[Trip Index] [Munro Index] [Home] 22nd May 2003   Sgurr Alasdair - Alexander's Peak (after Sheriff Alexander Nicolson who made the first ascent in 1873) Map I parked the car at the same spot near the Glen Brittle camp site and set off at 9.50 on another overcast day with the cloud once again low on the hills. Taking the well-defined path east then north-east I made my way up into the Coire Lagan to where the lochan, Loch Coire Lagan, sits below Sgurr Dearg and Sgurr Alasdair - about 1800 ft up. By the time I got to the lochan I was in cloud and unable to see much. Turning east around the top of the lochan I soon found the start of the steep scree slope known as 'The Great Stone Chute' which is the way up to Sgurr Alasdair. A long, long slog up scree in cloud, unable to see the top and soon unable to see the bottom either… Eventually the cliffs start to close in on either side, funnelling you upwards until you reach the top, a U-shaped breach in the ridge where the scree stops and the ground falls away again on the other (south-east) side. The Great Stone Chute The ascent from there is short but steep and requires care. One way took me to the right and led to a narrow ledge on the side of a vertical drop back down into the Chute. It was only a short bit but the rock sloped outwards, pushing you towards the drop and though it looked possible it also looked dangerous. 'Surely this can't be the way,' I thought. But whether it was or not I wasn't going up it, so I backtracked and soon found another way. It still required care and I shuffled up over some bits on my bum for extra security but got to the top with no problems (2.10). At the summit of Sgurr Alasdair A seagull immediately turned up and landed, looking at me expectantly - they must be used to climbers feeding them. I had a bite to eat and shared a bit with the gull then set off back the way I'd come, down the Great Stone Chute, feet sliding through the scree. About to descend the Great Stone Chute Back at the lochan I saw two climbers heading up towards Sgurr Dearg - or maybe Sgurr Mhic Choinnich. They said 'Hi' but that was all. The corrie was still in cloud and it was hailing and raining now, at 3.30, so I decided I'd had enough fun for the day and instead of having a bash at Sgurr Mhic Choinnich as I'd half intended I just continued back down. It was a straightforward descent along the path I'd come up and I was back at the car by 4.30.