tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83874212476089530082024-02-21T18:46:15.021-08:00Seasonal Affected Disorderclimbing, some tunes & general spraffsam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-75019583120465596932009-01-12T09:21:00.001-08:002009-01-12T15:09:55.407-08:00The Last Month Or So<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8tpm3XOCRAjK9gD2-5CXxy13HrVrTzrDL0gPbM30xHD-Kc12wla2EUwd7V4ySq47R369fmQJnEjo2crImJ32Rjr9uVgA5WaCscPKrANkm44dtHWK-Lmn__MOItK8W-_uQke0nvQmBt0/s1600-h/Stob+Coire+Nan+Lochan+06:12:08"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8tpm3XOCRAjK9gD2-5CXxy13HrVrTzrDL0gPbM30xHD-Kc12wla2EUwd7V4ySq47R369fmQJnEjo2crImJ32Rjr9uVgA5WaCscPKrANkm44dtHWK-Lmn__MOItK8W-_uQke0nvQmBt0/s400/Stob+Coire+Nan+Lochan+06:12:08" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290462488505948402" /></a><br /><br />Been out here and there in the last few weeks, before the early December cold snap broke down in the middle of the the month managed to climb the excellent Inclination (VII/7) in Stob Coire Nan Lochan with Konnie and Viv, Route I with the direct start (VI/6) on the Ben with Konnie and the nails Genie (V/7) in Sneachda with Steve (along with some airtime on my part).<br />Ironically the very cold few weeks we've just had in Scotland weren't brilliant for winter climbing as there had been quite a major thaw previously and during the cold snap the weather was very dry. A week ago on Saturday I made the long (4hrs) slog into Braeriach with Konnie and Gaz to climb the icy Vulcan (V/4) in Garbh Coire Mor, supposedly the snowiest place in Britain. An awesome, wild and deserted place but quite a long way to go for two pitches of climbing. At the top I had to deal with a 7 metres of horrific vertical sugar above less than convincing runners and belay, it eventually succumbed to over an hour of character building tunneling after convincing myself that I was Colin Haley on a top rope.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6Yiw_FqYpTC3VMVCw6eLU2AiASrbpTXOuswZrH39jf8cpxU-eOeyWbvkLhvOjNQQCCLuxgULpJ-JwJo3TKedJoVn-DVlee9FB9jd2_oLC-GmxN1QX6rLGxAMYUcE2HFffY-h24F37bU/s1600-h/IMG_0068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6Yiw_FqYpTC3VMVCw6eLU2AiASrbpTXOuswZrH39jf8cpxU-eOeyWbvkLhvOjNQQCCLuxgULpJ-JwJo3TKedJoVn-DVlee9FB9jd2_oLC-GmxN1QX6rLGxAMYUcE2HFffY-h24F37bU/s400/IMG_0068.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290475123381760594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">No.4 Buttress, Coire an Lochain</span></span></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYzPN9_rlbcLcwm9W8Lhr_O6GS6ryTYXoLbu0NO3fLOA93q0hGC4VwpGlzaUEuMB1xMZFr_QP200slpDfOd7N31MKFwR_icbA_bZ140EzLBx62OdrNq9qMKnfTUI0BT9EArcPszLU3u4/s1600-h/IMG_0077.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYzPN9_rlbcLcwm9W8Lhr_O6GS6ryTYXoLbu0NO3fLOA93q0hGC4VwpGlzaUEuMB1xMZFr_QP200slpDfOd7N31MKFwR_icbA_bZ140EzLBx62OdrNq9qMKnfTUI0BT9EArcPszLU3u4/s400/IMG_0077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290474564004860674" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Fallout Corner</span></div><br /><br />Despite the warm and windy forecast, last Friday the conditions in Coire an Lochain were excellent with all the buttresses nicely hoared and the temperatures below zero even if the wind was fairly savage... Viv and climbed the classic Fallout Corner (VI/7) that provided a couple of pitches of very well protected climbing, maybe a touch overrated though and very soft for the grade. I would have no complaints if it was given V/7 and definitely easier than the Genie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_lMsBa-ij_h7pzHe5q1XrFZvkP5cSmQzKb0zt7yDkdvWiJpHbMe88FN4Xi5gsVKNmKm0VBOFBpVcHWw639V61xm39sUeDof5m329664zeJ5Myi4Tr8CTaNqRAnFe55Ld406m9OjecfI/s1600-h/IMG_0048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_lMsBa-ij_h7pzHe5q1XrFZvkP5cSmQzKb0zt7yDkdvWiJpHbMe88FN4Xi5gsVKNmKm0VBOFBpVcHWw639V61xm39sUeDof5m329664zeJ5Myi4Tr8CTaNqRAnFe55Ld406m9OjecfI/s400/IMG_0048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290542763027555970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The wild (and very snowy) Garbh Coire Mor</span></div></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzK3ox1o97YsS3-0T88OdW0MjLscwGzHSnupw94HQ9UpM5Ri_xwvDhU2ZWZV_NyBmrdUSAqU6YnuMspd40pKbrmQu9jCVD8Zb3F-2pGo8D7BDVNoLoENdcJ8AiwSDfYoRBr6FqUBe7mCA/s1600-h/IMG_0058.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzK3ox1o97YsS3-0T88OdW0MjLscwGzHSnupw94HQ9UpM5Ri_xwvDhU2ZWZV_NyBmrdUSAqU6YnuMspd40pKbrmQu9jCVD8Zb3F-2pGo8D7BDVNoLoENdcJ8AiwSDfYoRBr6FqUBe7mCA/s400/IMG_0058.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290475420380864578" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Gaz leading pitch 1 of Vulcan</span></span></div></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLuFfSE6CAKmFoCzrQrM8ebZXSHADXMN90ShxCPHOaXDi9Fz2hERhtLFCYX2As2RQlf9wY29eeEtHFcuyUeCR9vSVM7Yp1wG8i4EL6cLZ9Ua5nnwTDI7CVEnUVIfpBQKxsUAbnMRZfi8/s1600-h/IMG_0065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLuFfSE6CAKmFoCzrQrM8ebZXSHADXMN90ShxCPHOaXDi9Fz2hERhtLFCYX2As2RQlf9wY29eeEtHFcuyUeCR9vSVM7Yp1wG8i4EL6cLZ9Ua5nnwTDI7CVEnUVIfpBQKxsUAbnMRZfi8/s400/IMG_0065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290475780064919778" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Konnie about to enjoy his hotaches</span></div></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfJT_Yq8WtsC5aXpwiX1nVjl__vipAsYw0Th39nyHEkUuTKMGMbiZ5sLgNWYSVaLfBsqOtolQC81Z2edGiAaR0p0qzmAHxEkDmK1pYoR6aoTKmyWjTvw9n7UHJuTk-6hZL1hxVL70LNA/s1600-h/IMG_0016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfJT_Yq8WtsC5aXpwiX1nVjl__vipAsYw0Th39nyHEkUuTKMGMbiZ5sLgNWYSVaLfBsqOtolQC81Z2edGiAaR0p0qzmAHxEkDmK1pYoR6aoTKmyWjTvw9n7UHJuTk-6hZL1hxVL70LNA/s400/IMG_0016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290495964965171618" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Christmas Lunch</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6AZ0mte2_fMc0tZb2JniJG0xN7V9n85UT8jUnHzkl_ELPXQaJIs9GRMl4XnN56VA64r5nnxp9LW9d3SSCFfPml_g1meqVAg9-M0tHbzzgzhx_3rmVRbAhBSBWYW0PND3M00OrX91g0w/s1600-h/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6AZ0mte2_fMc0tZb2JniJG0xN7V9n85UT8jUnHzkl_ELPXQaJIs9GRMl4XnN56VA64r5nnxp9LW9d3SSCFfPml_g1meqVAg9-M0tHbzzgzhx_3rmVRbAhBSBWYW0PND3M00OrX91g0w/s400/IMG_0005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290463483065923650" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Stobbers looking good on the way in</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSohshmSjm4M_KvZHI_fqPP0T2Hof3TvG5DfEnGLvuZjVrPCZZ7iYlSIEwIqOKgPYs1phqezLwDfuuDcB9JTqMVFte9oHwJE3noz8NR7za36w10D6sdXRWQAPBhrA7NaX5MNywjMpui-4/s1600-h/IMG_0047.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSohshmSjm4M_KvZHI_fqPP0T2Hof3TvG5DfEnGLvuZjVrPCZZ7iYlSIEwIqOKgPYs1phqezLwDfuuDcB9JTqMVFte9oHwJE3noz8NR7za36w10D6sdXRWQAPBhrA7NaX5MNywjMpui-4/s400/IMG_0047.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290492989982894530" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Look, no feet!</span></div></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cUr87lMwjuEoNSbV5UKYytNYYUBoDuKfqiVHaNEEYM8I7umg7GTrsXNCfHjL57qLvvcjEXdPJtAXqwIHg07MiOcY5wj53pqy6nN7ThToQv48KWtV-dtT7s9dh9RCyrKHPBZCMYW6WmY/s1600-h/IMG_0049.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cUr87lMwjuEoNSbV5UKYytNYYUBoDuKfqiVHaNEEYM8I7umg7GTrsXNCfHjL57qLvvcjEXdPJtAXqwIHg07MiOcY5wj53pqy6nN7ThToQv48KWtV-dtT7s9dh9RCyrKHPBZCMYW6WmY/s400/IMG_0049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290465023725059858" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Viv on pitch 2</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTChFH33JaqtBtk_zRVVPHzTPVNOAQCQlbjs0T_wHgCdV8Cx1fxAX_p9OO03ZDD5e4ujVKO8icPyLQWmc6xGQns9UDLmey5qXrE2AaPDsuASYnjKiHGr2OZjbUxcDGvV_GKwvuryoBHJ8/s1600-h/IMG_0058.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTChFH33JaqtBtk_zRVVPHzTPVNOAQCQlbjs0T_wHgCdV8Cx1fxAX_p9OO03ZDD5e4ujVKO8icPyLQWmc6xGQns9UDLmey5qXrE2AaPDsuASYnjKiHGr2OZjbUxcDGvV_GKwvuryoBHJ8/s400/IMG_0058.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290466646437070066" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Pitch 3</span></span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaE7AR6pKrCPeBrZ5XtdlY-xb5unx70Q30JGzp1lJc2uAQD3RZhEd1e6JlNkAEZiqcFjgbo1hjo8DkRcT9RxyMJP8VWCUeUe09hA2XsXadLI0TTPZnpcg-G2S9CmifJFhfLOliRFFBJqI/s1600-h/IMG_0074.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaE7AR6pKrCPeBrZ5XtdlY-xb5unx70Q30JGzp1lJc2uAQD3RZhEd1e6JlNkAEZiqcFjgbo1hjo8DkRcT9RxyMJP8VWCUeUe09hA2XsXadLI0TTPZnpcg-G2S9CmifJFhfLOliRFFBJqI/s400/IMG_0074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290544658278872034" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Job done</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfv1txSTN7qTBTwwcZZuAiSBN0glG5ByVKeJ2e00lFz9c_JROMh62AGnWGWTucyQqTq_wzKCExMJJEtGtqh8zvlTMkPB8DIl4pe6LezcDpS0eHnraNt4EW9rnkMc-TPzmzo1aQKOLU6k/s1600-h/IMG_0047.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfv1txSTN7qTBTwwcZZuAiSBN0glG5ByVKeJ2e00lFz9c_JROMh62AGnWGWTucyQqTq_wzKCExMJJEtGtqh8zvlTMkPB8DIl4pe6LezcDpS0eHnraNt4EW9rnkMc-TPzmzo1aQKOLU6k/s400/IMG_0047.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290480221246486370" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">A wintery Ben Nevis</span></span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeIs8DL6TY8nq6Bes-XbrnWUDIssLuAqANffXsct__St7hT2VM7ttfVASGRlZGOM9erk4f5BMzL1fad6OIKTMYbY4uqu2FrOUX0aZj6u9tOpwAVHsBkzNubR-70l6xjkAsMnFMNVu6so/s1600-h/IMG_0027.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeIs8DL6TY8nq6Bes-XbrnWUDIssLuAqANffXsct__St7hT2VM7ttfVASGRlZGOM9erk4f5BMzL1fad6OIKTMYbY4uqu2FrOUX0aZj6u9tOpwAVHsBkzNubR-70l6xjkAsMnFMNVu6so/s400/IMG_0027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290468061255945298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Route I direct start</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEive-cayWFBRUreUjna_95bY9MkRIgB8GuBi_g1h44P5nE0xDYd2qCkQWoo0d04i7ZeZp-xYAIpveJqP-bHVeV_4eXP9HNMI-oR9vjZNKoqxjrJ1SNWL4MMKqa-j8HdjX6YGIMRdhTnf-A/s1600-h/IMG_0021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEive-cayWFBRUreUjna_95bY9MkRIgB8GuBi_g1h44P5nE0xDYd2qCkQWoo0d04i7ZeZp-xYAIpveJqP-bHVeV_4eXP9HNMI-oR9vjZNKoqxjrJ1SNWL4MMKqa-j8HdjX6YGIMRdhTnf-A/s400/IMG_0021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290468852505630258" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Kenny Grant on Route II</span></span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5BxEPQ2TfNNhhQuypIvAb8E2lAqyJvfHZbWTTIzoJkQG9xK4NuB6fxo0-VbYT4rip4SoNtVJCxmIWNdnIXJA1ITvc09yJIo-D20hLuumDCJ1JK4-npJEcqldirD9Y36Nrsy7D63wgLk/s1600-h/IMG_0056.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5BxEPQ2TfNNhhQuypIvAb8E2lAqyJvfHZbWTTIzoJkQG9xK4NuB6fxo0-VbYT4rip4SoNtVJCxmIWNdnIXJA1ITvc09yJIo-D20hLuumDCJ1JK4-npJEcqldirD9Y36Nrsy7D63wgLk/s400/IMG_0056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290478412291026514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Konnie enjoying the rebirth chimney</span></span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBJVuDNrga1n8seylVypChI5d4mDNfXiHO_1A1E_jhhJN4ssQmwPvf9WufobIIdr6g-OlX-xNYVNrJqT3hcFfdYSG1k6EZtpXim7praTJ2fV2laJaebGJp8odOUthq7LDhjiapkJjV34/s1600-h/IMG_0065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBJVuDNrga1n8seylVypChI5d4mDNfXiHO_1A1E_jhhJN4ssQmwPvf9WufobIIdr6g-OlX-xNYVNrJqT3hcFfdYSG1k6EZtpXim7praTJ2fV2laJaebGJp8odOUthq7LDhjiapkJjV34/s400/IMG_0065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290470197678301266" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Full moon</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeok0UcnGLDtMOIE0-B3MqGACyzynLBpXdDOi9l8-bZ7SpxSpXgQ3bul73cKSH1YCzEPAXZiUeL3ryXc7qyBiWDf7TEi4eZYDnPIXG7Npeo1BWRj9JG8re5i-0yfwDtE3Kxo90mN3MAT4/s1600-h/IMG_0074.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeok0UcnGLDtMOIE0-B3MqGACyzynLBpXdDOi9l8-bZ7SpxSpXgQ3bul73cKSH1YCzEPAXZiUeL3ryXc7qyBiWDf7TEi4eZYDnPIXG7Npeo1BWRj9JG8re5i-0yfwDtE3Kxo90mN3MAT4/s400/IMG_0074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290470433921518962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The Alt a'Mhuillin by Moonlight</span></span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmsXNV3dRAO-2z959XdmRH8CSvI9ZWV22hFU3FAVux_tGwGzV_LfTUTphDg8UTSm4rEXsFyQceLYEKrceQpcc_avtBCsOgPkIAZURSUfEiO5CL2DmVJGuMgzuruzcW9NnhGJJOVla55k/s1600-h/IMG_0089.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmsXNV3dRAO-2z959XdmRH8CSvI9ZWV22hFU3FAVux_tGwGzV_LfTUTphDg8UTSm4rEXsFyQceLYEKrceQpcc_avtBCsOgPkIAZURSUfEiO5CL2DmVJGuMgzuruzcW9NnhGJJOVla55k/s400/IMG_0089.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290476744663344786" /></a></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46dC0NL2XGxgOI9aLl-3tpgH5QU9bXxxI5VwANMslZK1U_5g_criyRF7YszysmoXkXeU2M3FPYd6RlYjXCL4rNlyQz_MxCJdGSGZpxtDfJIMBStSQgaG-trDyvjpWLW9iJBl-l1RgZLk/s1600-h/IMG_0098.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46dC0NL2XGxgOI9aLl-3tpgH5QU9bXxxI5VwANMslZK1U_5g_criyRF7YszysmoXkXeU2M3FPYd6RlYjXCL4rNlyQz_MxCJdGSGZpxtDfJIMBStSQgaG-trDyvjpWLW9iJBl-l1RgZLk/s400/IMG_0098.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290548274167105282" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Steve styling up pitch 2 of The Genie</span></span></div>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-8464323174023677482008-12-03T12:45:00.000-08:002008-12-05T09:02:21.553-08:00Winter Continues<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIlOpKu2qheXjCcsc0-T9sw10jckcTUhxdgg4TsWdFw65KZgj4FX3kEtXgZ8tSGCvUDCqh8CJk5D1nv_k0Lfx5NSkJylkAknRDo53UW_bC7gSR_-a7U-9IysP4gKRHaXMjsG9J6hboM0/s1600-h/IMG_0096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIlOpKu2qheXjCcsc0-T9sw10jckcTUhxdgg4TsWdFw65KZgj4FX3kEtXgZ8tSGCvUDCqh8CJk5D1nv_k0Lfx5NSkJylkAknRDo53UW_bC7gSR_-a7U-9IysP4gKRHaXMjsG9J6hboM0/s400/IMG_0096.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276337502490312482" /></a><br /><br />I must have walked up the Ben path in winter at least twenty times in winter but I've never seen it quite like it was on Saturday. It was clearly going to bright and chilly day, the car thermometer read a toasty -8 at Dalwhinnie and had warmed up to a positively balmy -2 at the north face car park as we started to walk up. There was a good covering of snow to sea level and all the pine trees on the initial path were plastered in snow. It felt more like walking along a wooded track in the Alps rather than a dank forest path on the West Coast of Scotland. Luckily some kind souls had blazed a trail in already, so we were spared the purgatorial thigh deep wade that I was dreading.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAzYH5ADKgYOCb-DuzCrt1oLBSXirJwbDeEVB5A4ep0JJDZabFX8AwS7MsP6K6A_jPClDlkBrFbffiu5-jeUuyLLQMldykgRg3kDiaFqQSHRwDK_kvBaqJB0GMwkVPeWidgPYlkL9too/s1600-h/IMG_0031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAzYH5ADKgYOCb-DuzCrt1oLBSXirJwbDeEVB5A4ep0JJDZabFX8AwS7MsP6K6A_jPClDlkBrFbffiu5-jeUuyLLQMldykgRg3kDiaFqQSHRwDK_kvBaqJB0GMwkVPeWidgPYlkL9too/s400/IMG_0031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276327198096988674" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Carn Dearg</span></span></div><br />The mighty north face of Carn Dearg looked absolutely plastered in snow so we decided that it would be silly not take advantage of this and we made a beeline for Route One. Unfortunately there was a team already at the start but they had decided not climb as the turf looked pretty unfrozen. We thought we'd check it out so I soloed up a bit to test a couple of lumps, all of which were resolutely soggy, bugger.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORTOrWqh_ILyl8J8tnd55SReq-ygk6X6d84AasVD4fADCLnAfUfboDu0oVuhWa6MghTg5P2rt5ZHD6ONYwgcJuUQWE9DZMq_iEqmCDuKa4iPmJlsXIW8U4qWV1HdjnMwFj1pgy1BDjwg/s1600-h/IMG_0040.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORTOrWqh_ILyl8J8tnd55SReq-ygk6X6d84AasVD4fADCLnAfUfboDu0oVuhWa6MghTg5P2rt5ZHD6ONYwgcJuUQWE9DZMq_iEqmCDuKa4iPmJlsXIW8U4qWV1HdjnMwFj1pgy1BDjwg/s400/IMG_0040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276328215267792914" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">South Trident Buttress - Slab Climb is the obvious slab high up</span></span></div><br /><br />I wasn't particularly psyched by the wade up in the Ciste but walking slowly has its advantages and Gaz and Konrad kindly improved the trail ahead of me. Plan B was to to try Slab Climb (VI/7) on South Trident Buttress. Luckily Ian Parnell and Andy Benson were making the first winter ascent of Devastation, an E1 just to the left of our route so there was a good set of tracks to the bottom of the route.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5J-7AzMyf8fbywtsdLcaLoHVGlLYbOFvNMzBKvxixOByVqEM_X7CYCu4pwg5y1stRvcFFM8QmwkStpFT8D6zkaYR8e8fONg27ES6UHTstC3rpw8Bd0rQvkLzsfk91uH3HFShyphenhyphenNuCR2M/s1600-h/IMG_0053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5J-7AzMyf8fbywtsdLcaLoHVGlLYbOFvNMzBKvxixOByVqEM_X7CYCu4pwg5y1stRvcFFM8QmwkStpFT8D6zkaYR8e8fONg27ES6UHTstC3rpw8Bd0rQvkLzsfk91uH3HFShyphenhyphenNuCR2M/s400/IMG_0053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276350187826381906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Gaz on the first pitch</span></div><br />Due to the amount of faffage we didn't start climbing until twelve, Gaz led off on the first pitch whilst Konnie and I played paper, scissors, stone to decide who got the meat of the route, the 40m slab that made up the second pitch. I won.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjA1LpnLH-i2i0vHUir-uCSkw1L5Yqz3HPHe5qu4EeLRQN7G4iWM5nQ0Pq9Q9utY5TZPmjb0CRrfn19e3_Nl37wGWDY1S60gIg0XXy4a28iuCPu5V_ZIbmS9c1-Lwrz_tY6PnmXgCl4A/s1600-h/IMG_0054.