Doug Bartholomew climbing the third pitch of Rudge and Wood’s Route (V,6) on Sgurr nan Gillean in the Cuillin of Skye during the first winter ascent. Superb weather on January 19 combined with cold and snowy conditions created the perfect set up for snowed up rock climbs. (Photo Michael Barnard)
On January 19 Doug Bartholomew and Michael Barnard made the probable first winter ascent of ‘Rudge and Wood’s Route’ on Sgurr nan Gillean. This narrow dyke on the West Face of the Second Pinnacle on Pinnacle Ridge was first climbed in September 1944 by W.Wood and E.Rudge and has likely been ignored ever since.
“The route went at V,6 and featured a steep well protected crux but also a bit of bolder slabby climbing’” Michael told me. “It was another reminder that a snowy Skye is hard to beat, particularly given good weather. Unfortunately after a sublime Saturday we weren’t sufficiently inspired to get out of the car on Sunday morning in +4 degrees and peeing rain!”
