SGURR ALASDAIR TO KING'S CHIMNEY

On down into the gap at the top of the Great Stone Chute where we paused briefly. Dropped down right to gain the ridge up to Thearlaich. Quite an exposed scramble but we were now on familiar territory as we had explored this section the previous year. A quick photo on the summit at 11:10 am and the first radio contact with our ‘support team’ (Gemma) on the road below. We decided to downclimb to the bealach at the foot of Sgurr Mhic Choinnich so we put on helmets and harnesses and got out the rope. We had sight of the first people of the day cautiously making their way along Collie’s Ledge. I led the downclimb and was careful to place protection on the difficult parts. Although it is only Moderate the rock was slightly wet in places and the first part feels quite exposed. David soon joined me at the bottom. The book suggests there is a route over the slabs to the right and from the bottom this looked easier. The three people had just arrived and I suggested this to them. However one, who we believe to have been a guide, said they were going up the slabs on the other side (left hand side as you are coming down). We watched as they walked up the slabs with apparently no real difficulties. The ‘guide’ commented that our route down looked ‘fun and asked if we had bivvied out the previous night. We were not sure whether this was because he thought we were out quite early or whether we looked knackered already!!