Hot and falling down would sum it up. Still having fun. Time to move on? Switzerland has a better forecast for the next few days.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Euro Challenge and a Sponsorship Request.
A bit of a blatant appeal, but Becky has decided to enter the Cisco Water Aid Challenge, a 3 day adventure race in Tromso Norway at the end of September.
So why bother? Have a look at the video.
In simple terms Water Aid attempts to tackle poverty through access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene education. I’m not going to give you a big blerb here, suffice to say you can make your own decision.
If you do decide to sponsor her its best to do it here.
http://original.justgiving.com/scottishwater09
If you are interested in the details of the 3day adventure race then have a look here.
http://www.theeurochallenge.com/
Thanks for having a look.
A nice relaxing week at home!
In saving for our big trip next year we decided to have a relaxing week at home this year.
It started with Becky and I heading off into the Cairngorms for the lovely hill of Beinn Mheadhoin, via a detour of the ever pleasant Loch A`n.
The summit tors were a perfect place to practice a bit of wing suit flying!
The next day we cycled in from Tomintoul towards Beinn a Bhuird, the cycle ride was deceptively uphill. Once leaving the track we set up over Stob an T Sluichd to find these rather strange bits of hill debris, before heading over the long exposed plateau to the summits of Beinn a Bhuird.
A pair of engines from an Oxford plane that crashed in December 1945. Killing all seven on board.
Wednesday we headed over towards Bonnar Bridge and the coast to coast cycle ride to Ullapool. A really nice ride on mostly good track with a few “fun Sections” , 3hours 40minutes of cycling saw us across the mainland!
Today I decided on a rest day, Becky I think is off enjoying the delights of our countryside again!!
Wednesday we headed over towards Bonnar Bridge and the coast to coast cycle ride to Ullapool. A really nice ride on mostly good track with a few “fun Sections” , 3hours 40minutes of cycling saw us across the mainland!
Despite Becky’s optimism when we arrived in a damp Fort William the next day we still ended up getting wet on our scramble over tower ridge on Thursday, indeed tower gap was more like tower waterfall! Still it really is a nice hill scramble and a lovely way to reach the summit. We headed off back down the tourist path towards the halfway lochan, passing some pretty horrendous cairns in the mist, and the odd family parked on the side. All credit to many too as there were lots of smiles along with the red faces. It was nice to see so many people out enjoying the hills, just a pity the path and that side of the hill is just so dull.
At the weekend Andy and Laura joined us for a trip south to do a bit of sport climbing at Kirriemuir, which I will not dwell on. I think I was in need of a rest day. Still the others were in cruising mode. The Indian restaurant in the town is worthy of particular note for being officially the worst restaurant I have ever eaten in.
Then finally yesterday we nipped a round what has to be the easiest Munro circuit. Dreish and Mayar through the really nice Coire Fee, and up and over a lovely plateau with fantastic views of the Southern Cairngorms.
Today I decided on a rest day, Becky I think is off enjoying the delights of our countryside again!!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Beinn Eighe and The Pass of Ballater.
Becky and I had a nice walk over the black carls of Beinn Eighe on Saturday, one of the few days in the last month it hasn't been raining. Yesterday I drove out to the Pass of Ballater to meet Andy. I forget how quality this crag is, we did a few very good routes. I was pleased with the onsight of Stinker and Little Cenotaph, and equally dissapointed at getting completly spanked by Fingerwrecker.
Beinn Eighe
On the South West Ridge of Creag Dhubh Beinn Eighe.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Sea Cliffs, wet mountain crags and silly runouts!
A busy week. It started with a trip to the Camel with Rich and Andy, these two looking very strong on their project, which no doubt will fall pretty soon.
I'm told the new line is somewhere in the 8a+ region, and with a redpoint attempt in two clean overlaping halves, it will be no longer than a couple of more fully rested attempts before these two have it the bag. My efforts were concentrated on the Stone of Destiny, a fantastic route and perhaps the best sports route in Scotland at 6c+? A pretty poor effort on the redpoint saw me quit after the first 5clips, especially poor as I had just done the route clean with the security of the top rope.