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjA1LpnLH-i2i0vHUir-uCSkw1L5Yqz3HPHe5qu4EeLRQN7G4iWM5nQ0Pq9Q9utY5TZPmjb0CRrfn19e3_Nl37wGWDY1S60gIg0XXy4a28iuCPu5V_ZIbmS9c1-Lwrz_tY6PnmXgCl4A/s400/IMG_0054.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276330850521473442" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Getting Dark...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Once Gaz had a set up a slightly iffy looking belay we moved across and I stared up at the slab. It looked fairly intimidating and once I started up I realised it was pretty verglassed as well. The route climbs a crack in the slab to an overlap then transfers left to another crack and then up. I spent a while at the beginning trying to get a wire in and once I'd done this, I began to have serious commitment issues. Time was moving on rapidly, I wasn't sure I'd be able to get that many runners and the climbing looked hard and delicate. Eventually after moving up and down a few times I got so high there didn't seem much point in going down again so decided to press on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJ5VBavBPKGDpRRzQ2WYDvjhxg81xzWep5uYoorKhztH9a4NATuErQYg4UXCUp1QX7uL2NhM4k-aTGBQwES2T-tzk-dJjmczx_a5WXhXFwCFr-SiomV9eaOWvt-Ct7KeMiiOXF6IK9bM/s1600-h/IMG_0057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJ5VBavBPKGDpRRzQ2WYDvjhxg81xzWep5uYoorKhztH9a4NATuErQYg4UXCUp1QX7uL2NhM4k-aTGBQwES2T-tzk-dJjmczx_a5WXhXFwCFr-SiomV9eaOWvt-Ct7KeMiiOXF6IK9bM/s400/IMG_0057.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276346164955810130" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Darkness</span></div><br />The climbing was absolutely stellar, really absorbing and technical but never pumpy. Alot of the small edges were covered in ice so I had to do a fair bit of chipping for footholds but once established the gear was great. The highlight was moving around the overlap. It felt a bit like the GBH window traverse, sidepulling of a big edge, then shuffling along a narrow foot ledge before grasping the sidepull on the other side. From here I reached the edge of the slab and had to make a tenuous move off a very small torque (just using the tip of the pick) to regain the crack. Once the halfway ledge was reached the climbing eased and I was soon on the small belay ledge.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUzcvYMiL35Q3yE-cIlhzkEquSopQ7u9NsheEka6Y1MeTLCH1_A5MpbzMJ2SN1bv42qbPoPhz0WKvf0g33QN6E2rH_ErC2PGwKRaMPp2TGAlxL0-Vd_xl0XYHw7T71f5zGe7fmBSS6JM/s1600-h/IMG_0059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUzcvYMiL35Q3yE-cIlhzkEquSopQ7u9NsheEka6Y1MeTLCH1_A5MpbzMJ2SN1bv42qbPoPhz0WKvf0g33QN6E2rH_ErC2PGwKRaMPp2TGAlxL0-Vd_xl0XYHw7T71f5zGe7fmBSS6JM/s400/IMG_0059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276332427147978898" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Enjoying the Offwidth</span></div><br /><br />It was now quarter to four and darkness was rapidly approaching, Gaz decided he was going to abb off and go down, but there was no way I was going to go down after the effort I'd just put in. Luckily Konnie was still keen and began to second the pitch with the headtorch coming into play half way up. The top pitch was a heinous looking overhanging chimney/offwidth disappearing into the night. It succumbed to alot of grunting from Konnie. It wasn't much fun to second with a pack in the dark but the rest of the pitch was good and we were soon on our way back to the car. None of the snow had melted and the car park was looking just as alpine as in the morning. We all decided that spending the night in a house in Aviemore was preferable to the car so back to Gaz's it was. Needless to say our psyche levels were low in the morning so after dropping the keen Kiwi and other Sam in the Coire Cas carpark we made a big fry up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPGtPZV4Zk5EWoUklm4FxvYDnnAw3US-XxqCuCW50tNNsjyBFntvsXeH36qujuYyLyQ3AnlNJip9HoAJ0UouIPNkF0dWk8priur0y4DBXXEhjxiGP3rqQbOz5UwXb1ASKnCKcgdbPRs0/s1600-h/IMG_0070.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPGtPZV4Zk5EWoUklm4FxvYDnnAw3US-XxqCuCW50tNNsjyBFntvsXeH36qujuYyLyQ3AnlNJip9HoAJ0UouIPNkF0dWk8priur0y4DBXXEhjxiGP3rqQbOz5UwXb1ASKnCKcgdbPRs0/s400/IMG_0070.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276333177089859314" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qU5g40fqhBwsYlb2l3Ho4RgmpeSg_fMphcxlbZgVpf9pAqmjoI_GRW5alGLxjQnyfGZSdvrjopNSWSJusx5KYrBd4baSFCehIoGpoiZc9v0KTClnzot04n3tlUo9qR5s-9XZrnUD-D0/s1600-h/IMG_0069.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qU5g40fqhBwsYlb2l3Ho4RgmpeSg_fMphcxlbZgVpf9pAqmjoI_GRW5alGLxjQnyfGZSdvrjopNSWSJusx5KYrBd4baSFCehIoGpoiZc9v0KTClnzot04n3tlUo9qR5s-9XZrnUD-D0/s400/IMG_0069.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276349539136807042" /></a><br /><br />The midweek plan was to head to Lochnagar on Tuesday with Mike then possibly head somewhere else on Wednesday if motivation was high. After a frosty bivvy in the car which iced up on the inside, the day dawned frosty and clear as we trudged up the dreary road to the coire. There wasn't much snow around and we were slightly worried about the possibility of black cliffs but were pleasantly surprised by the view of a frosty crag, although there was minimal snow on the coire floor. We climbed Shadowlands (VI/7), a 'modern classic' that tackles the steep lower section of Shadow Buttress A. Not too sustained and a good, well protected crux pitch. By the time we topped out the weather had changed and it was almost dark, after a slight faff finding the Meikle Pap col and a walk out in heavy snow, psyche levels for a second day were low.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUV323zskGDzGUqCvPsCuGSWwDWmM4u_AYtgnRAbvslOSM16iCCCEg1yfHqrpPjFNyAJfoZiYcYghHkJB21VsxjEyvY39TpjRJJRjXeJQ-1fbzk3zEWPLUpzTbUY_9RPFF-cWxGSXMVw/s1600-h/IMG_0076.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUV323zskGDzGUqCvPsCuGSWwDWmM4u_AYtgnRAbvslOSM16iCCCEg1yfHqrpPjFNyAJfoZiYcYghHkJB21VsxjEyvY39TpjRJJRjXeJQ-1fbzk3zEWPLUpzTbUY_9RPFF-cWxGSXMVw/s400/IMG_0076.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276347680027465810" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_euzUVXDFcIzeLkqEVTRrBZS3aHxjA24CgWW6iEkrnj19jU0A2dnKfk6ssls2CktRHDZwWbBHyQcEa7TLFnTGmxncx_b6YZLgINjMd4xjpUEyFHlpbJlom6quGp0Kctwz5JsAmchd9E/s1600-h/IMG_0074.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_euzUVXDFcIzeLkqEVTRrBZS3aHxjA24CgWW6iEkrnj19jU0A2dnKfk6ssls2CktRHDZwWbBHyQcEa7TLFnTGmxncx_b6YZLgINjMd4xjpUEyFHlpbJlom6quGp0Kctwz5JsAmchd9E/s400/IMG_0074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276336778249177810" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Shadowlands takes the right-left slanting corner that rises from the large cave on the central buttress</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmbbBstSwaTosRYMdDn3TXTbgCi6YCoioek3XRTSU8AWxoI9zJHfUsw0gifgeLov3rhrnFvGtr8a_Kc8SdO_FfJ3CKjS5DLlLSW9bQJv84GJbYPoFkXZiK9QqRQgEBgm-qQs_AVS_ph0/s1600-h/IMG_0080.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmbbBstSwaTosRYMdDn3TXTbgCi6YCoioek3XRTSU8AWxoI9zJHfUsw0gifgeLov3rhrnFvGtr8a_Kc8SdO_FfJ3CKjS5DLlLSW9bQJv84GJbYPoFkXZiK9QqRQgEBgm-qQs_AVS_ph0/s400/IMG_0080.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276339439674155986" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEUBmpJbouJaVZSdEo6vtes-dDeTHBFjiSxxixe_tF1VYyqa1yYZlQDuBj-WuPnbWA7C29KwnUXDaBKN4EVSApJe2BjQAl_Nj15dLnxc-6TarxGDEfOjQNdLahetz36Nnb-pFgRbWhHw/s1600-h/IMG_0087.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEUBmpJbouJaVZSdEo6vtes-dDeTHBFjiSxxixe_tF1VYyqa1yYZlQDuBj-WuPnbWA7C29KwnUXDaBKN4EVSApJe2BjQAl_Nj15dLnxc-6TarxGDEfOjQNdLahetz36Nnb-pFgRbWhHw/s400/IMG_0087.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276335580148486418" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Mike Seconding the Crux Pitch</span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLE_okzV1NMG24wr4oacLJnI9PNFE9gcjq5nAIgltd-0dEzrSmZXh2f7SopOhqOiiru7CLWfiXnyX99uOMklUVEmsWiEJti-avCxTY9AuDbvIBwrlYX1WH1a1Ld8NE8UzZusWk_OiyMEs/s1600-h/IMG_0094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLE_okzV1NMG24wr4oacLJnI9PNFE9gcjq5nAIgltd-0dEzrSmZXh2f7SopOhqOiiru7CLWfiXnyX99uOMklUVEmsWiEJti-avCxTY9AuDbvIBwrlYX1WH1a1Ld8NE8UzZusWk_OiyMEs/s400/IMG_0094.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276333625791698306" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Mike on Pitch 4</span></span></div>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-45069195484912904112008-11-28T09:22:00.000-08:002008-11-28T14:04:40.919-08:00Kendal and Bust<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAL-soka3egPexZNTtKav604kfMbLybiz3q1ZNidFp0WusGqi1xC4Fw00nW_nZ_GOi-Ovi4DQ55Ue5y4BWEj1qTIt53HmWqI9PRc0zKroeAODK8p3SR54kn3QVt5q2eDrskPufy5GYz5Q/s1600-h/IMG_0011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAL-soka3egPexZNTtKav604kfMbLybiz3q1ZNidFp0WusGqi1xC4Fw00nW_nZ_GOi-Ovi4DQ55Ue5y4BWEj1qTIt53HmWqI9PRc0zKroeAODK8p3SR54kn3QVt5q2eDrskPufy5GYz5Q/s400/IMG_0011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273831285970355170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GmefasnaQ4pcy7hvqKO-ZKD-dGQAvRa-qZo-G2VuWSTuZQZiqvPEQ9ECJK_H72h8t7xBCiyzTjrJz3khyphenhyphenMOl-r8JSeFAsAlguL7ZPrMJbe4gQGzOR0a4X9Pm4irYL3v7YoY0r4KQ3jM/s1600-h/IMG_0122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GmefasnaQ4pcy7hvqKO-ZKD-dGQAvRa-qZo-G2VuWSTuZQZiqvPEQ9ECJK_H72h8t7xBCiyzTjrJz3khyphenhyphenMOl-r8JSeFAsAlguL7ZPrMJbe4gQGzOR0a4X9Pm4irYL3v7YoY0r4KQ3jM/s400/IMG_0122.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273772650156612402" /></a><br /><br />The last month has definitely been the best start to a winter season since I've been climbing. It's still only November and we're already onto our third cold spell, no doubt we'll pay for it come January...<br />In the spirit of peversity I decided not to go climbing at the weekend but instead went to the Kendal Mountain Film Festival, except I didn't see any films. It was a bit of lost couple of days, mainly spent in the pub. To make up for it, Duncan and I got up bleary eyed on Monday morning and went for a wander in the Southern Highlands. after deciding that Arrochar wasn't in we ended up at the old faithful Beinn an Dothaidh. The main buttress was looking a bit black so wed did a IV/5 on the lower cliff - Circean. A bit of one pitch pitch wonder but a good one at that. A steep corner on excellent turf, then a pull through a burly undercut wall. Back off to play in the snow in the morning... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-bZR2-IMkaEJ334gxroCIfLxnqxyQeouGKEtgl8AzGTCeFjAm4p-aN4b6YHS3QrY4laAdsmpR9wTuWaanDSbLz9t0JjX9FhxWgWx9rDbq80esiKtw4y4N7ed_i6pTXtk-R2Voas0MEA/s1600-h/IMG_0113.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-bZR2-IMkaEJ334gxroCIfLxnqxyQeouGKEtgl8AzGTCeFjAm4p-aN4b6YHS3QrY4laAdsmpR9wTuWaanDSbLz9t0JjX9FhxWgWx9rDbq80esiKtw4y4N7ed_i6pTXtk-R2Voas0MEA/s400/IMG_0113.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273826622109658674" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzNfD3ZfHxc3ZfgCQzu1Q7X0QypeXOVlQ75gbddV7JoWNZWziV8Rd1X2wXeY1F64TSrZhqHECWpcfhFs1ND5l8h6FLXSNo9q0vwOBqg_EWbslZfq7IFYHTY5dwMx360qyPrUZaLMzWds/s1600-h/IMG_0119.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzNfD3ZfHxc3ZfgCQzu1Q7X0QypeXOVlQ75gbddV7JoWNZWziV8Rd1X2wXeY1F64TSrZhqHECWpcfhFs1ND5l8h6FLXSNo9q0vwOBqg_EWbslZfq7IFYHTY5dwMx360qyPrUZaLMzWds/s400/IMG_0119.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273832340612971442" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyz4BHdEqN0C6fa-zOg9EHa47YiS5NyDx1Ju_jtVmGfkHzdfCRrPJ_kMLQGlZg5lyUBRKQL7UiAspcPgeL4EVOEiLgXIbDS73HdsYPtYb24pT6qm1eBEglf4WUEpmiA1dn02OmMkwoCE/s1600-h/IMG_0126.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyz4BHdEqN0C6fa-zOg9EHa47YiS5NyDx1Ju_jtVmGfkHzdfCRrPJ_kMLQGlZg5lyUBRKQL7UiAspcPgeL4EVOEiLgXIbDS73HdsYPtYb24pT6qm1eBEglf4WUEpmiA1dn02OmMkwoCE/s400/IMG_0126.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273770440505909378" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MoWXgJ9nvKDutDFvozGDQhxf1rUHbA2TqdSUKYgNrL7Nj-435CVstMfU-I0SloESD4jPIc7xohgIfwSoNsQxWUQlyvbmLhE_gHPRwnuukCLjB2u5QZSaLIaHoPEWlsETn0l8WLxcxfc/s1600-h/IMG_0130.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MoWXgJ9nvKDutDFvozGDQhxf1rUHbA2TqdSUKYgNrL7Nj-435CVstMfU-I0SloESD4jPIc7xohgIfwSoNsQxWUQlyvbmLhE_gHPRwnuukCLjB2u5QZSaLIaHoPEWlsETn0l8WLxcxfc/s400/IMG_0130.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273769225394691602" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0H_bOarGbynEGuY18ivKO5HdwXeuM2aewPNdH3ZAbSM6euCdjKZ3eHapJuiVr53wqenZsVGB06BFQXzaSfX-vcJpFYi0grr_q8ZnA9-IdvJ3fehVf9rb2H61QopVKqoZjSoHmx4hLWM/s1600-h/IMG_0055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0H_bOarGbynEGuY18ivKO5HdwXeuM2aewPNdH3ZAbSM6euCdjKZ3eHapJuiVr53wqenZsVGB06BFQXzaSfX-vcJpFYi0grr_q8ZnA9-IdvJ3fehVf9rb2H61QopVKqoZjSoHmx4hLWM/s400/IMG_0055.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273766006739592642" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-0KJYe2P_B8kM0Aq6q7oTdFQcVNIbBTFFQ-pN3atkkjca7qcRDofj2pQ0QKtnHX_M30CmR-NDUzsGvzFsB9KbDTw5FqoB08YE3LtZMGwsu_UF1AcNRMjfxrcncpoYJ7Us9Pe7UiNf3Q/s1600-h/IMG_0032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-0KJYe2P_B8kM0Aq6q7oTdFQcVNIbBTFFQ-pN3atkkjca7qcRDofj2pQ0QKtnHX_M30CmR-NDUzsGvzFsB9KbDTw5FqoB08YE3LtZMGwsu_UF1AcNRMjfxrcncpoYJ7Us9Pe7UiNf3Q/s400/IMG_0032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273829893047872274" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLssA-9P8oz_pZQs7J5PEWSOT86FJromxL1t9_yD59c1Y9bSDg7erY6rEztZqyTHD3eyBVUraAf9NgAjf5lmWI8lBFmztmj1To5C9059KNvsmy0c_rCxWzXPIxq1IQp2QfnLUJ4tlp5w/s1600-h/IMG_0075.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLssA-9P8oz_pZQs7J5PEWSOT86FJromxL1t9_yD59c1Y9bSDg7erY6rEztZqyTHD3eyBVUraAf9NgAjf5lmWI8lBFmztmj1To5C9059KNvsmy0c_rCxWzXPIxq1IQp2QfnLUJ4tlp5w/s400/IMG_0075.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273831824902423986" /></a>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-25150590972138722472008-10-06T07:37:00.000-07:002008-10-17T16:25:01.502-07:00There Goes The Summer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQLoyY7Dz7oLJA2jFiGwEX2-JQ_hdk7j2m9FO16oMEL4CSYK4xyHEKfaDuzbIlNqQLosobffaKfEbVfM5zvFYoRtamxY2uZA7OEumfPI6GHlYbDv1QfyUxPtyYbeRTmRyix_L12RJL4o/s1600-h/DSCF4354.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQLoyY7Dz7oLJA2jFiGwEX2-JQ_hdk7j2m9FO16oMEL4CSYK4xyHEKfaDuzbIlNqQLosobffaKfEbVfM5zvFYoRtamxY2uZA7OEumfPI6GHlYbDv1QfyUxPtyYbeRTmRyix_L12RJL4o/s400/DSCF4354.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258229331664379314" /></a><br /><br />The Blog kind of went into hibernation over the summer, mainly due to the loss of my digital camera (somewhere below Scafell East Buttress) and the lack of a computer for July, August and September. However with the first snows have roused me from my estivation and with the winter horn rapidly hardening I thought I'd bore you all (if anyone is still out there) with a selection of summer photos. From Gogarth to Colombia via the Alps, Scotland and elsewhere.<div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN0H596j_uSmiYOObaTaDTpiVU1jGImBSUewLnkzgABBTIHURi7QYptx70QoSSgZRsba8JPLVz5aQQyQFilmoXnNFcm1sllHl9l0kIx_chXHtTQwXyI14h4RmS5nioW-v-0tYd981LrI/s1600-h/DSCF4368.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzN0H596j_uSmiYOObaTaDTpiVU1jGImBSUewLnkzgABBTIHURi7QYptx70QoSSgZRsba8JPLVz5aQQyQFilmoXnNFcm1sllHl9l0kIx_chXHtTQwXyI14h4RmS5nioW-v-0tYd981LrI/s400/DSCF4368.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258229909325430866" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Ogmore Scariness</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqd23dmvXlboSlCMfpZMvQ8Gw32xisKMw1TBguJ_nzlX4umSJ91xuxTKpYmNoPIGBuypl3Dmf5-e8tEJK38hLDme9HukOqV2zR_fi6zByjo9s8j0ytUHvYAHDBgsHadaEWl31P9YHtHE/s1600-h/CNV00036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqd23dmvXlboSlCMfpZMvQ8Gw32xisKMw1TBguJ_nzlX4umSJ91xuxTKpYmNoPIGBuypl3Dmf5-e8tEJK38hLDme9HukOqV2zR_fi6zByjo9s8j0ytUHvYAHDBgsHadaEWl31P9YHtHE/s400/CNV00036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258236943307199058" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Minus One Direct</span></div></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3q1u8A1pvcH2AtDCpvmq4Nkhi6bPQ8nB9yPAc_s0MZaVCqk-MYNvipPR55e9mceY-7vHWxClO0QIqwd0zpR54CXePhNrIFAkqBQefUivHJixIHAOFx8XL2vZF2Rem1Gi1m8QNkl47xA/s1600-h/CNV00074.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3q1u8A1pvcH2AtDCpvmq4Nkhi6bPQ8nB9yPAc_s0MZaVCqk-MYNvipPR55e9mceY-7vHWxClO0QIqwd0zpR54CXePhNrIFAkqBQefUivHJixIHAOFx8XL2vZF2Rem1Gi1m8QNkl47xA/s400/CNV00074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258238201501555314" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Only Another 15 Hours To Go Viv</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4sZIpsjPF0vQ1yEr5G4DZPkZyBTOTKhd9Zv_7KnfOXwYkF9Yle0gMsV225VEF8ST6t7x3JIHxk1QDKUm9hpNreEIuUBIpl1r09pwP9dCtuCkufh8VjSZynQGFPBI4KRBgcHDpjYfyFY/s1600-h/CNV00091.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4sZIpsjPF0vQ1yEr5G4DZPkZyBTOTKhd9Zv_7KnfOXwYkF9Yle0gMsV225VEF8ST6t7x3JIHxk1QDKUm9hpNreEIuUBIpl1r09pwP9dCtuCkufh8VjSZynQGFPBI4KRBgcHDpjYfyFY/s400/CNV00091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258252845272328770" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Most Beautiful Place to Climb in Scotland?</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJ85OYPNaA9gThAYz1P-14esp7WWzMbpMF_V4K4Bud1ileT9rink5T_WiiBCPJzUE17raoKgA2c25QoeKwk2NUM3Nfp-4UO58JFoGMtpnOinfdkWESHUs_jo5uaiWgenAe33zSxfr5EM/s1600-h/CNV00099.