Mary-Ann Ochota tackles Skye's infamous Inaccessible Pinnacle

Mary-Ann Ochota faces her fears on the hardest of all Scottish Munros: Skye's famous Inaccessible Pinnacle on the Cuillin Ridge.
What is pushing her towards this inaccessible pinnacle? Why does she want to reach something that cannot be reached? What does she hope to achieve?
A short film by FinalCrux Films for BMC TV.
Thanks to Lowe Alpine for their support. Also huge thanks to Skye Guides, Glen Brittle Memorial Hut, Sligachan Hotel and Rab.
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[@georgec7899]

at 91 years old now many happy memories of climbing in the Cuillins favourites Sgurr Nan Gillean/Sgurr Alasdair/then walking from Elgol to Loch Coruisk that was in the Sixties so much less busy then.I spent several months working on the new road from Sconser to Slighan.Watching this excellent video brought so many happier times for me thank you Ladies

[@kendunn6672]

Great video, can't believe I did it (54 years ago!)

[@davidryan6739]

That was lovely, thanks for sharing. The Pinnacle looks like a great deal of fun.

[@thierrybervoets3604]

Great film. And we feel the exposure. Well done. Thank you.

[@paulflannigan276]

Wow, Thank You, that was both beautiful and terrifying in equal measures, congratulations, fantastic achievement!

[@jimdevlin2138]

great job ladies, I climbed the inpinn about 45 years ago when I was 20 , watching this gives me the chills and a wish that ~I was fit and brave enough to do it again , once again thank you.

[@mayfieldcourt]

A wonderful video, thank you: the rock, the sky, the sea - breathtaking.

[@jmcdowall15]

Loved watching this video. Can't wait to bag this one 👍

[@jonevans5037]

Fantastic video. I'd heard about the Inaccessible Pinnacle but not found much information on it so this video was great.

[@cuillinguy]

Brings back memories of the first time I climbed this when I was on the main ridge traverse. The exposure is incredible.

[@mikelee285]

Fantastic film. Inspired!!

[@kn0bch33s3]

Great mini docu, I'm going to show my little girl this and fingers crosses maybe do it with her one day.

[@mariumrajah]

Really enjoyed watching your video .. Thank you great upload ..

[@keirmcewan4392]

i watch this video every time i am on you tube to remind me what it was like when i climbed it. and not only is it the best climbing video on Skye but out of all the Scottish mountaineering films. keep them coming BMC

[@ThePaulaon1]

Well done. Cant wait till i tackle this myself one day.

[@tullochgorum6323]

Nice to see a video on a normal person doing a normal climb. It's not all about the 9b gymnasts...

[@jirihamersky6152]

Breathtaking beauty. Beautiful video.

[@coops1964]

Wow, well done! There is no way that I could do that, you've got bigger balls than me that for sure! Great to watch though, many thanks.

[@andygolborne5747]

Great video. I made the mistake of going up the front on my first ascent . The scariest VDiff I've ever come across.... But an amazing place. Must go back.

[@trig6712]

Truly amazing and frightening to me Great to watch you both albeit heart in Mouth

[@bruces6893]

Had the chills watching this , don't honestly know if I'd be able to do that

[@davidwright7193]

The Inn Pin wasn’t named by its first ascentionists it was named by a navy survey team about 100 years earlier. That is why the name is in English. Sgurr Alister, Sgurr MacKenzie and Sgurr Charlie (standard orthography) were all named after the first ascensionists in the 1880’s. That 3 major peaks in the range weren’t named before the 19th Century (or their names had been lost) shows how little importance was given to the features before the romantic movement.

[@Lukemarcoon13]

i enjoyed watching her clip her ATC through her knot instead of belay loop, great vid!

[@trillbrown3686]

Is there an issue with that?

[@lentrim5444]

Great video. Reminds me of when I first did the Inn Pin-1970! Where did the time go?

[@5RustyBin]

I climbed this - and at the very top I honestly thought there was no way I would come down. I completely froze and had some kind of mini panic attack. Managed it and proud I did but I wouldn't do it again now :D

[@car_seat]

what is used to rappel off the top with? A cordalette around a spike?

