SGURR MHADAIDH TO BRUACH NA FRITHE
On to the first top of Mhadaidh and a view of the three peaks of Bidein Druim na Ramh. This was the final major obstacle and it was still some way off. We needed to move quickly if we were to reach Bruach na Frithe by our 9pm deadline. We easily reached the south-west peak via the ‘basalt staircase’ and then descended before climbing the centre peak. Some books suggest a direct approach but we moved right along a very narrow ledge and then ascended on easier ground to a path before moving back left to the chimney followed by a crack between  two blocks. At 8:00pm we reached the summit. The descent involved two abseils. The second of these is quite spectacular as it is overhanging. At the bealach we paused briefly for a drink and some jelly babies. Our water was running low. We now had only a little left in our bladders and David still had about 300ml in a bottle that we decided would be a reserve only to be drunk once we reached Bruach na Frithe.

We climbed the north east peak of Bidein Druim na Ramh and quickly pressed on and over An Caisteal. Perhaps it was tiredness, but as we descended we went too far right and found ourselves on an exposed ledge (the ‘Belly Ledge’?). We came to some slings that had been used for abseiling and had observed from below two days earlier. We realised our mistake, retreated back along the ledge and found the easy route around to the left. We reached the vertical chasms on the approach to Sgurr na Bhairnich, stepped easily over the first and detoured round the second by dropping down slightly to the right. With one last thrust we reached the summit of Bruach na Frithe as the sun was setting at 9:20pm. We had been on the go for exactly 15 hours. All we now needed to do was descend.