For a while I've been wanting to do a winter round of Na Gruagaichean and Binnien Mor, as seen on this website.
http://scottishwinterroutes.com/nagruagaichean.htm
But I've been thinking that while I'm up there, it might be worthwhile doing the full anti-clockwise round that includes Sgurr Eilde Mor and Binnien Beag. I think this would be a tough day but doable in terms of height gain and distance, even if headtorches had to be brought out.
The only thing that concerns me is the NE ridge of Binnien Mor. It gets a grade 1 summer scramble, which I would have no problem with, but under snow and ice I believe most grade 1 summer scrambles get around grade I winter. Well, I'm pretty comfortable doing your average Munro in winter conditions and I enjoy a challenge, but I've never knowingly been on graded terrain (I appreciate a lot of people on here do grade I with their hands in their pockets, but we all start somewhere). I also don't have a rope that would be practical to carry for ground like this. Has anyone been up this ridge in winter and can give me some hint of how sustained the sections that give it grade I are likely to be, and how avoidable the difficulties are if I'm uncomfortable on them?
I know this post might attract derisory comments about no spirit of adventure etc. but I feel it's a bit out of the way compared to most central highland routes and I don't want to get into something I can't get out of myself. Any advice appreciated.
Cheers.