Glencoe gave it's usual fine display of a variety of brooding light shows today. In a cool but classic West Coast spring day we experienced everything from snow, sleet and hail to a sun tan!
The narrow and airy rhyolite ridge feels like a more meticulous proposition when it's a wet slither rather than a dry romp but the rock is well worn and thus as clean as the way to go is clear.
... more>Spring is the best time of year to be in the Scottish Highlands. You can do it all....before the Midges arrive:
Whilst fat blue ice still clings to the steep flanks on the North Face of Ben Nevis and snow hangs on in the deep gullies, on the lower cliffs and scrambles warm dry rock can often be enjoyed (but not always!). It is a great time of year for preparing for alpine trips for th... more>
After a week of sustained grade V ice climbing John and I fancied a big alpine style route.
We met and passed the freezing level about half way up the long journey to the summit of Stob Coire Nam Beith via 'Deep Cut Chimney' (IV). This meant some soft and wet, but pleasant, ice low down and a few moves of entertaining wet tooling to get around the routes massive chockstone.
The... more>
We arrived at Altnafeadh just after the dawn. The temperature was -9C with thick snow at the roadside. The view was stunning. No time to look at it today though, we were on a mission!
Tom and James are off to Chamonix in the summer, so today was about getting the feel for a longer mountaineering route and maintaining a good pace and momentum similar to the pace given as the 'holy grail... more>
Add comment