With a reasonable mid week forecast, and the school holidays in full swing Andy and I headed over to Skye. Day 1 turned out to be sea cliff day, dodging the showers we climbed the outrageous Spantastic that takes the obvious thin pillar above the tunnel here.
The outrageous Spantastic.
How much longer it will be standing is another question and I certainly felt it shake a little when a big wave booms in. Fortunately the gear is on the rock above the Pillar!!
We then headed south to the magical Kilt Rock where Andy dispatched the classic Grey Panther in fine style. What a route, as much gear as you can carry, fantastic rock and sustained for all 45Mt's of the pitch. A true contender for best single pitch route in Scotland at E1 I reckon. With the showers set to continue the next day we cut our losses and headed back to Inverness.
Grey Panther
Yesterday the sun came out once more which allowed for a very quick raid into Binnein Shaus in and out in under 5 hours. The Keep was the objective and despite being a little scrappy, and the ridiculously runout second pitch (25Mt's without any gear? Another good lead Andy!!), we had fun and ticked another route in the sun.
The views and the run out pitch2
I'm told the new line is somewhere in the 8a+ region, and with a redpoint attempt in two clean overlaping halves, it will be no longer than a couple of more fully rested attempts before these two have it the bag. My efforts were concentrated on the Stone of Destiny, a fantastic route and perhaps the best sports route in Scotland at 6c+? A pretty poor effort on the redpoint saw me quit after the first 5clips, especially poor as I had just done the route clean with the security of the top rope.
With a reasonable mid week forecast, and the school holidays in full swing Andy and I headed over to Skye. Day 1 turned out to be sea cliff day, dodging the showers we climbed the outrageous Spantastic that takes the obvious thin pillar above the tunnel here.
The outrageous Spantastic.
How much longer it will be standing is another question and I certainly felt it shake a little when a big wave booms in. Fortunately the gear is on the rock above the Pillar!!
We then headed south to the magical Kilt Rock where Andy dispatched the classic Grey Panther in fine style. What a route, as much gear as you can carry, fantastic rock and sustained for all 45Mt's of the pitch. A true contender for best single pitch route in Scotland at E1 I reckon. With the showers set to continue the next day we cut our losses and headed back to Inverness.
Grey Panther
Yesterday the sun came out once more which allowed for a very quick raid into Binnein Shaus in and out in under 5 hours. The Keep was the objective and despite being a little scrappy, and the ridiculously runout second pitch (25Mt's without any gear? Another good lead Andy!!), we had fun and ticked another route in the sun.
The views and the run out pitch2
Friday, July 3, 2009
The Needle: Shelterstone.
Yesterday, saw Andy and I head over into Loch Avon in the Northern Cairngorms and tick the utterly fantastic Needle, well worth the 4* for the top needle crack/corner pitch alone. A route well worthy of the "Classic" name tag banded around. By all accounts with tales of flash flooding in Drumochter and Inverness, we were very lucky with the weather, with warm winds and the odd cooling cloud to keep things perfect.
The route makes you smile for 265 mts including the micro caving at the top to thread the needle itself. All the pitches are varied, well protected and contain quality climbing, with the only the "crack for thin fingers" perhaps suffering a little, from a bit of Polish. Still no complaints. A thoroughly fantastic day on the hill.
The beautiful Loch Avon.
Start of pitch 2 with 230mts still to go!
The brilliant top corner/crack.
Andy "Threading the Needle", the gap under this chockstone is pretty tight, a real jigsaw puzzle to fit yourself through.
The upper half of the route in the evening sunshine.
The route makes you smile for 265 mts including the micro caving at the top to thread the needle itself. All the pitches are varied, well protected and contain quality climbing, with the only the "crack for thin fingers" perhaps suffering a little, from a bit of Polish. Still no complaints. A thoroughly fantastic day on the hill.
The beautiful Loch Avon.
