurmp...

but also a potential extra place - my friend doesn't know now whether he'll be ordered abroad for these dates.  

so if there are two of you who want to come - there are potentially two places, and dan will have to book next year instead 

Bumpity bump!

We still have one to two places going on this very good value excursion to traverse the Cuillin Ridge of Skye between the 11th & 18th of September 2010.

£350 per person gets you a guided traverse of the ridge plus seven nights self catering accommodation near the village of Carbost.

If anyone on OM can find a better package than this for doing what is arguably the best traverse of its type in the UK - I'll be amazed!

Get in touch if you are interested.

Regards

Iain Gallagher

Iain,

roughly what weight in ropes/harness etc will we be carrying?  just wondering which bag to bring...

Hi Posh Totty,

Can't tell you exactly what weight of stuff you are going to be carrying but it will be spread out between the 5/6 or us and I would suggest that everyone brings a sack of at least 40 litres capacity

You will all need a helmet & harness and if you haven't got one then let  me know and I will provide them for you.

I will be bringing ropes and a climbing rack. You all need to provide your own foul weather equipment, food & drink etc as well as appropriate footwear which should provide you with good high ankle support and a cleated vibram type sole.  Please do not bring approach shoes with which to do the ridge, they are totally unsuitable for terrain such as that which we will encounter.

Water storage devices such as Camelbaks/source etc are advisable and should be of 2 - 3 litres capacity as you will get through this much liquid in a day (depending on temperature).

With regards to the location of the cottage - can you please pm me with your personal email address for directions and a picture of the place so you know where to come to. CDJU - having been before, you know where it is!

The accomodation is self catering and as in the past, I would like each person to provide one evening meal for the rest of the group with us going out to the fantastic New Inn in Carbost on our last night. Breakfasts & packed lunches are your own responsibilty.

 I will provide the first evening meal of Chilli Con Carne with Garlic Bread and red wine (unless you don't like this) I also like to load it up with at least a kilo of bird's eyes (just to see what you are all made of ) but if you don't like it hot then that's not a problem.

Rooms at the accommodation. Sean & Posh Totty - you can take the ground floor double,

Raymond & CDJU you can elect to share the upstairs twin or one of you can sleep in the single downstairs unless the 5th person turns up then two of you will have to share the twin. I will take the upstairs double room.

Please do not arrive at the cottage before 4pm on the 11th. 

Can you all pray for good weather and if we get it - be prepared for 3 or 4 long, but satisfying days out on the hill. Equally, you all need to be prepared for the limitations that bad weather will impose on the trip - whilst it should be possible to get everyone on to the top of every Munro on the ridge there are some sections which will be dangerous in the wet, these are:-

Sgurr Thearlaich to Sgurr Mhic Choinnich and the Sgurr a Ghreadhaid traverse from Sgurr Na Banachdich.

If we encounter bad weather on either of these sections then I will not be prepared to risk either your necks or mine by attempting to traverse them!

If any of you have any further questions about the trip please pm me. See you a week on Saturday

excited

i need to borrow a helmet and a harness, Ian.

communal meals no problem - i'll do beef stew, mash and greens, so if anybody has any dislikes or allergies say now...

i think we know what bad weather looks like... but the forecast is promising dry, if not bright. 

Ok PT I'll put you a H & H in.

 Yep - lets keep fingers crossed for good weather

Beef stew etc sound great.

See you there

Iain

Hi Iain and everyone

I've got a harness but no helmet

I could cook curry?? Veggie or chicken

Ray

Right Ray,

I'll bring you a helmet. Chicken curry sounds great to me but you may need to do a veggie version too?

Any veggies coming??

Cheers

Iain.

so far

Helmets x 2 Ray & PT

Harness x 1 PT

Anyone else need anything?

Let me know if you do.

Cheers

Iain

Boink.

Come on folks. Good chance to try out all your fancy, barely used kit  

Last time I did the ridge it cost me this much just for the guiding with no accommodation so it's a flippin' bargain and more than makes up for having to endure me for a week.

Iain, I need a helmet, although I have very little worth protecting in my head.

I'll make anchovy and banana custard surprise

Doesn't look like its gonna happen Sean

Either people are stoney broke or they can't see what a bargain they're getting

Mind you I did have some joker a month back who said he was skint & could I "do something with the price"  Can you believe it! Obviously I said no.

There is no-one offering what I'm offering here for the money!

Anyway, 4's not a bad party size. Lets keep our fingers crossed for decent weather

So - helmets x 3, harnesses x 1 at this point. 

Iain

If you are nearby Derek - pop in!

All the best.

Iain