May 2009 found us once more in Skye. Our plan this year was to wait for a weather window and attempt the ridge over two days. We would set off fairly early on the first day, climb up to the ridge via Coire a Ghrunnda, where we would pick up water, and then walk out to Gars-bheinn, leaving our rucksacks at Bealach a Garbh Choire. We would then traverse the ridge as far as Sgurr Dearg before dropping into Coire Banachdich as we had read there is a stream and the possibility to camp overnight close to the ridge. On the second day, all being well, we would complete the traverse.

On Sunday 3rd May we packed all our camping gear and supplies and walked up into Coire Banachdich. As we climbed it looked highly unlikely that we would find a suitable spot to spend a night. However, at around 750m, where the streams begin to peter out, we discovered several areas that are large enough and flat enough to pitch a small tent. We stashed our gear at 766m and then climbed up to the ridge only 50m higher. It was misty and snow was falling intermittently. We retreated down and back to the cottage to wait for good weather.

It felt like a repeat of 2005 with storm force winds and torrential rain, which fell as snow above 700m, for the next four days. A third attempt of a Cuillin Ridge traverse seemed increasingly unlikely as a walk up to the west ridge of Sgurr nan Gillean on Friday confirmed that the snow was making for winter conditions above 700m. However, on Sunday, a change for the better set in with settled weather forecast for the next three days.  On a trip out to Glen Brittle it appeared that the southern end of the ridge was virtually clear of snow and it was melting rapidly at the northern end. A decision was taken to make our third attempt of the traverse over two days on Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th May 2009.