Sgùrr Alasdair

Sgurr Alasdair photographed from the northwest, across the valley of Coire Lagan

The Sgùrr Alasdair is a 993 m high mountain on the Isle of Skye, the west is as part of the group of islands of the Inner Hebrides off Scotland. The mountain is the highest point of the small, very steep mountain massif of the Black Cuillin Mountains and the highest point in the UK outside of the main island of Mainland Britain.

The Gaelic name Sgurr Alasdair translated means Mountain of Alexander and goes back to Alexander Nicolson, who has the mountain first climbed in 1873.

Geology

The mountain is located in the south-west of Skye in the middle of the small mountain range in the Black Cuillin Mountains. This massif is for Scottish conditions exceptionally steep and rugged and therefore has significantly hochalpinere trains compared to the rest of the Highlands. The mountain just like the Black Cuillins are particularly resistant largely of gabbro, but also of basalt structure and are thus as hard rocks against natural erosion. A peculiarity of the Sgurr Alasdair is a huge debris channel, the Great Stone Chute, which runs through the Beg almost the entire height and simultaneously represents the easiest way to the summit.

Ascent

Even if the Sgùrr Alasdair on all sides drops rocky and steep, it is a popular destination for mountaineers as the highest mountain of Skye. The easiest, but not technically very simple way starts in the small village Glenbrittle at the campsite at the same bay. From there, the track follows a gently rising creek and you will soon reach the left hand side of the small lake hole at Fhir - bhallaich. The path becomes steeper and rockier and now leads directly into the basin of the Coire Lagan. After some time we reached another small lake on the lower part of the basin. Just beyond, turn right a way in the middle of a large and very steep scree from - the so-called Great Stone Chute; in the lower part of the debris field, the road is still clearly visible, above it is lost rapidly. Although risk through reduced rolling rock threatens not directly, but are often still other climbers on the way that may unleash the up or descending rubble. The top of the Great Stone Chute is earthy and soft, and again leads a path that may be very slippery. At the upper end, one on either side of steep pass, keep to the right and follows in a slight climb for the last 50 meters of altitude to the ridge of the mountain.

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