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJ85OYPNaA9gThAYz1P-14esp7WWzMbpMF_V4K4Bud1ileT9rink5T_WiiBCPJzUE17raoKgA2c25QoeKwk2NUM3Nfp-4UO58JFoGMtpnOinfdkWESHUs_jo5uaiWgenAe33zSxfr5EM/s400/CNV00099.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258253164052770930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Happy Campers After an Awesome Day on Carnmore</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sOVrNk11Ht3kIB4k1F6LKvIkeeImg2PKZD24C2D9recXVIzGsLVfCY0ST7KfZGdcFpf7yGbU-Beq-ZhgaZ7HP6JWzNA0q7fa6LQJpbcd1K_oTxQqlo0UGqUfGsJ0J6PeKLNE9cflQk0/s1600-h/IMG_0014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sOVrNk11Ht3kIB4k1F6LKvIkeeImg2PKZD24C2D9recXVIzGsLVfCY0ST7KfZGdcFpf7yGbU-Beq-ZhgaZ7HP6JWzNA0q7fa6LQJpbcd1K_oTxQqlo0UGqUfGsJ0J6PeKLNE9cflQk0/s400/IMG_0014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258241819366363538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Main Cliff</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-lXfB48SFjXYSyWCE13v238Y8Hy0jWMUI6dQDrOg5zECtXGiF19Jg0HJZAJptmTAfxTr5paYexvhyRsaBPVafp_7hkPjk9nYSFQdIQXSEsG_dJOcHEBN8zwPBcONj_pyCYf264EflWM/s1600-h/IMG_0020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-lXfB48SFjXYSyWCE13v238Y8Hy0jWMUI6dQDrOg5zECtXGiF19Jg0HJZAJptmTAfxTr5paYexvhyRsaBPVafp_7hkPjk9nYSFQdIQXSEsG_dJOcHEBN8zwPBcONj_pyCYf264EflWM/s400/IMG_0020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258240778082654114" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Gogarth</span></span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLLqH2CSrQY3Iv9IQkXO4GJ6b_zp68AmO1sYvFmCCx3Zo3kDE1guZn4tsgDWdyrw0s_WyuUJ1Gtd-M8aMBsQnGMUVZHMQ7OsohumYoiUKwYospZfKq-ACmEFFRr9__OlWMOv8pAAuwTs/s1600-h/IMG_0041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLLqH2CSrQY3Iv9IQkXO4GJ6b_zp68AmO1sYvFmCCx3Zo3kDE1guZn4tsgDWdyrw0s_WyuUJ1Gtd-M8aMBsQnGMUVZHMQ7OsohumYoiUKwYospZfKq-ACmEFFRr9__OlWMOv8pAAuwTs/s400/IMG_0041.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258241212304825010" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Frendo Spur</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqleCYWyH4hh3Kwlu4ZIqkmmIaRYyRQI6ZrgrZY7S6YBENhyZYTmRNfEde75lx-bfMZWPtmqOCNcKQNJjemggdm98eZisdQAlGfxq_JXx7M2iWIN9WW_bbz9RYCPo4vtXs01vj4V2zqI/s1600-h/IMG_0090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqleCYWyH4hh3Kwlu4ZIqkmmIaRYyRQI6ZrgrZY7S6YBENhyZYTmRNfEde75lx-bfMZWPtmqOCNcKQNJjemggdm98eZisdQAlGfxq_JXx7M2iWIN9WW_bbz9RYCPo4vtXs01vj4V2zqI/s400/IMG_0090.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258244654066892402" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Snow Arete</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01uB5bJ8wU0CCWFrKLv7hyPMC7Mcy5cAriWxCXaWIMU6dzYgKzvFup2xI3cEROa7yzx6eUK_MBVAspClkkSw5T8mS48-epXyYo2JVd8LweUgY1rokWrnSa6lyc36SBc1Kkh5Sy4FeJVU/s1600-h/IMG_0106.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01uB5bJ8wU0CCWFrKLv7hyPMC7Mcy5cAriWxCXaWIMU6dzYgKzvFup2xI3cEROa7yzx6eUK_MBVAspClkkSw5T8mS48-epXyYo2JVd8LweUgY1rokWrnSa6lyc36SBc1Kkh5Sy4FeJVU/s400/IMG_0106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258252215156738178" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Alps</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGAHlZFDu-dffU4g6TN1N6BIk-qGAN7UQvqGzQnTfb5LACgGo78GxIi6ksjGKn6VDllTPTO9vTwEcEZwAcTAYJUL9uf2t6uj63AdhW004wJbttNAyOq5LS2ajL5UdCywzpkWv-s1nB8E/s1600-h/IMG_0170.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGAHlZFDu-dffU4g6TN1N6BIk-qGAN7UQvqGzQnTfb5LACgGo78GxIi6ksjGKn6VDllTPTO9vTwEcEZwAcTAYJUL9uf2t6uj63AdhW004wJbttNAyOq5LS2ajL5UdCywzpkWv-s1nB8E/s400/IMG_0170.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258244122813964930" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Dru North Face</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvClElJLooLzTt9LK8MxeemVLlxnbI0heA7Pi6naEfy8ZAdQa3fG_tS9r3XCT26Nwf7EzMiThI5vVl83WfltQGVMH0u_Sw26dwQ0LbErOOxhwrX4xYzypOED95YR0dseN8FW9YP2k8ZMA/s1600-h/IMG_0154.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvClElJLooLzTt9LK8MxeemVLlxnbI0heA7Pi6naEfy8ZAdQa3fG_tS9r3XCT26Nwf7EzMiThI5vVl83WfltQGVMH0u_Sw26dwQ0LbErOOxhwrX4xYzypOED95YR0dseN8FW9YP2k8ZMA/s400/IMG_0154.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258245140357661250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Aiguille De La Vanoise - Demaison Route</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp6E0Zg843zd0cldU-Q00xVRLyc7sgkMr7wWR6_5kYrakKyUcgaHdJrI2hSX8VbUVUWteQ2I0vBa0SBPyTnX0fRGswVhw5SXIo9Sooi1b2pn5gvTd75f0TnvQmCf3NADV-trF7vlPgf4/s1600-h/IMG_0206.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp6E0Zg843zd0cldU-Q00xVRLyc7sgkMr7wWR6_5kYrakKyUcgaHdJrI2hSX8VbUVUWteQ2I0vBa0SBPyTnX0fRGswVhw5SXIo9Sooi1b2pn5gvTd75f0TnvQmCf3NADV-trF7vlPgf4/s400/IMG_0206.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258245734049075042" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Near the Summit of a Very Cold Aiguille Verte, Having Climbed The Nant Blanc Face</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZOrTh05xkqS3pJyuw0ZTAMh6LJaTgKKxPKZiqqm5tvduMmJNlgKfnJ-08s0b861xWrZiYkQeRXQIu_nzWwYy0JtdmbPHV-D9F-NtAMiHGB6_iSHg3aTUEvJgDJx_54Hc2T7U7Zve5Xg/s1600-h/IMG_0212.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZOrTh05xkqS3pJyuw0ZTAMh6LJaTgKKxPKZiqqm5tvduMmJNlgKfnJ-08s0b861xWrZiYkQeRXQIu_nzWwYy0JtdmbPHV-D9F-NtAMiHGB6_iSHg3aTUEvJgDJx_54Hc2T7U7Zve5Xg/s400/IMG_0212.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258254137333680466" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">On the Top of the Verte</span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTzqfFLEVsG2VOV0QzX9ft2YvIgZkMkhk7T-IRQHOWY_BCuDA6_6cqtvZAxT6TpuSSvXx9lbVzQov8hUA1ojaKjuniGV2R_YnqH5xPe_P0mUh2GZ56iNZej9TwlGlV9HROTeS-PDxrx0/s1600-h/IMG_0216.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTzqfFLEVsG2VOV0QzX9ft2YvIgZkMkhk7T-IRQHOWY_BCuDA6_6cqtvZAxT6TpuSSvXx9lbVzQov8hUA1ojaKjuniGV2R_YnqH5xPe_P0mUh2GZ56iNZej9TwlGlV9HROTeS-PDxrx0/s400/IMG_0216.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258253587896326674" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">A Broken Man</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEIc_guRfdbJchsWta6UN34vGDxnReqIYeYkSOcHy1A85DgFexLQi2uPpNRg08wWnqX7BAe-QpBaqmeqjtKu6NgZ8-LkycT53a3J58AuEYvlhNbF3o35QkEkH6-6NHFLSrhtWeLlSUxY/s1600-h/IMG_0012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEIc_guRfdbJchsWta6UN34vGDxnReqIYeYkSOcHy1A85DgFexLQi2uPpNRg08wWnqX7BAe-QpBaqmeqjtKu6NgZ8-LkycT53a3J58AuEYvlhNbF3o35QkEkH6-6NHFLSrhtWeLlSUxY/s400/IMG_0012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258247120306938482" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">South Ridge of the Aiguille Noire de Peuterey, A Long Way</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TL6uZr_WvSrj6FWsx68HqckV9wYEBmt6b_rjg7P41_1cadKsq7fwCX2I6w0ljCzewF24b5AQR7qvYz36bC6PkYLdEC2Ee6o9j0nmLfV9x6tJTha81Nbzl315201r0Yuq-84VqKMeNPk/s1600-h/IMG_0020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TL6uZr_WvSrj6FWsx68HqckV9wYEBmt6b_rjg7P41_1cadKsq7fwCX2I6w0ljCzewF24b5AQR7qvYz36bC6PkYLdEC2Ee6o9j0nmLfV9x6tJTha81Nbzl315201r0Yuq-84VqKMeNPk/s400/IMG_0020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258247513791658082" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Pointe Ottoz</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMusK9n7WmfAHJrEbTXrwc_fyuLYszAQhJqgE-aZsjp80C9F7wq4CUVhkljo4hQz3YpExC2cvqnG6qmS54xOfVh0GFHs5Kwvqle6G95WfQ1tbpZ3JPweWA4QAk6uLuG197NN0B0k_7oo/s1600-h/IMG_0047.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMusK9n7WmfAHJrEbTXrwc_fyuLYszAQhJqgE-aZsjp80C9F7wq4CUVhkljo4hQz3YpExC2cvqnG6qmS54xOfVh0GFHs5Kwvqle6G95WfQ1tbpZ3JPweWA4QAk6uLuG197NN0B0k_7oo/s400/IMG_0047.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258248001066508562" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Freney and Brouillard Faces of Mont Blanc</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIn5_fTiiTDDWN3MmPE__0I-3A0yp1GbYwpE6XR9wz_-44Y1b153B-kJhqhUq2moifIlwoZ6-PZxrzqO3VY07cFRcZIx7XOolfmhMXRugILGozo6DyrKPDjZvezYDCGTP-LmW4FbTYxo/s1600-h/IMG_0067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIn5_fTiiTDDWN3MmPE__0I-3A0yp1GbYwpE6XR9wz_-44Y1b153B-kJhqhUq2moifIlwoZ6-PZxrzqO3VY07cFRcZIx7XOolfmhMXRugILGozo6DyrKPDjZvezYDCGTP-LmW4FbTYxo/s400/IMG_0067.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258250475515705346" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Bivvy on Descent</span></div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl24rMvGKIES2zx2bzZSpMAxDnVuwiV8faS0nUqUso-QwWQ7afS_yiDfY5odQqy9RcszVm7Jsav3r9_XKEsorn2cVBoXP-e9VaV9C2gJk5F0RiSyNc7QjCJX7Bwpjrew0tEsdTrt7msUo/s1600-h/IMG_0079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl24rMvGKIES2zx2bzZSpMAxDnVuwiV8faS0nUqUso-QwWQ7afS_yiDfY5odQqy9RcszVm7Jsav3r9_XKEsorn2cVBoXP-e9VaV9C2gJk5F0RiSyNc7QjCJX7Bwpjrew0tEsdTrt7msUo/s400/IMG_0079.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258249352138110962" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Walk in to the Brenta Dolomites </span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6aJ3KL5EefCqErU_iac34M_RHC1dWou_6KwNnHVFI-C_DYIBncOQLpjqrZIBoXmsWT5WWPbylnWXI9zSDlFawjGYS36iN0zzK9W6MJNwlqvrjp8UKWxAS5_jMO8b6WL7QexODbPYrxY/s1600-h/IMG_0114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6aJ3KL5EefCqErU_iac34M_RHC1dWou_6KwNnHVFI-C_DYIBncOQLpjqrZIBoXmsWT5WWPbylnWXI9zSDlFawjGYS36iN0zzK9W6MJNwlqvrjp8UKWxAS5_jMO8b6WL7QexODbPYrxY/s400/IMG_0114.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258249774047603970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Sella Massif</span></div></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_Ki3C8_uiWLANG6M63ekM_6KnHr_jRZEOYycXCyjLBAAPoKMgfqTAZ1qsOVoAL-BOHQdbNMjkOcTrnusB2QW8fAqgUG6_MlLyruyy6Era_ECd3CtY0sqfmyIEqisHykyfVdy3NMa5is/s1600-h/IMG_0144.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_Ki3C8_uiWLANG6M63ekM_6KnHr_jRZEOYycXCyjLBAAPoKMgfqTAZ1qsOVoAL-BOHQdbNMjkOcTrnusB2QW8fAqgUG6_MlLyruyy6Era_ECd3CtY0sqfmyIEqisHykyfVdy3NMa5is/s400/IMG_0144.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258251103327522322" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Don Quixote - South Face of the Marmolada</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCO3LrNMv50oiAKudYucduJNopo5Cl4pKCUay52zo9bxVoKQHZ3VjMTVo8EAz-hjEAqK1VKW2iFQo1jjOSW43_9oNqUSt7GjmcxutwZMw7VBynUziC4-N8wLVHbgAOcHm0QnDIdww0U4/s1600-h/IMG_0167.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></a></span></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCO3LrNMv50oiAKudYucduJNopo5Cl4pKCUay52zo9bxVoKQHZ3VjMTVo8EAz-hjEAqK1VKW2iFQo1jjOSW43_9oNqUSt7GjmcxutwZMw7VBynUziC4-N8wLVHbgAOcHm0QnDIdww0U4/s400/IMG_0167.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258251529203083970" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Looking Down Most of Face (It's Pretty Big...)</span></div></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLJHf6dRpFUyac6aXwcbj8lBylGeYSUHuyOOStXiE9ZvHoWpPbeLuMq2lzWpntR8SvVzarp5NY_4wFMZ_3kAL5tfRpTPiHNVGX1bWns-Ym4XUblvbpq36c1NUQBihP_8z_tsfEjUkI2U/s1600-h/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLJHf6dRpFUyac6aXwcbj8lBylGeYSUHuyOOStXiE9ZvHoWpPbeLuMq2lzWpntR8SvVzarp5NY_4wFMZ_3kAL5tfRpTPiHNVGX1bWns-Ym4XUblvbpq36c1NUQBihP_8z_tsfEjUkI2U/s400/IMG_0007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258261022068003522" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Chair Ladder</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFJuLwgiozNvTEsjcns8z_vUT1meFBiDw0tqdbpi7MPtud_152xYN9yEccB0dPV1w-Uq5YMac38apAsmrn3g91LeSWspgl2d6_ctqHk0ZG8-q_SMwbxlyuZI8cYYZFnSJpfc_Q10hzBs/s1600-h/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFJuLwgiozNvTEsjcns8z_vUT1meFBiDw0tqdbpi7MPtud_152xYN9yEccB0dPV1w-Uq5YMac38apAsmrn3g91LeSWspgl2d6_ctqHk0ZG8-q_SMwbxlyuZI8cYYZFnSJpfc_Q10hzBs/s400/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258254598269365234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Croyde</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJaDiRnkdb3cqSk-ewaP0y3N289GkqbKBfxciYaGzAiWu0gzG9SifvvhfaobJ1AZ8VNVPESeGu-5JP03b_pteWse_tCinVaFsZ25HuLq_H0zLYbsL8dZRX0da-rwQMu3VsOuwwPMTfHU/s1600-h/IMG_0043.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><img style="text-align: center;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJaDiRnkdb3cqSk-ewaP0y3N289GkqbKBfxciYaGzAiWu0gzG9SifvvhfaobJ1AZ8VNVPESeGu-5JP03b_pteWse_tCinVaFsZ25HuLq_H0zLYbsL8dZRX0da-rwQMu3VsOuwwPMTfHU/s400/IMG_0043.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258255766300431538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Hackers Cricket</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRjEb-KopZ6taRvsXFDnpIaKG0V6bOQz3EUS2F68UMigAlw3QpyPIAy1pnQbUQJJFnN5nqPKiS38ItsLsvvfJxn0xRYPyvoX55Db0miWegfnTiDmemcOBV7_PBPmReN479qYgTE_TvIA/s1600-h/IMG_0058.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRjEb-KopZ6taRvsXFDnpIaKG0V6bOQz3EUS2F68UMigAlw3QpyPIAy1pnQbUQJJFnN5nqPKiS38ItsLsvvfJxn0xRYPyvoX55Db0miWegfnTiDmemcOBV7_PBPmReN479qYgTE_TvIA/s400/IMG_0058.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258257127914488866" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Bogota</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5rUyE_YpIsFvIIArD3yDqIz9wx1FatEuYFnK_JN4FL5SVBK7eddWULDPcttL9V2RFKEa03ImlahVO1-LFIWzgZx7DCyzxmBVSKln2GdLim2NKqk7qKJUHZpcjLrY8mKjb-YH626qfA4/s1600-h/IMG_0132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5rUyE_YpIsFvIIArD3yDqIz9wx1FatEuYFnK_JN4FL5SVBK7eddWULDPcttL9V2RFKEa03ImlahVO1-LFIWzgZx7DCyzxmBVSKln2GdLim2NKqk7qKJUHZpcjLrY8mKjb-YH626qfA4/s400/IMG_0132.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258261574726320370" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mPpTyH4CCa938DsZXnpFuctYAUIseGum8u2AZAdaH0JeUDvI5G-AXz-XuLHNlP8M78h3CWuk6R62pKxx8RjAMmMACY20NTHbyA-N6meFhydi_pAqqViHhU113qpwozjz0edaAI_KWlc/s1600-h/IMG_0155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mPpTyH4CCa938DsZXnpFuctYAUIseGum8u2AZAdaH0JeUDvI5G-AXz-XuLHNlP8M78h3CWuk6R62pKxx8RjAMmMACY20NTHbyA-N6meFhydi_pAqqViHhU113qpwozjz0edaAI_KWlc/s400/IMG_0155.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258265685534222626" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Climbing at Suesca, Colombia</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6eH47hyphenhyphenXReedike0z0laGEFvlwmwThZx2FcHbQcbeTWlnhhTLqzPxN6UbT8VmleReIZ2GEsLSEeMJ4pUDelWKDvWmUyWdF-LjMMN6cABIXj3jTW90fxqYjpAZCChB2nIB4__TW_7Le4/s1600-h/IMG_0173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6eH47hyphenhyphenXReedike0z0laGEFvlwmwThZx2FcHbQcbeTWlnhhTLqzPxN6UbT8VmleReIZ2GEsLSEeMJ4pUDelWKDvWmUyWdF-LjMMN6cABIXj3jTW90fxqYjpAZCChB2nIB4__TW_7Le4/s400/IMG_0173.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258257624614419330" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Plaza de Armas, Villa de Leyva</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigewliqhdA1i1mj2WpcNlzZMD8y7BHsVJmT70Kl_pnlsKrxm25GkSvVB4E_firahFGX-lhCmY56Nxja2-AbuD4eyTIr7OVzqHGTDUZio5PV6gU9ZJ6q7YMavzmZH4jw_VAWLvv088jrI/s1600-h/IMG_0248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigewliqhdA1i1mj2WpcNlzZMD8y7BHsVJmT70Kl_pnlsKrxm25GkSvVB4E_firahFGX-lhCmY56Nxja2-AbuD4eyTIr7OVzqHGTDUZio5PV6gU9ZJ6q7YMavzmZH4jw_VAWLvv088jrI/s400/IMG_0248.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258264411887295794" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Your Average Colombian Man at 10am</span></span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtY4iyilAknRrujWQCy4AeFM31_qek7DrGoksv1Xr9L9AXr7pw0lcbH2PENVkRt3HXVbfxPdGs20jqbnclQebVTJp-H0H30yaOGpOtoHAdPc-92VMEDO9414S9kqAutnKRrqnBXiSzr8/s1600-h/IMG_0316.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtY4iyilAknRrujWQCy4AeFM31_qek7DrGoksv1Xr9L9AXr7pw0lcbH2PENVkRt3HXVbfxPdGs20jqbnclQebVTJp-H0H30yaOGpOtoHAdPc-92VMEDO9414S9kqAutnKRrqnBXiSzr8/s400/IMG_0316.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258266685541818338" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; ">Barichara</span><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cSBQVGKEB0GHFAW7biMQz0bogNVYMrhxO1wTBf6S72kZBDWtpl0FMYONJdtC6bYs9Tg9H3IMNb3VWoVCuInJaPEiptoLWtJSscUtHE9iXeIn85IImYhSjoOxFpiOEbuQErSEk3kccvQ/s1600-h/IMG_0408.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cSBQVGKEB0GHFAW7biMQz0bogNVYMrhxO1wTBf6S72kZBDWtpl0FMYONJdtC6bYs9Tg9H3IMNb3VWoVCuInJaPEiptoLWtJSscUtHE9iXeIn85IImYhSjoOxFpiOEbuQErSEk3kccvQ/s400/IMG_0408.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258258684113611570" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Juice?</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1L-eG0nlAXrEs4jw_ijWC3FLO9dZz8S4CjJ807jQDlZHr-SrmJ4ORpqkTufP5plHu-Z44qHzO2fOCCH0ytKODItATKgE3jWTBCugTCb_bzyiY8HgtSBGr9DxuEX2z8dpu31LyRzDugU/s1600-h/IMG_0445.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1L-eG0nlAXrEs4jw_ijWC3FLO9dZz8S4CjJ807jQDlZHr-SrmJ4ORpqkTufP5plHu-Z44qHzO2fOCCH0ytKODItATKgE3jWTBCugTCb_bzyiY8HgtSBGr9DxuEX2z8dpu31LyRzDugU/s400/IMG_0445.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258260225303092050" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Parque Tayrona</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UrSXw9UUwxFLm-Mm0EWoKVkEM2YXCojB2jQhvT8zmlIFqRqIRRXmDB3CpW1W4QfLJ-aTa4IrmNj_LXVLn7OfmMmrveezkwMSCOsAD0oprkMe2ccRBHFmYaFFY9XLOScQBE-uEZz3YEI/s1600-h/IMG_0545.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UrSXw9UUwxFLm-Mm0EWoKVkEM2YXCojB2jQhvT8zmlIFqRqIRRXmDB3CpW1W4QfLJ-aTa4IrmNj_LXVLn7OfmMmrveezkwMSCOsAD0oprkMe2ccRBHFmYaFFY9XLOScQBE-uEZz3YEI/s400/IMG_0545.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258259423523523506" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Mangroves</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5E2DAz7nGXFqSG9WoqJOXxox85n8Mx2INowhDHoRRBNX2_r_-PNiPIGfKy5CCImXPpnAozRxufBMdRBih68xy7d8d2NkaCVtgLXkOc_pQze3mb0kutWloNfYfKi6M0Khi-3Mg13Pr-qQ/s1600-h/IMG_0534.