Today Jamie B and I headed to the North-East Corrie of Beinn an Dothaidh in search of some sensible mixed climbing in conditions where serious avalanche risk following this week’s dumps of snow over surface hoar still ruled out many of the more ‘traditional’ venues. And it soon became obvious on our approach to The Skraeling (IV,5) that scoured slopes and deep deposits of snow were vying for supremacy on a very localised basis… (more…)
28 February 2010
27 February 2010
Round the Loch and Forerunner altitude readings
After running off-road every night this week bar one (Wednesday’s road run) and finding Thursday’s and Friday’s efforts severely snowy struggles, I decided I deserved a long, ‘easy’ run for some cheap mileage and headed out this afternoon to run round the Loch. (more…)
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21 February 2010
WML Training
Just back (last night) from Winter Mountain Leader Training at Glenmore Lodge with instructors Eric Pirie, David Haygarth and (for one day) John Armstrong. Don’t know when I last saw (or dug!) so much snow, but there was plenty to play with in conditions ranging from spectacularly clear to total whiteout, the standard of instruction was (as always with the Lodge) top class and the crack from instructors and fellow trainees alike was great. (more…)
13 February 2010
SC Gully
Long before I ever saw myself climbing Grade Vs (when I was climbing before, didn’t go out so much in winter and was basically walking or soloing Is and IIs when I did), SC Gully on Stob Coire nan Lochan was probably close to the summit of my realistic winter aspirations as a classic Grade III line of dramatic appearance and unimpeachable integrity (a straight, deep cleft between two buttresses). (more…)
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8 February 2010
The Wand
So here I was yesterday, starting up this Grade V ice pitch, close to fulfilling a cherished dream and possibly somewhere well along the scale from quite excited to ******* terrified… but just how did I come to find myself at the sharp end on The Wand (V,5) on Creag Meagaidh? (more…)
3 February 2010
MICROspike weather and stir fry spiders
It’s MICROspike weather again! With this evening’s fresh snow at village level obviously extending to cover the icy paths higher up, I’ve been wearing the spikes again instead of just carrying them. Which is fine, really, because the running’s quite simply easier when the routes are either clear or properly covered than somewhere in-between.
On quite another note, I removed a live spider from the wok while cooking my ‘co-operative vegetable stir fry’ and suspect (since the spider wasn’t there when I put the wok on to heat up) that said spider came with the vegetables! :-/
emoved a live spider from the wok while cooking his ‘co-operative vegetable stir fry’ and suspects (since the spider wasn’t there when he put the wok on to heat up) that said spider came with the vegetables! :-/
31 January 2010
Italian Right-Hand
Today I climbed Italian Right-Hand (IV,4) on Ben Nevis with Stephan Mors. (more…)
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30 January 2010
Forerunner 310XT
While I’ve been very happy with my Garmin Forerunner 305 as a training/pacing/recording aid for three years, I’ve just bought the new 310XT with this year’s West Highland Way Race in mind. Mainly for the increased 20-hour battery life (which should be enough to see me home if all goes to plan!), although its ability to use British Grid as well as just lat/long for navigation could also be useful for further adventures away from the beaten path. (more…)
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24 January 2010
Twisting and turning
Just had a great weekend with my brother Angus when we climbed the classic Twisting Gully (III,4) on Stob Coire nan Lochan yesterday and went mountain biking all round the Torlundy/Leanachan area today. (more…)
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15 January 2010
Shades of Grey?
A wee photographic conundrum for this evening, before this sign for the Grey Mare’s Waterfall at Kinlochleven finally becomes too worn to read. So why (as first pointed out to me years ago) does it say ‘Grey’ on one side and ‘Gray’ on the other? For our transatlantic visitors (doubt it!), because the sign maker just got it wrong (probably!) or what?
