The Inaccessible Pinnacle is the trickiest of the Munros to bag. Its easiest route is a graded rock climb – even if only at a moderate grade. And the normal way off is by way of an abseil down its steep west ridge.
I have been up twice, on each occasion assisted by Sue. The first time the cloud was down and so I (perhaps fortunately) missed the exposure as I carefully picked my way up damp and disconcertedly slithery rock. On the second occasion the full psychological impact of the exposure was felt. The route by the east ridge isn’t technically difficult but this time the dry rock was balanced by the lively wind. The route which is about a foot wide much of the way up has been described as “with an overhanging and infinite drop on one side, and steeper and further on the other”.
Sanctuary is eventually to be had beside the Bolster Stone which perches at the summit. From there, assuming the cloud is above the summits, there are fabulous views along the Cuillin Ridge and out to sea.
For some the In Pinn, as it is more often called, is a challenge too far. So I imagine that the news reported on 1st April would have delighted many:
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