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5E2DAz7nGXFqSG9WoqJOXxox85n8Mx2INowhDHoRRBNX2_r_-PNiPIGfKy5CCImXPpnAozRxufBMdRBih68xy7d8d2NkaCVtgLXkOc_pQze3mb0kutWloNfYfKi6M0Khi-3Mg13Pr-qQ/s400/IMG_0534.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258260578933855730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Taking it Easy in Tolu</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1R5NAgYvNw_MGtI47lS7joS2qJ4Yx3GV-nToc02HbjIW_L7-HYChh1i6prygg4Y-E7xR0kZNBm0iEaCQN-HGZPb1QdD6bjgS503XOxORnI5wyMILN75dfw2NlR8ybkFPiC-sjc3jJkM/s1600-h/IMG_0404.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1R5NAgYvNw_MGtI47lS7joS2qJ4Yx3GV-nToc02HbjIW_L7-HYChh1i6prygg4Y-E7xR0kZNBm0iEaCQN-HGZPb1QdD6bjgS503XOxORnI5wyMILN75dfw2NlR8ybkFPiC-sjc3jJkM/s400/IMG_0404.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258263148051449138" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Crossing the Street in Santa Marta</span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRf_XvLdK2O4beTPON9-DVUM-hnV_kL8fLsbJAbuhFwM1r1pjZuJfG3_28vnDmlsUX5ao9Cs0wL1f8gryGjr5vn_pDMSaToe65NribqbaDQhkjeU-FVu7c5dnEteN5VdFjQ0apnFgx4Wk/s1600-h/IMG_0414.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRf_XvLdK2O4beTPON9-DVUM-hnV_kL8fLsbJAbuhFwM1r1pjZuJfG3_28vnDmlsUX5ao9Cs0wL1f8gryGjr5vn_pDMSaToe65NribqbaDQhkjeU-FVu7c5dnEteN5VdFjQ0apnFgx4Wk/s400/IMG_0414.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258258207246576258" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Carribbean Sunset </span></div>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-51641227817386600822008-04-29T05:44:00.000-07:002008-05-09T12:29:34.855-07:00Haute Route De Ben Nevis<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFubZUw-mZos88czayx1IWW1kOUFhchRT5ktle27wXLSTiBZUbUuRKbJbe7LFsebwXhoQWCK0teG0mPqkMjJEpFyuM4VYwzZfNya4i8Q0SZrXbzqWIP_ltb_zjPqfz4RGn8UoCliUJYE/s1600-h/DSCF4192.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFubZUw-mZos88czayx1IWW1kOUFhchRT5ktle27wXLSTiBZUbUuRKbJbe7LFsebwXhoQWCK0teG0mPqkMjJEpFyuM4VYwzZfNya4i8Q0SZrXbzqWIP_ltb_zjPqfz4RGn8UoCliUJYE/s400/DSCF4192.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194678111953078962" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>The Grey Corries</font></b><br /><br />It had to come to an end at some point and Tuesday proved to be a fitting climax. With mild westerlies predicted to set in on Wednesday, it looked like the last day to enjoy the awesome spring skiing conditions on the hills. Last week I’d wanted to take advantage of the ski-lifts on Aonach Mor to gain height initially before traversing the Aonachs and then the high ridge of Grey Corries. However, only the Gondola was running due to high winds and I couldn’t be bothered to skin up the piste, so instead I went and skied the two mountains just north of the A86 near Fersit, Beinn Teallach (917m) and Beinn Chaorainn (1049m), a very pleasant afternoon in the sun but kind of ducking the main challenge.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5b-EnunZexX2YMN8U-aoErhz-tzIY7NbVsaw-lGThY9Fy_lHdFLjaebJ-1oWsk4QQ43vb3XM5Mhjcip8hSnlSxHziV5rfkt6aTTlapitdI42Z02IOlPr9Eka6_N01BkUORY7ehGvszV0/s1600-h/DSCF4207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5b-EnunZexX2YMN8U-aoErhz-tzIY7NbVsaw-lGThY9Fy_lHdFLjaebJ-1oWsk4QQ43vb3XM5Mhjcip8hSnlSxHziV5rfkt6aTTlapitdI42Z02IOlPr9Eka6_N01BkUORY7ehGvszV0/s400/DSCF4207.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194648339239783058" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Nearing the top of the Ben</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayojgxnrjolfzjVkk3Ym0XzxQl_v85Co_kYJvY4EGbkngjdqA-6t68midBSyqjvA6RnEyVtRQNwExPiSFhk8NyprlZtq2lih8i7usHiVGUMyA9U-OPElnORbrV12O8P1p4-StdDNASl8/s1600-h/DSCF4213.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayojgxnrjolfzjVkk3Ym0XzxQl_v85Co_kYJvY4EGbkngjdqA-6t68midBSyqjvA6RnEyVtRQNwExPiSFhk8NyprlZtq2lih8i7usHiVGUMyA9U-OPElnORbrV12O8P1p4-StdDNASl8/s400/DSCF4213.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194654287769488034" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>On the summit on skis - strange</font></b><br /><br />So on Tuesday morning I found myself leaving the car park at Achintee at the ungodly hour of 3.45am about to set on the ‘Haute Route de Ben Nevis’. Rather than risk the capricious nature of the lifts at the ski centre I’d decided to extended the traverse, starting by ascending the Ben, down and then along the arête to the summit of Carn Mor Dearg, across to Aonach Beag before finishing along the high level ridge of the Grey Corries and the final slog down to the road. It looked like it was going to be a fairly long day of around 32kms and 3000m of ascent. Hence the early start.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVvOueUDDD7RANzhX25dd96fKOjT7r10U3yVnPBJzNxBy0e1YC2QMJ7ih0P1eKfYYhLvjo9DK3kmCVa-YcTtHz-dUcgFVadXaFE65frvpayDshjykKzCNN202U2KYr3PVXa8OpXEvTfo/s1600-h/DSCF4216.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVvOueUDDD7RANzhX25dd96fKOjT7r10U3yVnPBJzNxBy0e1YC2QMJ7ih0P1eKfYYhLvjo9DK3kmCVa-YcTtHz-dUcgFVadXaFE65frvpayDshjykKzCNN202U2KYr3PVXa8OpXEvTfo/s400/DSCF4216.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194951817333951250" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>The way ahead</font></b><br /><br />I’d never walked up the tourist track on the Ben before so didn’t have much of a clue how long the 1300m climb would take especially lugging skis and boots for most of it. It was actually pretty painless, well-graded track, head down, ipod on but no need for a headtorch in the pre-dawn light. I put skis on at about 800m and then skinned up the Red Burn and along the summit plateau with familiar cliffs of the mighty Nordwand dropping away to my left, before reaching the summit at about six thirty. The weather wasn’t as sparkling as previous days, a very strong wind (that was only to get worse) battered the summit shelter and although clear, the sky was a depressing shade of uniform grey, not a place to linger.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQq2dGglg8SSpgqGOCun12nzLSl-c9zZFTA6Kput6tdCVxRBn_-GEWEvzuRLxtz-MNwDNzwd0I0ZpCqSltZlzBBkcwT3dQYHU7zFq-8BaKq11w79LtU_HSaoGvfKV0-lu2ELoM-SRo-Q/s1600-h/DSCF4209.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQq2dGglg8SSpgqGOCun12nzLSl-c9zZFTA6Kput6tdCVxRBn_-GEWEvzuRLxtz-MNwDNzwd0I0ZpCqSltZlzBBkcwT3dQYHU7zFq-8BaKq11w79LtU_HSaoGvfKV0-lu2ELoM-SRo-Q/s400/DSCF4209.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194955236127918882" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Dawn over the Mamores</font></b><br /><br />A steep descent down to the head of Coire Leis on grippy, re-frozen snow augured well for the rest of the day, before I shouldered skis and scrambled along the airy knife edged arête to the summit of Carn Mor Dearg (1223m). The 450m descent from here to the col below Aonach Beag (1234m) was probably the best of the day, a small cornice drop and then a perfect steep bowl coated in delicious spring corn (a slightly worrying sign that temperature was already rapidly rising at 7am). It’s moments like that that make long climbs worth it. No one else around for miles, no evidence of other skiers and a wide expanse of whiteness to rip up. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6-MMfMa2_BXORDyGiHPJ0TEwcpuMEwQI1Zd-K5xosw_KscfMbyVglSOgqmU3HStlTlNV-5I5JYkCTid8TjBan12PQF3AA3PHaynHx5-SkSn1n0XqytjD4mSWbe1RKw8_Iq80lhdNgKo/s1600-h/DSCF4229.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6-MMfMa2_BXORDyGiHPJ0TEwcpuMEwQI1Zd-K5xosw_KscfMbyVglSOgqmU3HStlTlNV-5I5JYkCTid8TjBan12PQF3AA3PHaynHx5-SkSn1n0XqytjD4mSWbe1RKw8_Iq80lhdNgKo/s400/DSCF4229.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194679086910655170" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Looking back to the Ben and Carn Mor Dearg, descended bowl on right of peak just right of centre</font></b><br /><br /><br />I made a slightly poor decision on the ascent to Aonach Mor – Aonach Beag Col, starting the ascent a bit early and having to scramble along some exposed ledges in order to regain more secure ground, the rest of the climb was too steep for skins and I slogged up to the summit of Aonach Beag in the constant wind. At this point I had a decision to make, the wind was a concern (I’ve rarely been out in such a strong, constant wind, I guess around 35-40mph with no gusting). In the end I decided to press on, the ski down to the pass was another goody with a steep and narrow couloir off Stob Coire Bealach, I also passed a Spanish walker who’d bivvied on the ridge the night before, the only person I saw all day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_Q8vmJHPfSyn5wGOAtNbAKxZepiPMlkas2NagZ8nEovkm0bkCI-jjD6CBuVPOo4cv4o2jsfsXYy9H-6BdHnHxLFN-Nk6CYmipj4gDbSMl0IDUavglq8PRuWPPM_58qZLLwO6aAK9e7w/s1600-h/DSCF4235.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_Q8vmJHPfSyn5wGOAtNbAKxZepiPMlkas2NagZ8nEovkm0bkCI-jjD6CBuVPOo4cv4o2jsfsXYy9H-6BdHnHxLFN-Nk6CYmipj4gDbSMl0IDUavglq8PRuWPPM_58qZLLwO6aAK9e7w/s400/DSCF4235.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194683901568994018" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>The low point of the traverse</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9La7hUR1DMcMegqu6GvmWlO_UjZu4QraRbXZHUCiNOhKUXmO8ZVc_5liQm-eZCcyqKzRojUEdLk7WbIesoLMVvfb5QmpYVE9X5WIeO1XBkBdtDLSynLudobUV9q2waM2bdJrSz4gVSI/s1600-h/DSCF4248.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9La7hUR1DMcMegqu6GvmWlO_UjZu4QraRbXZHUCiNOhKUXmO8ZVc_5liQm-eZCcyqKzRojUEdLk7WbIesoLMVvfb5QmpYVE9X5WIeO1XBkBdtDLSynLudobUV9q2waM2bdJrSz4gVSI/s400/DSCF4248.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194682857891941074" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Looking back along the ridge, the Ben is the big one in the background</font></b><br /><br />The col at 750m was the lowest point of the day and I had to take off my skis to walk a few hundred metres to begin the climb to Sgurr Choinnich Beag (963m)and then up to Sgurr Choinnich Mor (1094m). There was a fairly decent descent off this Munro to Bealach Coire Easain where the Grey Corries proper started. From here the ridge never drops below about 950m so I kept skins on throughout as none of the ski descents are massive and the terrain fairly undulating. I was still making good progress despite being pummelled by the brutal wind and by the time I reached the final Munro of Stob Coire Claurigh (1077m) the sun had even come out. From here a big bowl of snow led steeply and invitingly downwards into Coire na Ceannain and the Lairig Leacach. The snow at the top was excellent but towards the bottom it had turned very heavy despite being north facing and was hard going with heavy legs. It eventually ran out at about 600m and I shouldered skis for the last bit of the descent. When I reached the path I still had a good 5kms down to the road but the it was a good landrover track and Coirriechoille farm soon appeared.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJM8LyH8Q_FoQgdWR6aRZKmBOXaCZHZpvhc_LlGnSmZpaWnq_VtmZCPDIgEaasfoCNfobntjjhan4EUe1ywofby4bIu85CL9ReOeCkVir7_t0DwTC5RWJ1Tj4kVtYePihvuYRI6r4Akk/s1600-h/DSCF4263.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJM8LyH8Q_FoQgdWR6aRZKmBOXaCZHZpvhc_LlGnSmZpaWnq_VtmZCPDIgEaasfoCNfobntjjhan4EUe1ywofby4bIu85CL9ReOeCkVir7_t0DwTC5RWJ1Tj4kVtYePihvuYRI6r4Akk/s400/DSCF4263.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195032876251728706" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Nearly there</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXO3raHHZZ6sY4n9AewNrgOCKpafnT1GNcypFMSXvNE2BGCErIvHMZb2vjA9VLbu0hyphenhyphenORvJ50y1GWGdQnWAdVq1gayMDBPl8XOiRzUpBx1HOG_et3rb9PzIenDdbncxcZsTxQ82oqx168/s1600-h/DSCF4274.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXO3raHHZZ6sY4n9AewNrgOCKpafnT1GNcypFMSXvNE2BGCErIvHMZb2vjA9VLbu0hyphenhyphenORvJ50y1GWGdQnWAdVq1gayMDBPl8XOiRzUpBx1HOG_et3rb9PzIenDdbncxcZsTxQ82oqx168/s400/DSCF4274.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194947097164892914" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Looking back at the final descent</font></b><br /><br />The plan was for Gaz to maybe pick me up here so I could collect my car round at Achintee. I’d been much quicker than I expected, only taking about 12hrs for the whole trip and he’d gone up to Tunnel Wall for the afternoon so wouldn’t be able to pick me up for a while. So I dumped my bag in the woods and ambled the three miles down to Spean Bridge to try and get the bus back to the Fort. Unfortunately I’d realised I’d left my car keys in my bag when I got to Spean Bridge and I couldn’t be bothered with the six mile round trip to get them so I sampled the delights of Little Chef and then the Commando Inn for 4 hours until Gaz could pick me up and I could start the trip back to Edinburgh.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVH6BGtn4VLAQKUkONGYX-bI_CefTIeCXoRI7ou89HV_fbqScjlukskhwZcB1fnfKXL2jG2_gsyvy1ZQqaDPMCz55c3aNAtOTO5S2CzY9BGOeAk0T5wcceNSdatWOVWHI-iKnYPLXsQw/s1600-h/DSCF4276.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivVH6BGtn4VLAQKUkONGYX-bI_CefTIeCXoRI7ou89HV_fbqScjlukskhwZcB1fnfKXL2jG2_gsyvy1ZQqaDPMCz55c3aNAtOTO5S2CzY9BGOeAk0T5wcceNSdatWOVWHI-iKnYPLXsQw/s400/DSCF4276.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195031845459577650" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>The walk out</font></b><br /><br />A great way to end the winter, starting at the highest point in the country and then traversing some magnificent and remote mountain scenery with the added bonus of a few excellent descents. Let’s hope that summer 2008 lasts as long as winter did.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdajzXtv2lewi5cDsmDan2jEXlAT8lPU7viidKBRRZnDCUCZszYbno1uATucSMeWYxeGJV7mG_jI92Tm8ryLg9NYPDAaCpKckJP2VhNvzylqwBJ7dYXczMI4Ghks9ow-XgKT3QzbOids/s1600-h/DSCF4189.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdajzXtv2lewi5cDsmDan2jEXlAT8lPU7viidKBRRZnDCUCZszYbno1uATucSMeWYxeGJV7mG_jI92Tm8ryLg9NYPDAaCpKckJP2VhNvzylqwBJ7dYXczMI4Ghks9ow-XgKT3QzbOids/s400/DSCF4189.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195034216281525074" /></a><br /><br />I've also stuck on a few photos of the tour of Beinn Teallach (915m) and Beinn a'Chaorainn (1049m) that I did the week before.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXgVOyaxw9ybojcN53OHanGjPF42wTjhSE4wnxvVAxBiDmZGFlTGqetLPUjZJdMN16zN378ZcQJQzkczA6jv5OOMe9mxuTyHvqHER2sxG-sSmf98yea5xQ0DfpWS8HoHHS9B1o9kCeEE/s1600-h/DSCF4098.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXgVOyaxw9ybojcN53OHanGjPF42wTjhSE4wnxvVAxBiDmZGFlTGqetLPUjZJdMN16zN378ZcQJQzkczA6jv5OOMe9mxuTyHvqHER2sxG-sSmf98yea5xQ0DfpWS8HoHHS9B1o9kCeEE/s400/DSCF4098.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195182452782779394" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>The Aonachs</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hXl0KdXxcdKK897xRFlgISn2rGZhJzdLX9FOQV9cEJ8WiLUnmAm0QbFerRoZgQVqj8O32PiiwKc17uvYOhIeBrS0wLTwZvgSiF2CApLTPZCnF1Q3e1_de6cFK1VoaKNPbM80eWb3d8w/s1600-h/DSCF4107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hXl0KdXxcdKK897xRFlgISn2rGZhJzdLX9FOQV9cEJ8WiLUnmAm0QbFerRoZgQVqj8O32PiiwKc17uvYOhIeBrS0wLTwZvgSiF2CApLTPZCnF1Q3e1_de6cFK1VoaKNPbM80eWb3d8w/s400/DSCF4107.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195172162041138050" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Taking my skis for a walk</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XCh3USyRnQOis33dJ_qR7_NhoX5M_mk3IyN4gK06Wx115qhFzfYBw1AjcCfP2NSADJ0Kb9QOrRoUsTZIHlkSFa3J_5qD-O-gagsbZpJQakG_-16yWR7Touc0nSjxzb_YskFOCSzGtXk/s1600-h/DSCF4121.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XCh3USyRnQOis33dJ_qR7_NhoX5M_mk3IyN4gK06Wx115qhFzfYBw1AjcCfP2NSADJ0Kb9QOrRoUsTZIHlkSFa3J_5qD-O-gagsbZpJQakG_-16yWR7Touc0nSjxzb_YskFOCSzGtXk/s400/DSCF4121.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195171204263431026" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Summit of Beinn Teallach</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UExawTmS-5WW6pD-BgOGW9c2pKOc-oJOcrvzbd8L4TChSLMG17kEO8aS5xNQEe9dhyphenhyphenihIXtje5A1ftaJv_6FmPAnqYn71e-5O5YNFe5rd1FTZnVy6PcVJA0NevsEu4Pg00u1HCHqq_0/s1600-h/DSCF4140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UExawTmS-5WW6pD-BgOGW9c2pKOc-oJOcrvzbd8L4TChSLMG17kEO8aS5xNQEe9dhyphenhyphenihIXtje5A1ftaJv_6FmPAnqYn71e-5O5YNFe5rd1FTZnVy6PcVJA0NevsEu4Pg00u1HCHqq_0/s400/DSCF4140.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195173450531326866" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Creag Meagaidh looking snowy</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQtjua1ZXpolTnUe96wLZZB3WFBS7__YRhRvJ01II9bWwmQzMq5EkntA1Lyvb8FMjEkvW9cDir-14iPkVp6HO4K0u2G90zbTskj6phtxXVT_3lJM_eNxNbyTWJ3MaidI20jlltvNGtks/s1600-h/DSCF4146.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQtjua1ZXpolTnUe96wLZZB3WFBS7__YRhRvJ01II9bWwmQzMq5EkntA1Lyvb8FMjEkvW9cDir-14iPkVp6HO4K0u2G90zbTskj6phtxXVT_3lJM_eNxNbyTWJ3MaidI20jlltvNGtks/s400/DSCF4146.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195179772723186642" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Pick a hill, any hill</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMa0wJIknvqj_Io317b4c9F6YpP8G3M5b13dritkmOd3aF2JehOVIiE_mfyd35DJjps1ADoLGzcv4PaMEZqVtGoUoO6L81buc2sD4Epk7QgiERv2-R_PBLHQ_GPYH13p4Fb4WPcP6VTV0/s1600-h/DSCF4149.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMa0wJIknvqj_Io317b4c9F6YpP8G3M5b13dritkmOd3aF2JehOVIiE_mfyd35DJjps1ADoLGzcv4PaMEZqVtGoUoO6L81buc2sD4Epk7QgiERv2-R_PBLHQ_GPYH13p4Fb4WPcP6VTV0/s400/DSCF4149.