Mountain climbers return from Ben Stack
We were up early this morning. A 6.30am wake for a 7am breakfast to allow us a good start on the mountain. Ben Stack might not be the highest mountain in Scotland but it towers over Loch Laxford and can be seen from almost all of the places that we explore on the land and sea this week.
We set off up the south east facing slope from the small estate village of Achfary, following the prominent rocky scar on that side of the mountain. The stream was flowing well and we could top up our water bottles at the half way point. High level cloud came and went and we had sunshine and then shade in equal measure.
From the half way point the gradient eases for a while and we picked our own own route across the slopes in the absence of any form of path. Both teams paused for a while in the col before the final steep summit approach which the two teams tackled together.
We lunched on the summit with amazing views over the west coast. We could see across to Ardmore and Loch Laxford and then beyond out across the Minch to the Outer Hebrides. The Atlantic looked flat as a pancake today.
Rather than returning down the same route we took a different line from the col, descending into Strath Stack to pick up a stalkers path through pine forests back to Achfary.
Swimming was the order of the day for most on our return to the Adventure School. A great way to cool down and ease the muscles after a big day in the mountains.
