Matthew Pavitt breaks Cuillin Ridge winter record
- Monday 15th January 2024
Matt Pavitt has set a new 'fastest known time' for a winter traverse of the Cuillin Ridge on Skye, Scotland, with an elapsed time of 4 hours, 35 minutes and 17 seconds.
The Cuillin Ridge on the Isle of Skye has long been considered one of, if not the, finest mountain ridges/mini expeditions in the UK. In particular, a winter traverse – especially solo and at speed – has long been held in high regard as a significant accomplishment by experienced climbers. Martin Moran, himself a highly experienced mountaineer and guide, was delighted with his sub 24-hour solo winter crossing which he achieved in 2016. Click here to read about Martin’s traverse.
With over 3000m of ascent and decent along the 12km ridge itself, difficulties up to grade IV can be encountered depending upon the conditions. Over the years the record time for summer and winter traverses has been whittled down. Prior to Matt Pavitt’s traverse, the record of 4 hours, 57 minutes and 7 seconds was set by Uisdean Hawthorn back in 2018.
Talking about his traverse online, Matt summarised his traverse by saying, “Wintery Traverse of the Cuillin? North to South. Today starting at 10:29 from Gillean and finished at Garbs Beinn at 15:04. The elapsed time was 4 hours 35 minutes and 17 seconds.” Unusually, Matt completed the traverse in the reverse direction.
Conscious that there might be some who believed his traverse was achieved in 'none wintery' conditions he fully describes the conditions for his traverse saying:
“I’m being very open and honest here as at no point do I want to piss people off or have people call it out as not being wintery enough. So here’s my view of the day; I had crampons on from start to end, all tops were included and all climb were done including the TD gap exit. Were things rimed up to typical Scottish perfect expectations for it to be in nick? No, is the short answer. But equally it really didn’t feel like summer or rock climbing at all. It was blue bird and had been blue bird for a few days up here, there was lots of ice around, verglace in cracks and over rocks, surface hoar all the way to MhicCoinnich too. I’m putting this out there as not a claim of anything but just as me having a nice day.”
Matt’s time – now the fastest known time – shaves c. 22 minutes off Uisdean Hawthorn’s previous FKT for the iconic traverse.
Whilst the traverse of the Cuillin Ridge is the latest in a very successful 2023/24 season of Scottish activity for the North Face athlete, Matt kicked off his season back on October 24th with an ascent of Magic Crack (VII 7). Towards the end of November and whilst climbing with Tim Miller, Matt completed what they called a “7x7 day”.
Matt, describing the day, said; “It’s put to bed! Today @millermountainguides and I set off and completed the 7x7 day; 7 tech 7s in a day. Starting Fallout at 8:15, we ticked off; The Migrant, Auricle, Coronary Bypass, Stirling Bomber, The Genie and Magic Crack. Conditions were as wintery as they’ve been, seems almost more fitting that everything about today was hard-won. Proper adventure day with 16 pitches odd of up VI/VII terrain. Big thank you to Tim who volunteered to join in on this. Hopefully other folk get involved and try this circuit out, definitely feels like it adds more to your local haunts! Reckon a rest day is needed before the next 24-hour challenge is to happen!”