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195180601651874786" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Looking North</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUgLo1UwmWOHVgwixiUUzupV3y7c5AHmmaWG1QcZQyyhI3UpRLehPuaypsmHD75tUqskIbguiljGbFL8WiFlYoGztadJWImFfB475A0YJxdFyvpzGzuI6bVP6gdlI5rdPIwXh5Hr6XtM/s1600-h/DSCF4150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUgLo1UwmWOHVgwixiUUzupV3y7c5AHmmaWG1QcZQyyhI3UpRLehPuaypsmHD75tUqskIbguiljGbFL8WiFlYoGztadJWImFfB475A0YJxdFyvpzGzuI6bVP6gdlI5rdPIwXh5Hr6XtM/s400/DSCF4150.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195181490710105074" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Top of Beinn a'Chaorainn</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEf-ZbfLhCu22S-aab_2mqum_pZoN_herfhAF-Z_0KSTOyAO3QeQDzfTe3aeTgGDyklJhs12e9WOHPAjUFd93GhsXyQOhQK9HkVyEhtQ9NYiMMysNKZmdHyQwzL5_NR5S_ifl9JWSXI8/s1600-h/DSCF4161.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEf-ZbfLhCu22S-aab_2mqum_pZoN_herfhAF-Z_0KSTOyAO3QeQDzfTe3aeTgGDyklJhs12e9WOHPAjUFd93GhsXyQOhQK9HkVyEhtQ9NYiMMysNKZmdHyQwzL5_NR5S_ifl9JWSXI8/s400/DSCF4161.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195178119160777666" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw25k2X5bsqKq49K26ErVlFX7fQDgwoQ8Q003IP3hTEhYpKoYQ0_Ni7f9PLVCaIuyfTOs8oxVk4ITAy5zQliHIfpPoFXSJN-hjPhbN1xVkVQWll_qLqjnxyjJcRiNJptMjIniB3v5kPYg/s1600-h/DSCF4172.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw25k2X5bsqKq49K26ErVlFX7fQDgwoQ8Q003IP3hTEhYpKoYQ0_Ni7f9PLVCaIuyfTOs8oxVk4ITAy5zQliHIfpPoFXSJN-hjPhbN1xVkVQWll_qLqjnxyjJcRiNJptMjIniB3v5kPYg/s400/DSCF4172.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195177827103001522" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>On the way out, descent in the background </font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnRN_iXtVxxUxPhPH1BmuohKfUWKxkhYIfm9Q83yUMoytqJkJV2B-cMqSacHiKS7IyzCJAUq1qlRoNYWLHMqG2eTVfocgQ8xVw1jrGDGTfOS-kfMHBBljB9-hqx1IlOIf-brHcyJ9Ltc/s1600-h/DSCF4186.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnRN_iXtVxxUxPhPH1BmuohKfUWKxkhYIfm9Q83yUMoytqJkJV2B-cMqSacHiKS7IyzCJAUq1qlRoNYWLHMqG2eTVfocgQ8xVw1jrGDGTfOS-kfMHBBljB9-hqx1IlOIf-brHcyJ9Ltc/s400/DSCF4186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195177071188757410" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Alaska?</font></b>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-10656136177948034162008-04-14T06:20:00.000-07:002008-04-14T14:35:30.960-07:00A Lucky Escape...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3PN1uow3cx_8t4eRAFmchT53QNcZtSFfhT8XfNDtZqWx_cRlbyMFoJUL71R56I4MMULqYE5g1iU_ZF8ftj_XUC_jMI8-J6XDvJkkb7v5APDRMavC_IqdYRdqKqItrpFdWgj4JQW8jjw/s1600-h/DSCF4053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3PN1uow3cx_8t4eRAFmchT53QNcZtSFfhT8XfNDtZqWx_cRlbyMFoJUL71R56I4MMULqYE5g1iU_ZF8ftj_XUC_jMI8-J6XDvJkkb7v5APDRMavC_IqdYRdqKqItrpFdWgj4JQW8jjw/s400/DSCF4053.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189216617527203218" /></a><br /><br />I've been a bit slack updating recently, been up to quite alot a really enjoying this late season Highland snow bonanza, I'll stick a load of photos up in the next couple of days. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBIT3zgbHZpGJbDF5PyU_7hLuXrfFMnTyn2UHCpUVXjd2GIS054m40MnmdX6S_QEPvU0E5IbU95jY7czy78JQ4qUx8ljdPVQ0T7dDjc-VsqHQrelw5YPV6RizRBWF12PU5mNmXGK5JAo/s1600-h/DSCF4059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBIT3zgbHZpGJbDF5PyU_7hLuXrfFMnTyn2UHCpUVXjd2GIS054m40MnmdX6S_QEPvU0E5IbU95jY7czy78JQ4qUx8ljdPVQ0T7dDjc-VsqHQrelw5YPV6RizRBWF12PU5mNmXGK5JAo/s400/DSCF4059.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189142692550104354" /></a><br /><br />Anyway, yesterday Duncan, Viv and I went for a ski tour round Creag Meagaidh in the Central Highlands. At the moment there is absolutely tons on snow everywhere in the Highlands, pretty much complete cover above 700m with the Cairngorms absolutely plastered (most snow at this time of year for 15 years apparently).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVh1xyZgCbwm02rMt2MZmE4P7bYfKGoTYhQRpm_ilqCPxV477fm6HSlmWpjL8ObGwMXNDoxh2ZvQpMKV37arRchXaaTXZIE2K5jhSv_CHJDt2C8Jmlv5bFK3kTHN_1yb-V1d307UYoco/s1600-h/DSCF4075.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVh1xyZgCbwm02rMt2MZmE4P7bYfKGoTYhQRpm_ilqCPxV477fm6HSlmWpjL8ObGwMXNDoxh2ZvQpMKV37arRchXaaTXZIE2K5jhSv_CHJDt2C8Jmlv5bFK3kTHN_1yb-V1d307UYoco/s400/DSCF4075.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189164261875864882" /></a><br /> <br />We had to walk about 40mins or so from car before sticking skis on for the first Munro on the circuit Carn Liath. The snow was absolutely perfect, soft and grippy, more reminiscent of midwinter than mid April. At this point the weather began to change from the glorious sunshine of the early morning, the clouds came in, the light flattened and we made steady progress following the fence posts along the ridge tops with occasional views to the massive cliffs of Coire Adair.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwhYhMDYhJPgQCGiPi4VyDRNFaDoFc173rNntEn64EUw-0_zx4AETuP2QdYS5Dm5_Up2U4Ulbm_YxSJ44m442RZUdWRhPJJWHSu36UzSAfXW2nlCCNfxsGpHz-v3p4TR6io5AIvGbU94/s1600-h/DSCF4063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwhYhMDYhJPgQCGiPi4VyDRNFaDoFc173rNntEn64EUw-0_zx4AETuP2QdYS5Dm5_Up2U4Ulbm_YxSJ44m442RZUdWRhPJJWHSu36UzSAfXW2nlCCNfxsGpHz-v3p4TR6io5AIvGbU94/s400/DSCF4063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189170304894850434" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlEfKrWGnMJ7RKTpTTqT73MID1UNpfIXwzX-KYaq9dh4JsqEfAkXapLQCjbvz5SjCete4lqHQJ3S3KJwYyl5Y-PaJeI8VqKymrUuv_nzXBUBbc8fRiwoWQ6ELLizd3C0qmSAId0_gtGo/s1600-h/DSCF4072.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlEfKrWGnMJ7RKTpTTqT73MID1UNpfIXwzX-KYaq9dh4JsqEfAkXapLQCjbvz5SjCete4lqHQJ3S3KJwYyl5Y-PaJeI8VqKymrUuv_nzXBUBbc8fRiwoWQ6ELLizd3C0qmSAId0_gtGo/s400/DSCF4072.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189169596225246578" /></a><br /><br />As we descended down to the Window (the lowest point of the ridge) the weather began to clear. Earlier on in the morning we'd seen a steeper descent off the ridge that I was keen to ski. As we peered over the heavily corniced edge it was clear that the slope I was after was a few hundred metres further back, I told the others that I was going for a look and skinned back up, leaving them to descend to the Window. There was no obvious way over the heavily corniced rim as I backtracked, keeping a few metres back from the edge(for those of you who don't know, a cornice is an overhanging lip of snow formed by drifting and blown snow). Having been carefully avoiding the edge, I went closer to what seemed like a less overhanging section. Then, deciding against dropping down I was just about to go back and join the others when I began to fall. The whole cornice broke away about 6 feet from the edge, just where I was standing and took me with it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gLwZYOHXiSiREJ2tRG5IodnK6C1Io7T4zhvwvHM_64p1x27ppSSdUiKOAhAV0ye11-BGMriaWxmMaBe81hyphenhyphenQn4tlo6s0346Wwp-8v_f-AXLOyY5Y3KOy4nmnHdV4j_sr-bNyVWbeKlI/s1600-h/DSCF4079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gLwZYOHXiSiREJ2tRG5IodnK6C1Io7T4zhvwvHM_64p1x27ppSSdUiKOAhAV0ye11-BGMriaWxmMaBe81hyphenhyphenQn4tlo6s0346Wwp-8v_f-AXLOyY5Y3KOy4nmnHdV4j_sr-bNyVWbeKlI/s400/DSCF4079.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189166834561275218" /></a><br /><br />I saw the crack appear as I began to silde down, surfing on top of the large blocks of snow and ice, falling for about 30-40 feet until I suddenly came to halt, wedged amongst the blocks. Below me there was an ominous rumbling as the avalanche continued on for another 500m towards the coire floor. After a brief moment I realised I wasn't hurt but was missing a ski that had probably been buried under tons of snow. It was soon clear there was no way back over the 10 foot cornice above and I gingerly made my way down to valley bottom along a rock rib.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGyBn7gQOWFjlQgHnxItBPrpRmTjZVKGa_-B56UbYxmpjZNrKVMWlVctuvgieIok_KmJsxs6wFD0vRsiowDvtn9s0voJzd7TNdCksGARIXaMK7jYFsEgeY-Asxo5J-ALvhNyRhToJac4/s1600-h/DSCF4086.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGyBn7gQOWFjlQgHnxItBPrpRmTjZVKGa_-B56UbYxmpjZNrKVMWlVctuvgieIok_KmJsxs6wFD0vRsiowDvtn9s0voJzd7TNdCksGARIXaMK7jYFsEgeY-Asxo5J-ALvhNyRhToJac4/s400/DSCF4086.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189133655938913538" /></a><br /><br />As I sat pretty shaken at at the bottom, just below the debris from the avalanche run out, I began to go over what had gone on. Clearly what looked like a vertical cornice was heavily undercut and thus prone to collapse. As I looked up at the path of the subsequent avalanche I really shuddered. If I hadn't fortuitously come to halt so soon I would have been funnelled down the gully with it. At best, had I been spat out I, I think the large blocks of heavy, wet snow would have broken bones, at worst I would've been buried under tons of wet snow with the consistency of concrete. Considering the others were over a km away and we didn't meet up again for around an hour, this would have certainly resulted in me dying. Although a cornice could have collapsed on anyone I was definitely too close in retrospect, but the really stupid mistake was impetuously venturing off by myself, leaving little hope of speedy rescue if something went wrong. Lessons learned.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oEYqvAygwfE"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oEYqvAygwfE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br /><br />Eventually the others came down to me, extolling the quality of the snow on the descent down to the Window (so good they did it twice) and then on the ski down to me. I'll have to make the trip back up when the snows have melted to try and find my lost ski, at this rate that won't be until June as the quantity of snow on the mountains is breathtaking. Out to enjoy it again tomorrow.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCR7DB_C0rL9lKMYjnMFAQbxn4etdnSNYDv3fJltjg6rKmQCui4QPdfNZbh91-VDAFsZL7xrMM80mYl-ahev5TL-VJWUQLF6JZIrwQLEnOAQa7D_nRcP_TcKOUwsFU6FKVgRK2ZGrCic/s1600-h/DSCF4092.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCR7DB_C0rL9lKMYjnMFAQbxn4etdnSNYDv3fJltjg6rKmQCui4QPdfNZbh91-VDAFsZL7xrMM80mYl-ahev5TL-VJWUQLF6JZIrwQLEnOAQa7D_nRcP_TcKOUwsFU6FKVgRK2ZGrCic/s400/DSCF4092.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189166413654480194" /></a><br /><br />On a slighly happier (ish) note, I went and saw Portishead in Edinburgh on Saturday night, absolutely amazing, Beth Gibbons has an extraordinary voice; at one moment quiet and melancholy and then suddenly a raw, powerful scream. Lots of old classics: mysterons, wandering star, numb, glory box, cowboys. Lots of stuff off the new album, the only track I knew was machine gun which I really rate and of course the spine tingingly unsurpassable roads as an encore.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAHRFFpLcN2XpUeRJ5fxhSEuRQBcAR_HBvyCrlVlk0aPRMCYeqzDSuOElGuwnAvB45UZNirKG2mZqUTiDcKq_13xsuZsa1ULjo6YIg3Ay9sb0KlfWoZQP8iVcKcYPEiVhKDxCSFOFLFE/s1600-h/DSCF4052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsAHRFFpLcN2XpUeRJ5fxhSEuRQBcAR_HBvyCrlVlk0aPRMCYeqzDSuOElGuwnAvB45UZNirKG2mZqUTiDcKq_13xsuZsa1ULjo6YIg3Ay9sb0KlfWoZQP8iVcKcYPEiVhKDxCSFOFLFE/s400/DSCF4052.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189167762274211170" /></a>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-8698385849345799732008-03-20T06:41:00.000-07:002008-03-25T09:55:35.262-07:00Cumming (Cr)ofton<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuAQVYA8AZEM_fXlOExc1jx0eRCAAwfRno6OhVuhL6DfJRcLLqaS_FqAwTM1Y_5WVovITnuycOEHyNfdLjnnYyw7eD8oz__MkP1fpuXnsxpb7Kd18YYlo2kzNTtPpOd2mMEXFFcmagZI/s1600-h/DSCF3837.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuAQVYA8AZEM_fXlOExc1jx0eRCAAwfRno6OhVuhL6DfJRcLLqaS_FqAwTM1Y_5WVovITnuycOEHyNfdLjnnYyw7eD8oz__MkP1fpuXnsxpb7Kd18YYlo2kzNTtPpOd2mMEXFFcmagZI/s400/DSCF3837.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179852026760792658" /></a><br />Last Monday Duncan and I undertook the epicly long walk in the mighty Garbh Coire of Beinn a'Bhuird aka 'The most remote coire in the Highlands™'. It was quite a long way, 30kms round trip. Typically as we started on Monday evening it started to snow and continued for the all the two and half hours it took us to reach our camping spot. Putting up your tent in a blizzard is never that much fun, especially when you stuff the inner right at the bottom of your pack.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9j48kbCwAj2rzULJjPufBH4XaatmzIowGkLw0Kif12V_C5UAPeQ16lEuxxa40s_NWPNy79AyLE9vJyBalvjFQysr4jALihOItJDB13UMizFaQh_JaB0PxhlevPTD5aFgvtCFxKdzYyUs/s1600-h/DSCF3811.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9j48kbCwAj2rzULJjPufBH4XaatmzIowGkLw0Kif12V_C5UAPeQ16lEuxxa40s_NWPNy79AyLE9vJyBalvjFQysr4jALihOItJDB13UMizFaQh_JaB0PxhlevPTD5aFgvtCFxKdzYyUs/s400/DSCF3811.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179850149860084290" /></a><br /><br />A quick call to our weatherman at the 'crucible of pysche' (Banff Crescent) revealed an 80% chance of cloud free munros and light winds for the following day. Clearly Geoff has got a sense of humour as when we woke up the next morning it was still snowing and as we tramped up to the Sneck (the col that gives access to the coire) the bitter north wind freshened considerably, blowing lots of loose snow into our faces and providing a free exfoliation.<br />The two routes we had in mind were the uber 4* classics of Mitre Ridge (V,6) or the slightly harder Cumming Crofton (VI,6). We settled on the latter, a soaring corner line that dissapeared up into the mist and according to the guidebook 'a superb, sustained and technically hard winter route, a highly prized ascent, ' rock on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHMZNOaPe2BE6BabD2pnmUtETjjzIj8QZZ64KLBAXxfT-CXop2daaT8Wq6xF17zNVUpjOhAi3nmdalIVeCfho03SfmkHLRvWI9nhXuqARIzkS7x0WH2WMWAwOP3tdU_6nqYq0C4HsSy0/s1600-h/DSCF3816.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHMZNOaPe2BE6BabD2pnmUtETjjzIj8QZZ64KLBAXxfT-CXop2daaT8Wq6xF17zNVUpjOhAi3nmdalIVeCfho03SfmkHLRvWI9nhXuqARIzkS7x0WH2WMWAwOP3tdU_6nqYq0C4HsSy0/s400/DSCF3816.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179853869301762690" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvBVN3Ex6pbZznf5Nbc6P4WWfICmuRMJ3ptFGevSMycltNPrbf_Ov2SDponyh5Vn37fee1FZXI12RW2QQ1dyrz3WuvwRly-6t2Wrye0qJ8hdU5AFz8VLvUMZWYX2CytxrXOGqlhQl_8k/s1600-h/DSCF3817.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvBVN3Ex6pbZznf5Nbc6P4WWfICmuRMJ3ptFGevSMycltNPrbf_Ov2SDponyh5Vn37fee1FZXI12RW2QQ1dyrz3WuvwRly-6t2Wrye0qJ8hdU5AFz8VLvUMZWYX2CytxrXOGqlhQl_8k/s400/DSCF3817.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179853169222093426" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrZG9lxSjWMksAaQqEBRH6OySZtM-ygSZN8K03kLYknyBNYn959rHxQlQ96EwndqBZJghi6B4Sr-Z8nH0YbY6DDGeMlvU8foOCUR-OnKuFYTXRaEF3K9I9257DJFmtds29hawVtGHUU0/s1600-h/DSCF3823.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrZG9lxSjWMksAaQqEBRH6OySZtM-ygSZN8K03kLYknyBNYn959rHxQlQ96EwndqBZJghi6B4Sr-Z8nH0YbY6DDGeMlvU8foOCUR-OnKuFYTXRaEF3K9I9257DJFmtds29hawVtGHUU0/s400/DSCF3823.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179864095618894482" /></a><br /><br />The first pitch (the picture in the new cairngorms guide) was the crux, involving some hard moves past a jammed flake that took me while to figure out. Duncan then did a short pitch back into the main corner line, he also managed to drop the large wires which made the rest of the route a little bolder. The next pitch was the best I've climbed all winter, sustained bridging up a steep corner line with just enough gear and slightly worrying rippy neve, absolutely stellar stuff. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kdK0958H7jpX7uJPIkSGKcxHqrU7HlKZzAL2v2uYKc2sRbu6YNug4C__GTH4dWi8D8b4lPJD2ZbR7E9-QPGQ2JX20cuDyByK0G43docusNLgkFkdzQDeF56KLZ3HuC0xlSvhttk3d54/s1600-h/DSCF3829.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kdK0958H7jpX7uJPIkSGKcxHqrU7HlKZzAL2v2uYKc2sRbu6YNug4C__GTH4dWi8D8b4lPJD2ZbR7E9-QPGQ2JX20cuDyByK0G43docusNLgkFkdzQDeF56KLZ3HuC0xlSvhttk3d54/s400/DSCF3829.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179852555041770082" /></a><br /><br />We then reached a col at the bottom of the top half of Mitre Ridge, which we followed to the top. The weather throughout had been vile, with spindraft billowing up and down the crag that continually lacerated the eyes. Then, just as we topped out the clouds parted and the sun came out, revealing the Southern Cairngorms in all their glory. It made the 4 hour walk back to car slightly more pleasnt (definitely take bikes if you go there).<br />All in all a fantastic place to climb, wild (saw nobody for two days), remote and majestic.<br /><br />Went to North Wales at the weekend for Susie's birthday which was fun and debauched, but managed to squeeze a routr in at Gogarth and also got scared witless on a VS at Tremadog.<br />Endured the purgatory that is travelling on a Virgin West Coast train on Easter Sunday and eventually made it to Dalwhinnie at 1230 am where I slept in the car in blizzard. Up at sparrows fart for a route on the Ben with Gaz, climbed Minus 2 Gully (V,5) in a bitter North wind, great climbing and very cold. Off to Beinn Bhan in a hour or so with Tony and Kiwi Steve.