[@theenglishalpinist5031]

That's exactly what I imagine happening to me when and if I tackle it.

[@howardw3223]

Brilliant. The exposure would terrify me.

[@Ann-Vorol]

I wouldn't say it's infamous, but famous!! It's a great hill and a challenge to climb!

[@waynegamble4752]

well done

[@climberly]

reminds me of seneca rocks in west virginia

[@the_evolution_of_me]

what is the opening music please

[@tartytube]

When I did this 40 years ago and I had no idea what I was in for. A mate said let's go do it. We climbed it on a spectacular summer day. We were unroped cause we were told it was a moderate climb and had massive holds etc. Not knowing its reputation was an advantage because I think had we known we would have bottled it. It was the absail that scared me - I hate going down backward.

[@robertopietrosanti758]

brave!

[@TranceHeed]

I’m trying to bag the Munros. But when I look at videos of the Inn Pin, I often think.. Fuck. That.

[@theenglishalpinist5031]

That's where i'm at.

[@annaexpress]

スコットランドにはあまり登られていないステキな岩場がいっぱいありそう。いいな。

[@mikewilliams235]

Wow

[@Ann-Vorol]

"horrific and awful" are not the words I'd use for beauty! Tremendous and Awesome or Awe inspiring are maybe the words you are looking for!

[@Matitzarichie]

A'll be wearing ma broon troosers!

[@rhodsullivan7773]

Queued for six hours on a Bank holiday Monday to climb this. Had to stop half way up for twenty minutes because someone ahead froze. Got to the top abseiled down Munro bagged. Great day.

[@diomedestydeus3298]

She must have seen "The Ridge" > Danny MacAskill.

[@TranceHeed]

Looks scary AF. It’s just another Munro needs bagging though! One day 😊

[@rushthezeppelin]

Why isn't she belaying off her belay loop?

[@jdm42]

I learn to climb in Belgium and France and always belay the follower from the anchor during multi-pitch climbing (with a reverse in auto-blocking mode). As explained at the end of this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/raDVkJyamM90n8U What is the advantage of belaying of your belay loop from above?

[@poacher5131]

Guide mode. Massively useful. Reduces forces on the anchor, and makes the belay self locking. Ideal for when you need to working on other things at the stance.

[@marco_plebani]

Oliver Levine I think they referred to the fact that at some point Mary-Ann is showed belaying the leader from the loop formed by her end of the rope instead of using the belay loop (around 5:00). That's not guide mode and it seems plain wrong to me.

[@CyclingSteveL]

Not sure why she would intentionally not belay off the belay loop at the 5.00 minute mark, but so long as the knot has been tied correctly, it's still safe. With regards to belaying the second (6:00 minute mark), she's not using a belay plate in guide mode, she's using what looks like some sort of munter hitch. Only really thought they should be used when you've dropped your belay plate or lowering someone.

[@tullochgorum6323]

Yeah - it's at 5:15. It's only mod or diff so the guide hasn't placed any runners. But in that case, why have the client use a belay plate? Doesn't make much sense...

[@alitemple3881]

Uk climbing just seems so much more geeky than other countries....

[@powerbite92]

BMC - we will make this politically correct and 'accessible' by making it one (lard-ass) POC Woman being guided by another Strong Powerful Woman. (try and forget about the presence of the experienced camera team that is with them all the way, doing set ups etc.) Also BMC - okay, okay, so when the Strong Powerful Woman finally goes ahead on her own and starts making elementary mistakes... Okay, so firstly pretend it wasnt a mistake at all, it was Guide Mode, and then eventually when its obvious that it was a mistake then well - just forget you saw it, okay? These are Strong powerful Women and everything they do is STrong and Powerful, end of discussion. UK climbing may or may not be geeky, but these people are not exactly representative of UK climbing. they are representative of the media's pet fads and the current political climate in the UK.

[@thenayancat8802]

@@powerbite92 You sound absolutely insufferable, I'm glad I've not met anybody like you actually out mountaineering