Start of pitch 2 with 230mts still to go!
The brilliant top corner/crack.
Andy "Threading the Needle", the gap under this chockstone is pretty tight, a real jigsaw puzzle to fit yourself through.
The upper half of the route in the evening sunshine.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
June: A few highlights.
Wow that's June "Been and Gone" as they say. It felt like I perhaps hadn't done a great deal, other than DIY, new windows, garage door, utillity room now finished. Yet sorting out the pics, it doesn't seem it has been too much of a wash out.
It started with Becky, Juliana, Peter and I, making a weekend out of cycling the Dava way, this is the old dissused railway line that runs from Grantown on Spey to the Coast. Two days of Hardwork as we set off and returned to Inverness.
On the Dava way.
A few days later Andy, Charlie, and I hit the Old Man of Hoy in a day raid from Inverness, well not quite but we managed to top out 12hours after leaving home, and return the next morning via a midnight walk over the Island. A truly magical route and the achievement feels so much more than than the sum of its parts.
Somehow the Fulmars managed to miss me, but the other two got a bit of a fishy soaking, including one that soaked Andy whilst it was in mid flight, which I could'nt help but laugh at. It has to be said the rock itself is pretty intimidating, when you stand at the bottom with waves crashing, birds all over the place, and a crick in the neck as you strain to see the top. However we were up and down with minimal fuss.
Other highlights include a fantastic day on Skye getting in some alpine training, moving together on the three classic routes, below, upto and above the Cioch. With a brief pause for a sandwich on Scotlands best picnic spot.
Davy and I went up the Cioch nose in Applecross, the local crags have had a bit of revitalisation with my discovery of Tynrich Slabs.
Becky and I had a very wet weekend attempting to go sport climbing, Whilst the rest of the country basked in glorious sunshine we sat under a blanket of drizzle! Still we managed a few routes.
Finally the month finished with the Ben in perfect condition yesterday, Centurion providing the days entertainment, and some very hard pitches for the grade, or maybe I was just having a bad day? Still Andy "Opted!" to be rope gun for the crux pitch which was harder than I anticipated. Despite climbing like a fish in a pair of badly fitting Scarpas, it was worth it, just to see that place without a cloud, the view has been a long time comming.
So all in all a few things done this month.
It started with Becky, Juliana, Peter and I, making a weekend out of cycling the Dava way, this is the old dissused railway line that runs from Grantown on Spey to the Coast. Two days of Hardwork as we set off and returned to Inverness.
On the Dava way.
A few days later Andy, Charlie, and I hit the Old Man of Hoy in a day raid from Inverness, well not quite but we managed to top out 12hours after leaving home, and return the next morning via a midnight walk over the Island. A truly magical route and the achievement feels so much more than than the sum of its parts.
Somehow the Fulmars managed to miss me, but the other two got a bit of a fishy soaking, including one that soaked Andy whilst it was in mid flight, which I could'nt help but laugh at. It has to be said the rock itself is pretty intimidating, when you stand at the bottom with waves crashing, birds all over the place, and a crick in the neck as you strain to see the top. However we were up and down with minimal fuss.
Other highlights include a fantastic day on Skye getting in some alpine training, moving together on the three classic routes, below, upto and above the Cioch. With a brief pause for a sandwich on Scotlands best picnic spot.
Davy and I went up the Cioch nose in Applecross, the local crags have had a bit of revitalisation with my discovery of Tynrich Slabs.
Becky and I had a very wet weekend attempting to go sport climbing, Whilst the rest of the country basked in glorious sunshine we sat under a blanket of drizzle! Still we managed a few routes.
Finally the month finished with the Ben in perfect condition yesterday, Centurion providing the days entertainment, and some very hard pitches for the grade, or maybe I was just having a bad day? Still Andy "Opted!" to be rope gun for the crux pitch which was harder than I anticipated. Despite climbing like a fish in a pair of badly fitting Scarpas, it was worth it, just to see that place without a cloud, the view has been a long time comming.
So all in all a few things done this month.
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