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdAfTYIeowlo7OAcYG2vPW5FjOrto6ZxCIsqUOxDa96KsB91FDKoZ-998uqJ9zYuwk09rGJpNUuO2jrYhEbqLmDtWoY8Rbw6eqS4cg8DH7kX6Yuu8oEjcCxxK9AlTEwg3nkI06I40_Ko/s1600-h/DSCF2389.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdAfTYIeowlo7OAcYG2vPW5FjOrto6ZxCIsqUOxDa96KsB91FDKoZ-998uqJ9zYuwk09rGJpNUuO2jrYhEbqLmDtWoY8Rbw6eqS4cg8DH7kX6Yuu8oEjcCxxK9AlTEwg3nkI06I40_Ko/s400/DSCF2389.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181723352601594530" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UCdQ5JMGofgo_NRmECMX33dxR8rN5UXBC_rEDjqGyhbAoUH7s8gNi0KChWnPLKkcAeTm0UYQGISqyoyWWvlZBlaS-BLj7eVxCx2SN051u2QQRrPagKm3lGq0mS6CN0w3vwwXPH71HU0/s1600-h/DSCF2374.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UCdQ5JMGofgo_NRmECMX33dxR8rN5UXBC_rEDjqGyhbAoUH7s8gNi0KChWnPLKkcAeTm0UYQGISqyoyWWvlZBlaS-BLj7eVxCx2SN051u2QQRrPagKm3lGq0mS6CN0w3vwwXPH71HU0/s400/DSCF2374.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181723807868127922" /></a><br /><br />Photos courtesy G.Marshallsam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-54372121461207294482008-03-05T07:53:00.000-08:002008-03-28T11:26:59.589-07:00Better Than The Alps (Possibly)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsvpA8O_KFNWBmqmgKTgN5R6isr2_7udJrsDl3nxlQTCdDkDBCOv3D3hNF5DUxSRnIKkmzc-N8PPNoGLo-F9OuqtDrf8bDr25BRKsOOEuaBEhpGHdVEK4OsxTY67OfNLYltfFYViN3rY/s1600-h/DSCF3764.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsvpA8O_KFNWBmqmgKTgN5R6isr2_7udJrsDl3nxlQTCdDkDBCOv3D3hNF5DUxSRnIKkmzc-N8PPNoGLo-F9OuqtDrf8bDr25BRKsOOEuaBEhpGHdVEK4OsxTY67OfNLYltfFYViN3rY/s400/DSCF3764.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174296422303389154" /></a><br /><br />Had a cracking day at Glencoe yesterday, sun, blue skies, no wind, light powder, fresh tracks, no crowds and views to the ends of the earth, I reckon the photos and videos speak for themselves... <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuG0ZtEQkjK9CT-lD69Rs1-RQoz0XbliLVcvZcilHeFp_eAK9WWFZGtfkU4mrJ0UVaxMihkkY06SZjAuzEyakAbtkai1x_axoJKU1IVLarXZfe5gNUuY4YsJZB25XyzLgl28tIa2d3QE/s1600-h/DSCF3730.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuG0ZtEQkjK9CT-lD69Rs1-RQoz0XbliLVcvZcilHeFp_eAK9WWFZGtfkU4mrJ0UVaxMihkkY06SZjAuzEyakAbtkai1x_axoJKU1IVLarXZfe5gNUuY4YsJZB25XyzLgl28tIa2d3QE/s400/DSCF3730.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174293750833731010" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Freshies</font></b><br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_EjKtoVXkdc"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_EjKtoVXkdc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br /><b><font color=red>De La Soul</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnicwluJfW-ihJMRg5oGpIQ4b4Ps38u4ewbILYXxrR08Stm2bO3g_8Tvvo5ZhIBx-Y3x_rr5JxoZS6S-e2s2SGo379iBQ-a3KNGnhe7fcsMtDxp7BrFKdAH3JLjgi7mM9yKJpPV1psYg/s1600-h/DSCF3754.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnicwluJfW-ihJMRg5oGpIQ4b4Ps38u4ewbILYXxrR08Stm2bO3g_8Tvvo5ZhIBx-Y3x_rr5JxoZS6S-e2s2SGo379iBQ-a3KNGnhe7fcsMtDxp7BrFKdAH3JLjgi7mM9yKJpPV1psYg/s400/DSCF3754.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174298161765144050" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Tom, Helena and Rannoch Moor</font></b><br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z05fq8mA8PE"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z05fq8mA8PE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br /><b><font color=red>Ripping it up (kind of...)</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdat2dwBLV8X07Bd4GzoLwnAjTDI4KZj-KbrWNDO-UPKNy32nU5GS8-kUymie9Uf3qDwlxv5jmyT46lMJu36JRtPzCu06h-RglpzpjAjNiuIaXHRt-CR4f0el2U-IWDt0k3qSxXcJ804/s1600-h/DSCF3742.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdat2dwBLV8X07Bd4GzoLwnAjTDI4KZj-KbrWNDO-UPKNy32nU5GS8-kUymie9Uf3qDwlxv5jmyT46lMJu36JRtPzCu06h-RglpzpjAjNiuIaXHRt-CR4f0el2U-IWDt0k3qSxXcJ804/s400/DSCF3742.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174300751630423570" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>The Southern Highlands</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqy5zcOSZl3Q8cr0oNtL_o7JtPJ-rIb-aCr4OMdNJTimadaD_LlZ48ApEmwxscwV0c5MJCEcmMB3nIB9zR9eroGzPT1Gw2V2B4qzRT0oXMlNqDb2_ibi8YGiSDRU4a97ijIe1HC1WiEE/s1600-h/DSCF3745.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqy5zcOSZl3Q8cr0oNtL_o7JtPJ-rIb-aCr4OMdNJTimadaD_LlZ48ApEmwxscwV0c5MJCEcmMB3nIB9zR9eroGzPT1Gw2V2B4qzRT0oXMlNqDb2_ibi8YGiSDRU4a97ijIe1HC1WiEE/s400/DSCF3745.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174302302113617442" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>At the top</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-qKXvKoJ09pZ6obs1ryH3vqzhN1YVW_9qAxWjhNq724Gtv_hcGt-Hcj0hxDgkubyHPWwXL569Rzly1FeUSJPbXj8YEz1O9lQPS7OEVhBfWJ5Hdfn5XlYGPNUPQDolNU6Y19DU71ATkw/s1600-h/DSCF3766.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-qKXvKoJ09pZ6obs1ryH3vqzhN1YVW_9qAxWjhNq724Gtv_hcGt-Hcj0hxDgkubyHPWwXL569Rzly1FeUSJPbXj8YEz1O9lQPS7OEVhBfWJ5Hdfn5XlYGPNUPQDolNU6Y19DU71ATkw/s400/DSCF3766.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174299231212000770" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>On the way home</font></b>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-70413766175106756202008-02-22T08:53:00.000-08:002008-04-29T07:49:02.224-07:00Hoy and Dry<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLyyKrhAybrFQSo8hJb4YjN8CP6euLfGWoGXfjljGuGdQD8isn9zq4walMdffuxz-5XTl4MfCK6veChMawlHYAfDzBZ1KNFkcIwkYHRKt4rXK5-z3GJ_KuuMXB8TZNmG3AXWOMoretXA/s1600-h/DSCF3478.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLyyKrhAybrFQSo8hJb4YjN8CP6euLfGWoGXfjljGuGdQD8isn9zq4walMdffuxz-5XTl4MfCK6veChMawlHYAfDzBZ1KNFkcIwkYHRKt4rXK5-z3GJ_KuuMXB8TZNmG3AXWOMoretXA/s400/DSCF3478.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169859600564826082" /></a><br /><br />Last week Gaz, Konnie, Duncan, Becky and I went to climb the Old Man of Hoy, a sea stack off the coast of Hoy in the Orkneys and at 137m, the highest one in Europe. It was quite an adventure, involving a five and half drive north from Edinburgh to Thurso, a ferry to Stromness on the main island of Orkney, a night dossing in a boatyard by the harbour and then another ferry across to Hoy, a proper holiday in minature. The weather was spankingly good on the day we climbed, warm and still and it was definitely a cool thing to have done it in mid-winter. The Original Route on the stack goes at E1 5b, I ended up getting a rather rude awakening having to lead the crux, an overhanging sandy groove thing after Gaz (fresh from his V7 send) backed off. Everyone else said it was dirty but I quite enjoyed it, but then again it was my style of climbing. The rock on the Old Man is actually pretty crappy, but the situation magnificent, especially the last pitch, a 20m corner crack with big holds and exposure. at the top the crack splits the stack in two and you can see right through. The abseils down are pretty scary, especially the last one that's completely free hanging. The sunset was beautiful with sea mist milling around the bottom of the Old Man as we made our way back to the bothy in Rackwick Bay. A top day out.<br />Then on sunday I sneaked in a couple of routes on Etive Slabs with Helena, Spartan Slab (VS) that was 95% dry and Hammer (HVS) which was traumatically wet on the last two pitches. Still, not bad for February and the snow fairies might start to come out again next week.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiBAFLlp9649lhEVBAKHWlgsnP2aFGk6QzUOyBg_fXZ2X6mE2HD8qZ1c-KxSFk7ACOMmVKKS5g0PXd_gFddWioSa9OeS8phNSJgjcsWc5Ek2lBVipRtcFCwKTRmNBfRpK3zfnrsgAzSI/s1600-h/DSCF3449.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiBAFLlp9649lhEVBAKHWlgsnP2aFGk6QzUOyBg_fXZ2X6mE2HD8qZ1c-KxSFk7ACOMmVKKS5g0PXd_gFddWioSa9OeS8phNSJgjcsWc5Ek2lBVipRtcFCwKTRmNBfRpK3zfnrsgAzSI/s400/DSCF3449.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169866588476616690" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>The road north and some wind turbines</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokaRRvRU5-tp_rRKnRx7IA6STfdWOZlsfWznDv1aeELy8MMcGLMFQ2kmkUK_CPijil2mTQZy5KePr2tZW00Nri7eMYcOpHCOxzcfTerVD7wKO-s9RlWo5h8eaPF0w_oKctJ4UQSwevv8/s1600-h/DSCF3457.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokaRRvRU5-tp_rRKnRx7IA6STfdWOZlsfWznDv1aeELy8MMcGLMFQ2kmkUK_CPijil2mTQZy5KePr2tZW00Nri7eMYcOpHCOxzcfTerVD7wKO-s9RlWo5h8eaPF0w_oKctJ4UQSwevv8/s400/DSCF3457.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169870101759864834" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Dossing in Stromness harbour</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WxUqAYZN18ymPUJ7Jsowp0MHk1jTPgp9nVxvv0nV5I4i5xQGnTe_eu66JeLsznyHk6-s1drNgEHZmT_aQ2gt3iZYWeZjrUp_nfF_IYtkeOn5e9GvNoj5LinVjK41NvmJTvW24RK8Z8s/s1600-h/DSCF3469.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WxUqAYZN18ymPUJ7Jsowp0MHk1jTPgp9nVxvv0nV5I4i5xQGnTe_eu66JeLsznyHk6-s1drNgEHZmT_aQ2gt3iZYWeZjrUp_nfF_IYtkeOn5e9GvNoj5LinVjK41NvmJTvW24RK8Z8s/s400/DSCF3469.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169854584043024338" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Sunrise on the Hoy ferry</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsih3fTe16ngyo_MTNUyMkKlmU73HM73gjDgteyHVFy_kkAsxEO-TjFlx1bsaR0nAeTUQ3aSRqfZcRnREQFSBg986KQtRRKYFN2PBAdDsrGOLZTgxMjMyvY_IuMo5eX8xctgz4Vti4R5s/s1600-h/DSCF3474.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsih3fTe16ngyo_MTNUyMkKlmU73HM73gjDgteyHVFy_kkAsxEO-TjFlx1bsaR0nAeTUQ3aSRqfZcRnREQFSBg986KQtRRKYFN2PBAdDsrGOLZTgxMjMyvY_IuMo5eX8xctgz4Vti4R5s/s400/DSCF3474.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169871995840442386" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Rackwick bothy</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkO2ns-ohMGotxT4szMDdVll9XdR3v6PLlIDK2oyjFfmpoASGFSFBo_dspMxfGz-w-mAWkctGt4CaSAj9K4jrzUMcH3tuw-Nb0rjWbmUj14RC3c7TXAVgcTYmm1iLwjuS5AnTt5emNlM/s1600-h/DSCF3476.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkO2ns-ohMGotxT4szMDdVll9XdR3v6PLlIDK2oyjFfmpoASGFSFBo_dspMxfGz-w-mAWkctGt4CaSAj9K4jrzUMcH3tuw-Nb0rjWbmUj14RC3c7TXAVgcTYmm1iLwjuS5AnTt5emNlM/s400/DSCF3476.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169897447816638514" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Gaz laughs in the face of danger</font></b><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvE5CqlWcfQYUNtG-obhKwyHvWeBwUwYosfkyAz0llUkhuxqPcyW9PAhI_L66PxDoO7_1VyviV9AQ0JNbWLLMMcbTk0R3THzjoSG7yXacbmnITkp19lVQJPAGQAsPncXhLgLA-wi9DT4/s1600-h/DSCF3496.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvE5CqlWcfQYUNtG-obhKwyHvWeBwUwYosfkyAz0llUkhuxqPcyW9PAhI_L66PxDoO7_1VyviV9AQ0JNbWLLMMcbTk0R3THzjoSG7yXacbmnITkp19lVQJPAGQAsPncXhLgLA-wi9DT4/s400/DSCF3496.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169875217065914402" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Doesn't look very solid</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPTaaZdT1MYFe5TjjJVhh3NGkQ7gTTl8Bl_xgPz9Uvr68OQadg0uTdXWq51KDwZbFaB9sB0gN3zA3e7tll4xxsbEd5QR6pehYnw3no_Z8Me5Yv5qs6mFAV2Vte3u67S-LsmkvwxgURvc/s1600-h/DSCF3505.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPTaaZdT1MYFe5TjjJVhh3NGkQ7gTTl8Bl_xgPz9Uvr68OQadg0uTdXWq51KDwZbFaB9sB0gN3zA3e7tll4xxsbEd5QR6pehYnw3no_Z8Me5Yv5qs6mFAV2Vte3u67S-LsmkvwxgURvc/s400/DSCF3505.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169899621070090306" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Duncan after the crux</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLP8o1IB6uPpBQPXkc72rEIE31enhgZiAB2IMYEmVZRp-N9NGNIFu4fmVjJyL0V-f3NGMy6lMAT7g-iU-TvalCVSrn_cNrxKEfl7h8RxD4rOCdHOyJdILnUy6z7_-urnqRp9ctAhJXy4/s1600-h/DSCF3512.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLP8o1IB6uPpBQPXkc72rEIE31enhgZiAB2IMYEmVZRp-N9NGNIFu4fmVjJyL0V-f3NGMy6lMAT7g-iU-TvalCVSrn_cNrxKEfl7h8RxD4rOCdHOyJdILnUy6z7_-urnqRp9ctAhJXy4/s400/DSCF3512.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169901274632499282" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Hmmm...? nice rock</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZLFSReQdo7pW-IAj5vpotqUHuvGTvyWuQt4CeaAVXOI9cUSnkW-E3gIxJlf1ZbDoJW9325fgTiWD55xYoEbqcXGhq8uzoQHkr9iPovRhfwFw3X54kkhjKVTH1WVwioewbKm6MniXPzg/s1600-h/DSCF3513.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZLFSReQdo7pW-IAj5vpotqUHuvGTvyWuQt4CeaAVXOI9cUSnkW-E3gIxJlf1ZbDoJW9325fgTiWD55xYoEbqcXGhq8uzoQHkr9iPovRhfwFw3X54kkhjKVTH1WVwioewbKm6MniXPzg/s400/DSCF3513.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169903508015493218" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Some fulmars and St John's Head (some of the highest sea cliffs in Britain)</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nMOSPDA-phRucxsU109ZlWAEgjlqHx6iShxaFA3dADqph6XiBOckUtr9Lgc47e6Tb2e8h671fZlgh49CQK6wJfe4AQLm_jRwInoDcs2OrJFbViKacyc1HndAhmBI7hM8NgMptpRzLr8/s1600-h/DSCF3525.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nMOSPDA-phRucxsU109ZlWAEgjlqHx6iShxaFA3dADqph6XiBOckUtr9Lgc47e6Tb2e8h671fZlgh49CQK6wJfe4AQLm_jRwInoDcs2OrJFbViKacyc1HndAhmBI7hM8NgMptpRzLr8/s400/DSCF3525.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169928844027572354" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>The top</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Vvo2FLWBWos30zOXy3gdSNziZLsC-IrZbOeQPpQo9SMbLHCvxeDa1pwM1wPljXhG_KRc6aOWLnQ34me6GrX7nHTXkdPyed4P_RVzsBjN68gm1kJ2bYiPcGXsWgcnF1J0zfYcR0mfWQE/s1600-h/DSCF3535.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Vvo2FLWBWos30zOXy3gdSNziZLsC-IrZbOeQPpQo9SMbLHCvxeDa1pwM1wPljXhG_KRc6aOWLnQ34me6GrX7nHTXkdPyed4P_RVzsBjN68gm1kJ2bYiPcGXsWgcnF1J0zfYcR0mfWQE/s400/DSCF3535.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169927276364509298" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Konnie on the top corner</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJnP-govkQX0xTMQd_lpr8DaDZ9KDzU2oS-y05Oajm1Z3VoXMQ76bfHL17dKcwBt30eilkc-CBxaqNU3Fn1dbZZv_f_HvaJD4pn6ZnP741FPuMCbUxSHe9IwD0petwcevpdUd6KYAZU0/s1600-h/DSCF3549.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJnP-govkQX0xTMQd_lpr8DaDZ9KDzU2oS-y05Oajm1Z3VoXMQ76bfHL17dKcwBt30eilkc-CBxaqNU3Fn1dbZZv_f_HvaJD4pn6ZnP741FPuMCbUxSHe9IwD0petwcevpdUd6KYAZU0/s400/DSCF3549.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169930617849065618" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Gaz, Konnie and Becky on the surprisingly large summit</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIzAoIP4pBnH3SaHOXIC_GTl6lzQoNOP0qHX4sztRY8TCPM35tka2GZyE08A9At8LxjdrCMquj0iRu0_Nl1UUZItAGPr3O-Ug4bNatSoLQQml4fEGS5K1zfFM1Ys-jxocb_H05rXIa6k/s1600-h/DSCF3553.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIzAoIP4pBnH3SaHOXIC_GTl6lzQoNOP0qHX4sztRY8TCPM35tka2GZyE08A9At8LxjdrCMquj0iRu0_Nl1UUZItAGPr3O-Ug4bNatSoLQQml4fEGS5K1zfFM1Ys-jxocb_H05rXIa6k/s400/DSCF3553.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169931386648211618" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>The scary free-hanging abseil</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTKKVsKrBt1VKTNL-WQJ5eiGpwEdoRxcmlSTLB-LoNRh_d7GHzrl_aeEoK7CWpGyMSwJfsmTokSKytia68ISpLm6-thQNXSklyTqO_xYQX_8RgHcHAGfpZ74nn_rSZuj2pTZ6yc7V7eY/s1600-h/DSCF3575.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTKKVsKrBt1VKTNL-WQJ5eiGpwEdoRxcmlSTLB-LoNRh_d7GHzrl_aeEoK7CWpGyMSwJfsmTokSKytia68ISpLm6-thQNXSklyTqO_xYQX_8RgHcHAGfpZ74nn_rSZuj2pTZ6yc7V7eY/s400/DSCF3575.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169932009418469554" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Sunset</font></b><br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ITol3otHrdQ&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ITol3otHrdQ&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><b><font color=red>Scary abseil on video (but being a muppet I managed to video it upside down</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnHeEc1i-zKkmn5VuvnfiNHSPyK1UlwnDt7F6X9_MNk9CSb92bFLNZ92h-fGPn1JVu4g7QtH2jWObaQpIcl7RmQkGIblioU1E5e6pgP2SqM-Uocgq1bueh33GFxq0DdcPWqhb3n6rvLY/s1600-h/DSCF3615.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnHeEc1i-zKkmn5VuvnfiNHSPyK1UlwnDt7F6X9_MNk9CSb92bFLNZ92h-fGPn1JVu4g7QtH2jWObaQpIcl7RmQkGIblioU1E5e6pgP2SqM-Uocgq1bueh33GFxq0DdcPWqhb3n6rvLY/s400/DSCF3615.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169934113952444626" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Party</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeba4y1WzC9Ye5LBn0dm-30AlvgEzkTxna7p_zzOSrAFWlf40CARps3h-wjvXSsZ4UuSblYi5z7hdVfgWtN_BhyphenhyphenwkjGxyYMb5w6jY1H1fHGq-TTETX5CMefcTMt28k95Q7yAH6ymok7O8/s1600-h/DSCF3619.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeba4y1WzC9Ye5LBn0dm-30AlvgEzkTxna7p_zzOSrAFWlf40CARps3h-wjvXSsZ4UuSblYi5z7hdVfgWtN_BhyphenhyphenwkjGxyYMb5w6jY1H1fHGq-TTETX5CMefcTMt28k95Q7yAH6ymok7O8/s400/DSCF3619.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169939877798555890" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>The road down Glen Etive</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYf5EJxv2wtyYdD6PVZpWsY8hnqoXq7Utq-rsCBukPpRMOrAF3q7Hqp4to-vzA4OaEG7j6rFicUIjPk_Ta2_tUcX5mwOWfCPO8Wng6SKxopAHwO_rHlzNgA3mARBcf86S9sRE5HlVS2BA/s1600-h/DSCF3622.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYf5EJxv2wtyYdD6PVZpWsY8hnqoXq7Utq-rsCBukPpRMOrAF3q7Hqp4to-vzA4OaEG7j6rFicUIjPk_Ta2_tUcX5mwOWfCPO8Wng6SKxopAHwO_rHlzNgA3mARBcf86S9sRE5HlVS2BA/s400/DSCF3622.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170123655154184450" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Loch Etive</font></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkUVB_JDaLxUJQNRTrvRjpXbFoVH_Spkp3IrHTKFcoGNN9Nnnmq91-B1jebed4d8_aq4mdXPvTaYURfKIsdcT7CcqPJ2_hDF4Uk8m5BGIkoO4b0GWRZh6ERXZoohqlTs5oLfTOJbFEqY/s1600-h/DSCF3629.