GARS BHEIN TO SGURR ALASDAIR
We set off round the Corrie and on up to Bealach a Garbh Choire – a height gain of only 80m. Here we removed our rucksacks Summit of Gars Bhein looking south and with only a small bottle of water and the first aid kit contoured around to the left of nan Eag towards the next bealach below Sgurr a Choire Bhig. Although one of the books had indicated that there should be a faint path there was little sign of it and we soon found ourselves clambering over large boulders. Despite this we reckon it saved about 15 minutes compared to the return route over the summit. We decided to skirt round to the right of Sgurr a Choire Bhig where there are signs of a path and is the route recommended for runners in the RockFax guide. It is debatable as to whether this shortened our journey since the route over the peak is relatively easy. Summit of Eag looking north By 7:50am we were at the summit of Gars Bheinn and ready to start the traverse.

Given that it was such a glorious morning, the forecast was good and the weather had been  stable for a couple of days, we were a little surprised to find we had the mountains for ourselves. Within 50 minutes we were looking out along the ridge from the summit of Sgurr nan Eag. Sgurr Alasdair and Thearlaich From here we could clearly make out the grey line of the path that skirted below Thearlaich and avoided the T-D gap. This was our intended route. We had wanted to try the T-D gap the previous week but the weather had closed in and prevented us doing so. We dropped down to the bealach, picked up our rucksacks skirted to the right of Caisteal an Garbh Choire and climbed on up to the summit of Sgurr Dubh an Da Bheinn which we reached at 9:45am. Scrambling up the ridge to the summit of Alasdair We then dropped down and easily found the bypass around the T-D gap. Despite what guide books may say the height loss is minimal and the path is relatively easy going. Once we reached the ridge up to Sgurr Alasdair we were tempted by a rather intimidating wall but soon found the much easier chimney well to the right of the ridge and slightly down from it. A short scramble and we reached the summit of Sgurr Alasdair at 10:35.am.