A long and winding road…

Meeting Craig at Stac An Eich (South Ballachulish) he was already fighting his was through the undergrowth to get to the crag. We found the rather damp and lichen covered HS 4b that is Appin Groove (its got 2 **). Coin (double headed) flipped and off I went in search of the top. Some clever gear placements settled the nerves and some nice moves had me up the layback and heading for the silver birch at the top. Nice route that would be better if not damp, was climbed more often, and was easier to get too !

Its twins !

Doubles (or halfs) actually but 8mm x 60m long, nice looking, feeling and dry treated ready for some early winter action. Edelrid is a new brand of rope for me but I am impressed already. Thanks guys...

Sandbag …

10 September 2013
No pics but a great night at Auchinstarry Quarry with Craig leading the Scream (S 4b) and Mister, Ye Can Walk Up Roon The Back (S).  Me twanging my ankle again (its not getting any better) but I did manage the "sandbag" that is
Slinky Lizard (HS 4b*) … Great route but next time I am taking a brush for the top section.

Bonjour, buongiorno, buenos días, guten morgen, hello…and all that Jazz...

24th August
Arriving in Geneva to the expected poor forecast we headed to Chamonix for a quick fix and some supplies before the drive to Griments in Switzerland our base for this years climbing trip.

High above Sierre and just below the Moiry glacier this is a great summer base for some high mountain walks if the weather is poor but has easy access to higher peaks of Zenal, Sass and Zermatt.

We had a great week and made the most of the conditions with a mix of high mountain walking when the weather was poor and Glacier peaks when there was a weather window.

Scex De Marenda (2,960m), Becs De Bosson (3,148), Zermatt, Castor (4,223m) (abort due to freezing fog, groupie and slab), Breithorn for the 3rd time (4,164m) Col Du Tsate (2,868m)and the Pigne de la Le (3,396m) in one push from the Moiry dam.

Packing up we descended the 1000 odd hairpin bends from Griments and headed to Annecy for ice cream before a late flight home.

A big fridge

18 August 2013
Craig and I met up with Gerry and Murray for an afternoon at the Ice Factor Glasgow. It felt odd to be walking into a shopping mall tooled up for winter climbing but it was great fun.

The long way round...

27th July 2013
Pulpit Arete (severe 4a***) Frustration Wall (hard severe 4b**) and Conclusion Crack (hard severe 4b*) made for a short but interesting day climbing on the basalt crag of Loudon hill... must go back and do Cave Crack and The edge.

3am...

Well done to Jess and Anna for being vigilant... pity I went over on my ankle but thanks to Craig for playing the RICE card...

24hrs...

12-13 July 2013
Craig and I headed to the Coe on Friday after work looking for adventure. Racing to the start of January Jigsaw we knew that it would be dark before we finished the route. We climbed to the big block belay and abseiled off in the dark. We down climbed curved ridge and got back to the hut at 1am. Next morning we dragged ourselves to the East Face of Aonoch Dubh. The plan- warm up on Eves arete and climb a couple of the "Severes". Being Scottish and not used to the 30ºC heat we climbed Eves and went for ice cream...

Take your hard shell...

29 June 2013 -
Agags early to avoid the rain, Badacro to meet the lobster and prawn-filled sink (thanks Linda), Redpoint beach, Beinn Alligin Munros (and horns), reversed polarity, Torridon, Achiltibuie, scallops, Reiff, Stoer, Ben More Assynt and Conival (in the mist), The old man for a look in 60MPH winds, Kylesku for prawns and scallops, Scourie, sheep on the road, Durness, sheep on the road, best fillet steak, the Moin thrust, best beach, Ben Hope with a view, cows on the road, more cows on the road, great beach (the best), climbing on the oldest rock in the world, picnic, wet feet, sheep on the road, long drive home, one word - 

AWSOME, regardless of the weather...