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkUVB_JDaLxUJQNRTrvRjpXbFoVH_Spkp3IrHTKFcoGNN9Nnnmq91-B1jebed4d8_aq4mdXPvTaYURfKIsdcT7CcqPJ2_hDF4Uk8m5BGIkoO4b0GWRZh6ERXZoohqlTs5oLfTOJbFEqY/s400/DSCF3629.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169937408192360674" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Spartan Slab</font></b>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-27318047551278210682008-01-31T13:33:00.000-08:002008-01-31T13:53:29.800-08:00La Dolce Vita<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLHw3rwqg4TM-DGQR0hsa6PRKCMgKqlLTqyaWkxo1PdiLTkzMeBKhoX67eoXvHq0thMbPgJqMBEnSrktqwvQUyizWUOBtiL1IkY-H6Mr6b4kZtiCXW5iNcNKXeOJyFyFEPrmociA-rnM/s1600-h/DSCF2433.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLHw3rwqg4TM-DGQR0hsa6PRKCMgKqlLTqyaWkxo1PdiLTkzMeBKhoX67eoXvHq0thMbPgJqMBEnSrktqwvQUyizWUOBtiL1IkY-H6Mr6b4kZtiCXW5iNcNKXeOJyFyFEPrmociA-rnM/s400/DSCF2433.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161757501898876370" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGL7Y8T-VUUz7sH5miM7D8_zzvPFqe-xzzaB5pkwqQ1G91qLIVDWO-v1ebnpKTmMyt3Sdz-7w8x_ULQ5bPiaVJWZefhzRNTpL9Wbk1YUl6JuQYF5eSQV8cH5dE46GLbxPCaNZq2Ro_x8/s1600-h/DSCF2400.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGL7Y8T-VUUz7sH5miM7D8_zzvPFqe-xzzaB5pkwqQ1G91qLIVDWO-v1ebnpKTmMyt3Sdz-7w8x_ULQ5bPiaVJWZefhzRNTpL9Wbk1YUl6JuQYF5eSQV8cH5dE46GLbxPCaNZq2Ro_x8/s400/DSCF2400.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161757884150965730" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7v6RY6hEa8r77JwQMneT7kFkSi2v3PKnn5RD_S0K-qhti0l7VvTINlA9qsn5YGxfxM-F5zYVX7h_LtCdE2i4olBqF0aPyhlBWb4KRrBqizCUJw867w7V-TCSs-tWNyLVG0CFxsdSu_4/s1600-h/DSCF2417.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7v6RY6hEa8r77JwQMneT7kFkSi2v3PKnn5RD_S0K-qhti0l7VvTINlA9qsn5YGxfxM-F5zYVX7h_LtCdE2i4olBqF0aPyhlBWb4KRrBqizCUJw867w7V-TCSs-tWNyLVG0CFxsdSu_4/s400/DSCF2417.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161761625067480610" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5kkLayJDWp9D-HXMkle8kUEa1l-tVbJKx65OICaeieqo-i7D0hipk89TLB0_WGFVMmd5A-nVxeCqQ6vYNNHZjYN5TJO76mtHOqiWaZBx3MaxUf4BjQEL9HGI493NyGSW60gMAtY5rEs/s1600-h/DSCF2445.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5kkLayJDWp9D-HXMkle8kUEa1l-tVbJKx65OICaeieqo-i7D0hipk89TLB0_WGFVMmd5A-nVxeCqQ6vYNNHZjYN5TJO76mtHOqiWaZBx3MaxUf4BjQEL9HGI493NyGSW60gMAtY5rEs/s400/DSCF2445.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161760645814937074" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyy-WLaHaA0sA_gadJAqIlpfcBTWSTJRCr1dZY6KV5zKTRnGYqtPUdJTLTR1_5VbdUE6p_LmcWGCX-TDjUBihYAd5gvYZ9SiC3O5uJXxkqbrTkesHspNFcGtAI4jr2rrKyM2J3SSmuSE/s1600-h/DSCF2412.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyy-WLaHaA0sA_gadJAqIlpfcBTWSTJRCr1dZY6KV5zKTRnGYqtPUdJTLTR1_5VbdUE6p_LmcWGCX-TDjUBihYAd5gvYZ9SiC3O5uJXxkqbrTkesHspNFcGtAI4jr2rrKyM2J3SSmuSE/s400/DSCF2412.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161760864858269186" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEagxvQYvWwziUELZs4tvjYYZ_Peb6SnODaFL9cB6JrU5l1izhwzb5CAYBamOQbWZSlmosmU35jlH3kcKOgfkoLF4SKceMgN34-WsdNEMBpSS3JnXsoVh91d4avBjPaUBe4bxzKJmqt4/s1600-h/DSCF2446.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEagxvQYvWwziUELZs4tvjYYZ_Peb6SnODaFL9cB6JrU5l1izhwzb5CAYBamOQbWZSlmosmU35jlH3kcKOgfkoLF4SKceMgN34-WsdNEMBpSS3JnXsoVh91d4avBjPaUBe4bxzKJmqt4/s400/DSCF2446.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161761264290227730" /></a>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-21893975162698148682008-01-21T07:17:00.000-08:002008-01-21T13:10:41.898-08:00Curate's Egg<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY85uxr3BazFdihQy9CVcAqhPVtpngFu_8rYQc9gj6Rb0IjTdQ5Q6Wk38QYtrvQZDapKYPlG0CzwSLQqYVQsb1k43D5kxnCkNbIeP2raxUOlTpr_VmNEMk450ePBeLmB3wofhCg7Py7ko/s1600-h/DSCF2302.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY85uxr3BazFdihQy9CVcAqhPVtpngFu_8rYQc9gj6Rb0IjTdQ5Q6Wk38QYtrvQZDapKYPlG0CzwSLQqYVQsb1k43D5kxnCkNbIeP2raxUOlTpr_VmNEMk450ePBeLmB3wofhCg7Py7ko/s400/DSCF2302.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157965771403108402" /></a><br /><br />Managed to squeeze in a couple of days climbing at the end of last week before I headed off to Rome this morning. On thursday Viv and I went to Stob Coire in Glencoe on a fairly unpleasant sounding forecast. It was less windy than we expected but didn't feel particularly cold and as it snowed most of the day we go quite damp by the end. Despite this, the crag was in spankingly good condition, covered in snow and rime and with brilliant turf and only one other party in the coire.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLbOsqY1HY3P1h0et4-Li-bAG0WPbWYJqBM3cssRROxWxaF11b2NGUE1Lu9SukzwpmKsGgnloN4pJkY2EtqI0LzCgEdC2Co6KF4C99Vl0_TSh1jUBNlpMqitMpRKU8DO2U7cajdnIqKg/s1600-h/DSCF2309.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLbOsqY1HY3P1h0et4-Li-bAG0WPbWYJqBM3cssRROxWxaF11b2NGUE1Lu9SukzwpmKsGgnloN4pJkY2EtqI0LzCgEdC2Co6KF4C99Vl0_TSh1jUBNlpMqitMpRKU8DO2U7cajdnIqKg/s400/DSCF2309.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158035285448794210" /></a><br /><br />We decided to have a look at Scrabble, an VIII/7 that climbs Central Grooves for about 10m before breaking out in a very improbable way onto the left arete and then taking hanging corners above. After a serious amount of faffage Viv set off up the initial groove that looked both hard and not overly endowed with gear and I got settled in for a lengthy 3hrs+ belay session. Once established in the spectacular but precarious position of the arete, he decided that the liberal coating of verglas was making making further progress unenticing and so instead headed back into and up CG, after running the first two pitches together, it was my turn to flail my way up. The first few metres were a rude shock, involving a very burly move off a horizontal torque with little for the feet and then some thin bridging with little for the axes, I found it very hard and my arms were already blown after the first 15m. The second half of the pitch felt like more standard Stob Coire fare and had more positive hooks and torques but still wasn't liberally endowed with great footholds, often involving some very high steps on not a great deal.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa-as_KvvcPwCUHpaZ0PerfVKTO2N3M4KiMuhd-z-r1YC7kMeCC9BP5D3j35vq1dFwkeMjOhbZK_omBmzK9MgwT8TWuZHlwamjplQF1to9z_sOabqZr9t1pZhWeOp3iy0z_RfjCQcv2I/s1600-h/DSCF2310.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa-as_KvvcPwCUHpaZ0PerfVKTO2N3M4KiMuhd-z-r1YC7kMeCC9BP5D3j35vq1dFwkeMjOhbZK_omBmzK9MgwT8TWuZHlwamjplQF1to9z_sOabqZr9t1pZhWeOp3iy0z_RfjCQcv2I/s400/DSCF2310.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158033447202791490" /></a><br /><br /><br />By the time I reached the belay it was 4pm but the upper section looked a little more straightforward. Unfortunately the way was barred by a steep step that was effectively an unprotected boulder problem. I fannied around for a while, not really prepared to take the lob that would've probably left me below Viv and eventually we decided that climbing in the dark in a whiteout was a less attractive proposition than going back to Edinburgh for a ceildh so we bailed. The abseil down showed how steep the line was and the climbing is without doubt some of the most absorbing and the hardest I've done, definitely one to go back for.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDXX0GkiQo7POV6R4mxw1tgIy1iAq1YLQcbWqcPhTNP4mx5LSLrlMrE1UyoSqMGvgT6bIeZovl-r7tUzQfyLo3Ricx32fPL7lQPyZRN0lZ84MQhCrzdAkSWSjGsc0nd7dwjcxlclcEU8/s1600-h/DSCF2319.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDXX0GkiQo7POV6R4mxw1tgIy1iAq1YLQcbWqcPhTNP4mx5LSLrlMrE1UyoSqMGvgT6bIeZovl-r7tUzQfyLo3Ricx32fPL7lQPyZRN0lZ84MQhCrzdAkSWSjGsc0nd7dwjcxlclcEU8/s400/DSCF2319.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158033455792726098" /></a><br /><br /><br />Saturday morning saw Duncan, Konnie, Steve, Viv and I up early and bright eyed for a trip to Lochnagar, there wasn't a cloud in the sky at the Loch Muick car park and when we arrived at the Meikle Pap col in ferociuos winds I finally got to see the whole crag for the first time. It was absolutely plastered and buoyed up by the very loud Chemical Brothers, I was dribbling pysche by the time we reached the first aid box.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K15dzssfICOAGruDgKoKRiIXkj7bMlYBD_LbNsIfEvjiGzCzAj6TfioScYGCMlT57cUcTd6769mTG1Nqa58fyX9LTfdkMqReCeCESEFEPSTOejOFLbkdxtqYHjB-12vV1yuT-0emciI/s1600-h/DSCF2353.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0K15dzssfICOAGruDgKoKRiIXkj7bMlYBD_LbNsIfEvjiGzCzAj6TfioScYGCMlT57cUcTd6769mTG1Nqa58fyX9LTfdkMqReCeCESEFEPSTOejOFLbkdxtqYHjB-12vV1yuT-0emciI/s400/DSCF2353.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158035757895196786" /></a><br /><br />Duncan's knees were sore, so Konnie and I headed off to Parallel Buttress (VI,6) by ourselves. Konnie headed up the first pitch but after a couple of hours and having knocked down lots of snow only about 20m of a 280m route had been done, he shouted down that he wasn't very keen on continuing and given how buried the route looked we decided to bail and head for something easier. So far a combined total of about 5 and a half hours belaying had yielded about 45m of climbing in the last couple of days. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSM_zbMrfSw84hLsSmjLmUa2gfKWhu1Lu8gM-g3vSDhPX0X3vaIwbQMSTPSTItRAfyvkugkHAyXaoaVBnmOnnSWfWzUJCCnQOAFIvts04hGyjcumV0yCEbV6Z6ZL3RfzCfizipXxKm3wM/s1600-h/DSCF2358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSM_zbMrfSw84hLsSmjLmUa2gfKWhu1Lu8gM-g3vSDhPX0X3vaIwbQMSTPSTItRAfyvkugkHAyXaoaVBnmOnnSWfWzUJCCnQOAFIvts04hGyjcumV0yCEbV6Z6ZL3RfzCfizipXxKm3wM/s400/DSCF2358.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158036268996305026" /></a><br /><br />We headed for Moonshadow (V,5) on a subsidary buttress of Shadow A, Duncan had stayed in the Coire with Viv and Steve (who climbed Mantichore VII/7) and wandered over to join us on this, three 50m pitches of turfy and slightly icey but often quite bold mixed climbing was followed by the last easy part of Shadow Buttress A to the plateau, the route felt pretty soft for V but was enjoyable despite the wind picking up considerably near the top.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3B_-5yAXZUeDvWKWlCFcXrSN9ftk9QHaHHQGv1HxsLsYSeDPhViLUYoTTkR23S5ZuuRA7h4OQU001p7XOGw5gF7ZK7_NsRhyP6lpnPK1XqDi1XXpOKcyPFZZlCLwn6PeQveHVzLTwfJU/s1600-h/DSCF2372.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3B_-5yAXZUeDvWKWlCFcXrSN9ftk9QHaHHQGv1HxsLsYSeDPhViLUYoTTkR23S5ZuuRA7h4OQU001p7XOGw5gF7ZK7_NsRhyP6lpnPK1XqDi1XXpOKcyPFZZlCLwn6PeQveHVzLTwfJU/s400/DSCF2372.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158037205299175570" /></a><br /><br />As we coiled the ropes, I turned to ask Duncan where his bag was, he turned to Konnie who didn't have it but said he'd wedged it between rocks at the last belay, Duncan soloed back down to look for it and then someone told him they'd seen a bag blow off. For some reason Konnie hadn't clipped it in (the words 'bear with very little brain' spring to mind) and it was now god knows where. This was slightly worrying as it had my bag inside it that contained my ipod, trekking poles and six ice screws plus both our headtorches (it was now 4.30).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKR8N3HgI_RLz1r-x4UJxo_NHZ2d5W0bJ2bXvaP7gcFdmSjJIzJXVsUnEKfqlqH4BHO-6nucN356lvlCsmuP1vqpDX0nTUVdbpLGYbBRNh8CmMioPVSk0xukIFlipwaktVErnA1RugZdk/s1600-h/DSCF2375.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKR8N3HgI_RLz1r-x4UJxo_NHZ2d5W0bJ2bXvaP7gcFdmSjJIzJXVsUnEKfqlqH4BHO-6nucN356lvlCsmuP1vqpDX0nTUVdbpLGYbBRNh8CmMioPVSk0xukIFlipwaktVErnA1RugZdk/s400/DSCF2375.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158037609026101410" /></a><br /><br />As we headed back to Col, Konrad, partly as sole possessor of a headtorch, partly beacuse he would be the quickest and mainly cos it was his fault was sent back into the coire to search as we huddled under a boulder to shelter from the fairly savage breeze. Luckily some kind soul had found it and put it by the first aid box, so disaster was averted and we all lived happily ever after and returned to Edinburgh.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVAxiTjy9FCLK0kBSw8muPhLNlmDA_h8WnsspTOU7-IfqL3P-_ZmyBmtfrQGOGKrB1Ffc4f3Wd8XLfsGjwkPlulN9QOzGebQ9UvS0wiEamrswsaxryZ6TykfCUTZ5-08Ui1phrN0PUtQ/s1600-h/DSCF2387.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVAxiTjy9FCLK0kBSw8muPhLNlmDA_h8WnsspTOU7-IfqL3P-_ZmyBmtfrQGOGKrB1Ffc4f3Wd8XLfsGjwkPlulN9QOzGebQ9UvS0wiEamrswsaxryZ6TykfCUTZ5-08Ui1phrN0PUtQ/s400/DSCF2387.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5158037939738583218" /></a>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-57537336144858073292008-01-12T06:38:00.000-08:002008-01-12T07:11:39.953-08:00Some India Photos Part 1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ae4SRwy7TPitIXexPpUcMdKZ8Z8AMUmuySHGb-iyMh7Znx2gVMxJmUrh5imhe9NCV5jDWci2KNgu1WsUQAfig9bL9yhnO7Y3MUHHjfn_VKQDVcbRnYokx_jcxR423eaE3ZbqgZ4V9us/s1600-h/DSCF1288.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ae4SRwy7TPitIXexPpUcMdKZ8Z8AMUmuySHGb-iyMh7Znx2gVMxJmUrh5imhe9NCV5jDWci2KNgu1WsUQAfig9bL9yhnO7Y3MUHHjfn_VKQDVcbRnYokx_jcxR423eaE3ZbqgZ4V9us/s400/DSCF1288.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154600471253163986" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPvnja9EpKzNT15kJN1f4-mnSU-Dup0M7JNAuktDJQpwrOS5LVFrBCFuEIQJm5UOtvJDUxAzTXy_EjFRum6791cXLypy7MMwhdS2bb7R9dhdn3icxtd4uW4J-mRWc_7JSk9ILSKOYpCg/s1600-h/DSCF1364.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPvnja9EpKzNT15kJN1f4-mnSU-Dup0M7JNAuktDJQpwrOS5LVFrBCFuEIQJm5UOtvJDUxAzTXy_EjFRum6791cXLypy7MMwhdS2bb7R9dhdn3icxtd4uW4J-mRWc_7JSk9ILSKOYpCg/s400/DSCF1364.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154600956584468450" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTnniDgS_oPggnw8EZ_ZItfity1iS7i683M9b2Zk_rZhapqq0ax6ElIXyooAXGlvGqIXeigZ__Tcn5yZDkuA7koleOGkmjYLk8vfYlq_1z28WLKx0YqKbrOuQsHG8GgdkuotEB837Bho/s1600-h/DSCF1464.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTnniDgS_oPggnw8EZ_ZItfity1iS7i683M9b2Zk_rZhapqq0ax6ElIXyooAXGlvGqIXeigZ__Tcn5yZDkuA7koleOGkmjYLk8vfYlq_1z28WLKx0YqKbrOuQsHG8GgdkuotEB837Bho/s400/DSCF1464.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154603194262429698" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRs8GV9XCZVFIktWQ25JIaeI6c3aGAn0A_9igE4EwXFiBCx6ZN3ELhUxqLBZ2gJMzXafFuXVcA13tZka7PUy4BBG8Z3m81SRJCUnpWC8VhdtruzxvEdPdKhSzVtE_i89blgF7y-uhM63M/s1600-h/DSCF1507.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRs8GV9XCZVFIktWQ25JIaeI6c3aGAn0A_9igE4EwXFiBCx6ZN3ELhUxqLBZ2gJMzXafFuXVcA13tZka7PUy4BBG8Z3m81SRJCUnpWC8VhdtruzxvEdPdKhSzVtE_i89blgF7y-uhM63M/s400/DSCF1507.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154602932269424626" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjue-271l7Emdz8ag4_53cLjVmfMjb8K8dAMwgyLO-ZRckvda6NlHyhzl3IBYA-k4GlcSD2DX0_URqwSiP3_PKurJEQvUqph7BWdpVSuyzwKEWBzXtTTi3VvsRV5tkrtkfwq0wk_IwqX6A/s1600-h/DSCF1642.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjue-271l7Emdz8ag4_53cLjVmfMjb8K8dAMwgyLO-ZRckvda6NlHyhzl3IBYA-k4GlcSD2DX0_URqwSiP3_PKurJEQvUqph7BWdpVSuyzwKEWBzXtTTi3VvsRV5tkrtkfwq0wk_IwqX6A/s400/DSCF1642.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154605204307124242" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-5zcKQGBc1JRqn9f8jx3vJXc6Zkhpi6YxPH7y_kfWi31pEBTqJXw3coGA_CYYDeyNUcqjnGYen9nAEryqqGIegJ70xxoZ3wLL6cG0dz8CkxtAm8wPIm3mTz3dvnl_yEB_gMzVUSADBE/s1600-h/DSCF1631.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-5zcKQGBc1JRqn9f8jx3vJXc6Zkhpi6YxPH7y_kfWi31pEBTqJXw3coGA_CYYDeyNUcqjnGYen9nAEryqqGIegJ70xxoZ3wLL6cG0dz8CkxtAm8wPIm3mTz3dvnl_yEB_gMzVUSADBE/s400/DSCF1631.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154605797012611106" /></a><br /><br />Sitting in Delhi waiting for my flight home, thought I'd stick a few photos up from the first part of the trip, its been great but I'm looking forward to getting back to Edinburgh and frozen North before I'm off to Italysam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-81936619784578124612007-12-20T11:32:00.000-08:002007-12-20T12:17:12.911-08:00Bottled Happiness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb82yAkRnE6jhhys9bjEcW7A8mMzTFBGqgnv0l-Zf3_vcrFmSYk38wmO5jbLYSZ_ehPwh8ZoYzKW4xyhAp6PWQQPdUR6fqBjJADQ2_VltN3JYUbr4sFgDb09AKCzgwsNqOSPkcF_HBsxI/s1600-h/DSCF0919.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb82yAkRnE6jhhys9bjEcW7A8mMzTFBGqgnv0l-Zf3_vcrFmSYk38wmO5jbLYSZ_ehPwh8ZoYzKW4xyhAp6PWQQPdUR6fqBjJADQ2_VltN3JYUbr4sFgDb09AKCzgwsNqOSPkcF_HBsxI/s400/DSCF0919.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146140618335657730" /></a><br />I probably always rant on about how good such and such a view is or how Scotland is clearly the most beautiful place on earth, but then sometimes you get a day where you walk around with your jaw dragging along the floor, open mouthed at everything and buzzing like Amy Winehouse after a quiet night in. Anyway, Tuesday in the Cairngorms was one of those days. If that sounds like ridiculous hyperbole then you’ve got to understand that I’m writing this in the fairly grim surroundings of the Weatherspoons at Terminal 4 at Heathrow and the few light ales that I’m drinking to stave off the impending twenty four hours of travel are beginning to kick in. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8YXGaA2W7-gATAzJv9VpCeDnIoXpYfA7rfCDXLA2AiloBn-_Dmz_d8XTpu4Cj_F8upk-w91a0hDNyrhYc6n4yDIjr2WlsA0GJxgLCrRrN-_e2PTxZ0DTDPVj7LEHYE04JWgi9VdaYuc/s1600-h/DSCF0874.