Monday, August 25, 2008

Mountain Biking and Moy

Becky Out in front, on the trail up at Abrichain.

A quick weekend dash to Abrichain meant Becky and I got lost on the mountain bike trails, after a false start or two we sorted ourselves out and cycled a couple of routes. To describe them as boggy would be an understatement, a good test of your technical uphill ability. I was sadly lacking, anyway we had a good couple of hours, and well worth a visit for a good bit of single track biking within 15minutes of town.
This evening Rich and I headed out to Moy and I climbed the new line I bolted last week, Pebble Party and about 5+ , I may have gone a bit mad with the drill as you seem to spend much of your time clipping, but still a good introduction to the type of climbing Moy has to offer. Be warned though it needs a bit more of a clean, and there is the odd pebble that may pop still. Rich onsighted the last two routes of the crag he had left. This now means he has onsighted the lot. No mean effort the last route he did tonight (the furthest right 7a+) was bloody hard, a real bouldery start, sustained in the middle and steep to finish. I flailed around for a while and dragged myself 3/4s of the way up it just to realise how strong an effort it seemed to me. Measured against onsighting the crag anyway. Despite a pebble popping on him Rich held the swing at the start to claim the fist “Man of Moy Award!”. Who’s next? awarded to anyone who onsights all the routes up there.


Rich completing the Man of Moy Challenge!!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Midge time!


Busy few days. Went up to Pinnacle crag with Becky and did a few routes in the evening sunshine on Thursday, we had a go at the Davy Moy chop route, The Brazilian E35c, the gear and landing is unthinkable and due to a healthy dose of cowardness I opted for the top rope. Managed the onsight (that is I managed to onsight the moves, obviously not a proper onsight as on the top rope!) and the climbing is good, but in no hurry to lead this one, a fall is simply not an option. We were forced to run back to the car in the end thanks to the midges, I forgot just how bad they can be.
Saturday we went for a walk in the Cairngorms up through the Challamain gap and onto Lurchers crag, a nice little walk without the weight of a winter pack. Would be keen to get back in there this winter and do a couple of the routes that seem to form quite readily.
Today went upto the Tom Riach Boulder until I ran out of skin! Which was'nt very long, that boulder has some very sharp holds! Bit like the teeth of the midges that drove me mad and home in the end!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Done and Dusted.











Well that was a quick four weeks.


26 Days
30 degrees plus everyday
55 miles of hiking
4 4000mt peaks
27000 ft of ascent
25 climbs
17 burgers
1 bear attack (artistic licence)
Elks, Chipmunks, Eagles, Marmot.
The worlds worst thunderstorm
100+ mosquito bites
2673 miles of driving
23 miles and 4000ft of ascent on the mountain bike trails
1 traffic violation (Maybe?)

We had a fantastic time, have put all the pictures up on the Pisca gallery.