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8YXGaA2W7-gATAzJv9VpCeDnIoXpYfA7rfCDXLA2AiloBn-_Dmz_d8XTpu4Cj_F8upk-w91a0hDNyrhYc6n4yDIjr2WlsA0GJxgLCrRrN-_e2PTxZ0DTDPVj7LEHYE04JWgi9VdaYuc/s400/DSCF0874.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146143981295050530" /></a><br /><br />With the deserts of Rajasthan providing sub-optimal conditions for winter based activities in the next few weeks, the prospect of warm, cloudless and still weather was enough to send me haring off up the A9 at stupid o’clock once again. Jones had bravely volunteered to accompany me on a potter across the plateau to Ben Macdui for her first ski tour and she probably couldn’t have picked a better day to do it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7iRkQ0SevOXIO-ypqJcVtsMcvhJHeMU6dBKKg4kv4gZpAISoqBchRMuLk4zPRtvNCKly9I-mPXiyL4qCK3IqJ8qgzjnWQT1SFoVzWp8qANyXnyVGz9XPnI92bFDuR6AgciFJL9kDDog/s1600-h/DSCF0887.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7iRkQ0SevOXIO-ypqJcVtsMcvhJHeMU6dBKKg4kv4gZpAISoqBchRMuLk4zPRtvNCKly9I-mPXiyL4qCK3IqJ8qgzjnWQT1SFoVzWp8qANyXnyVGz9XPnI92bFDuR6AgciFJL9kDDog/s400/DSCF0887.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146151527552589762" /></a><br /><br />Although the snow line was fairly high, we didn’t have to walk for too long with our skis on backs before we could start skinning up one of the drag lift tracks in Coire Cas towards the summit of Cairngorm, a mountain I’d always managed to avoid walking up, the thought of a warm car being much more of attraction after a day in the Norries. I guess it’s normally covered in fat punters making the short trek from the top of the train but was deserted as we arrived at sunrise and I savoured the ‘endless vistas’ (can’t be arsed to provide the reference but you know who you are) on top of my 50th Munro (not that I’m a sad bagger or anything…).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPv2G3U3fxUlAVOtXJDcRoo__rmcAHN91tcUc2nJ0NfQxx9rbpxOYcR6J3TjJSkq1FEJ21JMg-boEXK0HC7EJvROMBpU3w_utkBFhV5DKtLFzab4M3RcpmHJsu-5aV7DXozNBtlEgces/s1600-h/DSCF0888.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPv2G3U3fxUlAVOtXJDcRoo__rmcAHN91tcUc2nJ0NfQxx9rbpxOYcR6J3TjJSkq1FEJ21JMg-boEXK0HC7EJvROMBpU3w_utkBFhV5DKtLFzab4M3RcpmHJsu-5aV7DXozNBtlEgces/s400/DSCF0888.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146144226108186418" /></a><br /><br />For future reference the ski straight south from the summit holds more snow than a line towards Sneachda, but after a bit of rock hopping we enjoyed a decent run down. Although hard packed, the snow was surprisingly grippy and good to ski on. I could describe the skin across the plateau but I reckon the pictures say it all, it really does feel like the artic up there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2xnhmSwlH2Q3L9gPyzQkF8xRcU-nWNPmknnMpad7V-1Ky1Hf_yd6yl-wkXVH7g6CC5AwbDx_aKxUwqHc4HHq5koBlpuYy3btddwe5q3kaA5yxtldguOlNmHSzfSIZ1CiFiTRBzyMLVs/s1600-h/DSCF0906.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2xnhmSwlH2Q3L9gPyzQkF8xRcU-nWNPmknnMpad7V-1Ky1Hf_yd6yl-wkXVH7g6CC5AwbDx_aKxUwqHc4HHq5koBlpuYy3btddwe5q3kaA5yxtldguOlNmHSzfSIZ1CiFiTRBzyMLVs/s400/DSCF0906.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146149173910511506" /></a><br /><br />The only two people we saw all day were two walkers leaving the summit of Macdui just before we arrived, but apart from that we were completely alone, revelling in the silence as we easily glided across the plateau on snow custom made for touring.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqeY4_ZgPwjajav9Zc36I34zr-l0uT9uSHWhliKpmcZgUOj3P9KvfHGYRuXFhHBGj7-i-ezMJGOrYrcNZ5x_utHRJa2hfGkPuvbYk9rFfeoA_VZwgNWuZdBRy4FCVtF_V4X69TKPv-KE/s1600-h/DSCF0910.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqeY4_ZgPwjajav9Zc36I34zr-l0uT9uSHWhliKpmcZgUOj3P9KvfHGYRuXFhHBGj7-i-ezMJGOrYrcNZ5x_utHRJa2hfGkPuvbYk9rFfeoA_VZwgNWuZdBRy4FCVtF_V4X69TKPv-KE/s400/DSCF0910.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146145347094650706" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lLuEcMRCnLGjjcDCWyfHLrXtUcmklbyU8leeLivgC4zVRBzpmf3czcX8ho5VDGjLUXlYkEnKnqip6WZ7D_jThoWHuzJo6u1-Pv5RyZVe5G315abXAS4J0aB051vuTu2jJ2Z4NyUBMNM/s1600-h/DSCF0948.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8lLuEcMRCnLGjjcDCWyfHLrXtUcmklbyU8leeLivgC4zVRBzpmf3czcX8ho5VDGjLUXlYkEnKnqip6WZ7D_jThoWHuzJo6u1-Pv5RyZVe5G315abXAS4J0aB051vuTu2jJ2Z4NyUBMNM/s400/DSCF0948.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146146360706932594" /></a><br /><br />The panorama from top of Macdui was awesome, in the foreground Ben Avon, the huge corries of Braeriach (still holding quite a lot of snow and much more wintry than the elsewhere) and slightly further away Lochnagar. In the distance, the view stretched from Ben Wyvis, the Fannichs, Torridon, Kintail to the high peaks of Lochaber, with southern highland giants like Ben More and Ben Lawers poking out of a cloud inversion in the south.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBPzfYWdOf8oZi4L-WhAUESWjC4-kDhZwYAvUo8mR9EE_YZcEGtYnK0QvFpJFtRHvEl8ANZgpj5G7ZdIvIzuJRh2Wr4GdItTWWTMNPbrtE3yxlwthxHMYip2MgMvsuUCbPC8LZBLwxgk/s1600-h/DSCF0943.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBPzfYWdOf8oZi4L-WhAUESWjC4-kDhZwYAvUo8mR9EE_YZcEGtYnK0QvFpJFtRHvEl8ANZgpj5G7ZdIvIzuJRh2Wr4GdItTWWTMNPbrtE3yxlwthxHMYip2MgMvsuUCbPC8LZBLwxgk/s400/DSCF0943.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146145119461384002" /></a><br /><br />Happiness in a bottle? Or am I just getting spiritual on y’all (wink).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfu0USu7HMNtJVGStZztzyZjl9tsvB66biTLmOU1WFm7FKW7NA0fLDqaQhCKov5pqomVv1z_AZhyrJ_t9PoCaqKaLngFrjfZiOOM1xHrRGNrFECFQJsyQ4DCUcNwfMhxJkGvKGQbP20g/s1600-h/DSCF0938.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgfu0USu7HMNtJVGStZztzyZjl9tsvB66biTLmOU1WFm7FKW7NA0fLDqaQhCKov5pqomVv1z_AZhyrJ_t9PoCaqKaLngFrjfZiOOM1xHrRGNrFECFQJsyQ4DCUcNwfMhxJkGvKGQbP20g/s400/DSCF0938.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146150312076844962" /></a><br /><br />Not much else to say except we skied back, wicked day. Roll on India. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs3My9wBof1W3WV2-iwKIs4u2XNX30oAQorZPaX5QZ_ccGAjAeSrrthtIVsyaNrRvDtOqIdO4IcHJ_-4MiFXBoHyxaBZXYjvnsuM6whyphenhyphenBFjLmkN7Busv9XvGal15GK3RfmhxP4JR1TLA/s1600-h/DSCF0973.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs3My9wBof1W3WV2-iwKIs4u2XNX30oAQorZPaX5QZ_ccGAjAeSrrthtIVsyaNrRvDtOqIdO4IcHJ_-4MiFXBoHyxaBZXYjvnsuM6whyphenhyphenBFjLmkN7Busv9XvGal15GK3RfmhxP4JR1TLA/s400/DSCF0973.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146146553980460930" /></a><br /><br />On another exciting note the photos I took of the Secret the other week have been picked up by climbing websites in the US, Germany, Italy, Austria as well as loads over here (and possibly Climb as well), pretty chuffed about that, just wished they paid me… <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8X4ma_cz6IBdGwzLxNcpd7qZPrwLf6JU23S1bCWckSiEBIimKAypVEbsmp7JrOeGwI9y6XaHlCyI2YbXfqWmUR5SEDf2egIqCqH_mra737hXCJ-OBJdiJ7WzQ6hvmLrPLkKNiRhFszI/s1600-h/DSCF0974.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8X4ma_cz6IBdGwzLxNcpd7qZPrwLf6JU23S1bCWckSiEBIimKAypVEbsmp7JrOeGwI9y6XaHlCyI2YbXfqWmUR5SEDf2egIqCqH_mra737hXCJ-OBJdiJ7WzQ6hvmLrPLkKNiRhFszI/s400/DSCF0974.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146143732186947346" /></a>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-77407016208529531872007-12-11T03:41:00.000-08:002007-12-11T10:00:42.866-08:00Blue Skies On The Ben<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBst-FwMCj5OPME_Bu6FVQa3BOf709tyQHlgHkMQGeSbfO_Azb-cl1vFqw6QOyBIAePFaX1l8Hx9pYE6rwRJLKu2J9ZvHNtnt49t6XzTnkt2OZrXKDXVEYZAHU7AOgdyGK_pBiKZhwIOM/s1600-h/DSCF0822.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBst-FwMCj5OPME_Bu6FVQa3BOf709tyQHlgHkMQGeSbfO_Azb-cl1vFqw6QOyBIAePFaX1l8Hx9pYE6rwRJLKu2J9ZvHNtnt49t6XzTnkt2OZrXKDXVEYZAHU7AOgdyGK_pBiKZhwIOM/s400/DSCF0822.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142716455112395986" /></a><br />I reluctantly got out of bed at 3.20 in the morning, seriously debating whether it was worth it, but we were rewarded with a blue sky day, frosted cliffs and some fantastic mixed climbing...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4B8ho_5uKUBiRHvgyRCzaqPcSSO65UdoIybCDD0JAL4Ov9Bn3-LfpLpLq2Cpa3HqjBVtYDvUVc1RnB_b57sUd1CTu9aFRZtoOHNz-1WUvVdFkx2le3QEeto55qXgJSqJ4UPJ89rc8Bo/s1600-h/DSCF0751.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4B8ho_5uKUBiRHvgyRCzaqPcSSO65UdoIybCDD0JAL4Ov9Bn3-LfpLpLq2Cpa3HqjBVtYDvUVc1RnB_b57sUd1CTu9aFRZtoOHNz-1WUvVdFkx2le3QEeto55qXgJSqJ4UPJ89rc8Bo/s400/DSCF0751.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142769996174708130" /></a><br /><br />It's quite a long way to walk up into Coire na Ciste but as we approached the CIC you could see that 3 Gully Buttress and the crags at the top of the Ciste were enticingly white in the dawn light.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hRY19RA-OEzr-Isr2S7cydUw0B0phDs0m5cOSsYjYpRSjTY9wG7rEZD8KvF2OD8-CNLBIwSBYQU7ILrRZK20Xk5dY56XHxPkWowcUqTGjIHm_xmP4TQ_U_h5Ry2lQwd6_yiq0wiBtfQ/s1600-h/DSCF0754.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hRY19RA-OEzr-Isr2S7cydUw0B0phDs0m5cOSsYjYpRSjTY9wG7rEZD8KvF2OD8-CNLBIwSBYQU7ILrRZK20Xk5dY56XHxPkWowcUqTGjIHm_xmP4TQ_U_h5Ry2lQwd6_yiq0wiBtfQ/s400/DSCF0754.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142745626530270434" /></a><br /><br />There was quite alot of snow around the hut and on the way up, but luckily a trail had been blazed by the party ahead, the crack team of Andy Turner & Steve Ashworth and (ahem!) Viv (more on that story later). Conditions on the crag looked and were perfect, any turf around was well frozen, every inch of rock was covered in a liberal coating of rime and the cracks weren't too icy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZxBTbCzXnRKbbLDpXULpy64qtpas_m5oLVWvOrMuhw_ntS3M_ay52hZAVopftNYbIJoxZ-NY1ARQp85tgqZpGR0Zt1ajT4toniEI2gV8WmX7aCIFXvstpuhDS4M3ht4lLE4F1M5d1wQ/s1600-h/DSCF0758.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZxBTbCzXnRKbbLDpXULpy64qtpas_m5oLVWvOrMuhw_ntS3M_ay52hZAVopftNYbIJoxZ-NY1ARQp85tgqZpGR0Zt1ajT4toniEI2gV8WmX7aCIFXvstpuhDS4M3ht4lLE4F1M5d1wQ/s400/DSCF0758.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142762368312790370" /></a><br /><br />Konnie and I did the 'modern classic' Gargoyle Wall (VI,6) on Number 3 Gully Buttress, which fully lived up to its billing. Whilst not taking the most direct line up the crag, once your on it it's very logical and provided (for us at least) a nicely sustained day out.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMijs08y7bJYvxVe-QLBa4w90zJEWepIv8pbQB8UO0hAAO39jA0hw3n1D10h7YDpTHLTh0ysbllseoC_yoNZtLa7Sxuk10Kg-aRPGcfiIn2QCG3__YbPKRMoWgjgLP4ggA21nGxZBXEyY/s1600-h/DSCF0764.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMijs08y7bJYvxVe-QLBa4w90zJEWepIv8pbQB8UO0hAAO39jA0hw3n1D10h7YDpTHLTh0ysbllseoC_yoNZtLa7Sxuk10Kg-aRPGcfiIn2QCG3__YbPKRMoWgjgLP4ggA21nGxZBXEyY/s400/DSCF0764.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142769334749744530" /></a><br /><br />The first pitch was probably the most serious, being fairly icy and thus quite tricky to protect. The hardest section was pulling over a roof in a narrow chimmney with your axes embedded in what you hoped was good ice above. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Nrmzi-8YGrEGUYi5vJoGRoEzzOp9dmAMAJZAimqdv3HpEcRPsTwjsuTEfhFW-IZny8p8fOqih-ZEuu_cveJohevRtv4Bmxatvy6Wdg7jI8l_AeiEW9MX1pwrL77YLalf9WO_xfaW36Y/s1600-h/DSCF0794.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Nrmzi-8YGrEGUYi5vJoGRoEzzOp9dmAMAJZAimqdv3HpEcRPsTwjsuTEfhFW-IZny8p8fOqih-ZEuu_cveJohevRtv4Bmxatvy6Wdg7jI8l_AeiEW9MX1pwrL77YLalf9WO_xfaW36Y/s400/DSCF0794.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142756479912627474" /></a><br /><br />The crux pitch are the Gargoyle Cracks, ably dispatched by Konnie. These cracks split a 10m vertical wall and look fairly intimidating from below and although the footholds are good, the hooks for axes are by no means perfect slots and position is intimidatingly exposed high above the gully bed. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyF3BOHMDgFWWfxAuXzSrbLxO-0DvyYz-G52kVZTk000S1NgA-C6dshcAIzfBLVsLGyyW36DbxU_Pi9RVZdgtdp_AUi1T7VJSxpN_tlB0beFUKLcs4ad5LGox4blAjLn2iv3mtcH5LAaU/s1600-h/DSCF0796.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyF3BOHMDgFWWfxAuXzSrbLxO-0DvyYz-G52kVZTk000S1NgA-C6dshcAIzfBLVsLGyyW36DbxU_Pi9RVZdgtdp_AUi1T7VJSxpN_tlB0beFUKLcs4ad5LGox4blAjLn2iv3mtcH5LAaU/s400/DSCF0796.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142754774810610946" /></a><br /><br />I decided to throw myself off the first section of the next pitch whilst on some rather easy ground (grade IV max). One of my crampon points become stuck in the strap of the other one and with both legs tied together I bounced down a couple of snowy ledges, no harm done though and the rest of the pitch to the passed without any more drama.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP4-PKPEa4QY3qeo09dB8GfI2IB9TObA0uwKwWAzZF58DghyMTndOO3Ab1OKGmIg-Kz9A60FZSlZApbY2aYkbUnF6Nkc025kn_0nj0NAfb0n0sStpPAK7xz7JwEgO5SpiYip2v1k_3TY/s1600-h/DSCF0820.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP4-PKPEa4QY3qeo09dB8GfI2IB9TObA0uwKwWAzZF58DghyMTndOO3Ab1OKGmIg-Kz9A60FZSlZApbY2aYkbUnF6Nkc025kn_0nj0NAfb0n0sStpPAK7xz7JwEgO5SpiYip2v1k_3TY/s400/DSCF0820.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142757377560792354" /></a><br /><br />The 360° views from the plateau were stunning, a reminder why the West Coast is superior in almost every way to the East, with snow topped mountains illuminated by the afternoon sunlight receeding into the distance in every direction (it was even quite warm in the sun), those who thought Tuesday was going to be the better day missed out...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxjrYiMKaeufzn35oejRL75bUmND0Ircbwp_nrwJsTPryeDTu-pW9a5v19x3lnESmGN7ZXwdsEUlL4S1568bdnev0dv2A-bQi0WWJ0EgZGSfh1E-SQecb6918az_69LqKuKL-WrXTGV8/s1600-h/DSCF0779.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxjrYiMKaeufzn35oejRL75bUmND0Ircbwp_nrwJsTPryeDTu-pW9a5v19x3lnESmGN7ZXwdsEUlL4S1568bdnev0dv2A-bQi0WWJ0EgZGSfh1E-SQecb6918az_69LqKuKL-WrXTGV8/s400/DSCF0779.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142758691820784962" /></a><br /><br />Darth Vader also got an ascent by Kenny from the ice factor (cheers for the lift down) and it look an amazing line, just need to get a bit better now.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3F8gmqfTGkr5enk1WXQJzQHANqjc7LjW8QSJecY0wnMUJ6ibO9wD0xq64V-x5OhmhUip4psnBSXimLBIxAyP2D2ChuhICinm4QAULchDYofewZbloImn9xYWzIZSk_CtlhW4OSGv9oU/s1600-h/DSCF0830.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3F8gmqfTGkr5enk1WXQJzQHANqjc7LjW8QSJecY0wnMUJ6ibO9wD0xq64V-x5OhmhUip4psnBSXimLBIxAyP2D2ChuhICinm4QAULchDYofewZbloImn9xYWzIZSk_CtlhW4OSGv9oU/s400/DSCF0830.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142748869230578930" /></a><br /><br />The main event of the day however was what was going on opposite us - the first ascent of 'The Secret' by Andy Turner (seconded by Viv and Steve Ashworth). This takes the soaring crack line that splits a very steep wall to the left of Cornucopia and all I can say is that it looked bloody hard. Andy led the route onsight and from afar it was an incredibly controlled, fluid and impressive feat of levitation. For most of the crack he appeared to be standing on nothing, holding onto nothing and it was a privilege to have a ringside seat in the evening sunlight on the Number 3 Gully Buttress viewing platform, all that was missing was cold beer and some pork scratchings.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa7e_-i1rCG6Lil9iFHLbv-EEvz8vPAI2PhvfneJLnji3_jUwIJm4Wx_Qia-AYxfI4ddX-5oFSjzu2R38RYosEBWWwC7Lu-MhJs3Nu00uUBO73ppNNdExXTu3MHdvamK2jBQ5jfTChPA/s1600-h/DSCF0832.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa7e_-i1rCG6Lil9iFHLbv-EEvz8vPAI2PhvfneJLnji3_jUwIJm4Wx_Qia-AYxfI4ddX-5oFSjzu2R38RYosEBWWwC7Lu-MhJs3Nu00uUBO73ppNNdExXTu3MHdvamK2jBQ5jfTChPA/s400/DSCF0832.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142764812149181810" /></a><br /><br />When we met up the others at CIC, the difficulty of the route and just how much of an impressive achievement it was were confirmed. A whole array of weird mixed moves were employed and the result was quite possibly the hardest onsight winter route in Scotland to date. Awe inspiring stuff.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF9lOAtq6VR9RLlYMLaQ77D2COYSix8ll_5JquRidCRLrZEiQRcQpaCebMf48NzIGAj_yUobDvHq2DLm9fnrojYB4u2CgS8Gnmtho1D3IfBg-p5lBgxB_hVYblcQJQ_LigdVQBPd9eRA/s1600-h/DSCF0818.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKF9lOAtq6VR9RLlYMLaQ77D2COYSix8ll_5JquRidCRLrZEiQRcQpaCebMf48NzIGAj_yUobDvHq2DLm9fnrojYB4u2CgS8Gnmtho1D3IfBg-p5lBgxB_hVYblcQJQ_LigdVQBPd9eRA/s400/DSCF0818.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142772693414170066" /></a><br /><br />We had a quick stop at Banff Crescent (doss to the stars) on the way back that turned into a rather longer stay than was planned. The Rob Jarvis media machine had been cranked up to the max, blogs updated, pictures swapped, UKC informed etc. I then got flashed doing 70mph in that short section of 50 on the way into Edinburgh on the M9, bugger, points and fines for me.<br />Ps Big thankyou to Chris for finding my glove.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvSZ1q0KYKCtY2KL2c7zbP0_Rm3hpKeJchMLnBb0CdW1vBMNmepKPHnQNCbzLYFU5tqEZ1EGRK9ZkU05q1WXdXgHwlADrKrR7eyM7kuxsAXChPJCSSWU8FSAfT-1U4WentQnkMdW9fW0/s1600-h/DSCF0826.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvSZ1q0KYKCtY2KL2c7zbP0_Rm3hpKeJchMLnBb0CdW1vBMNmepKPHnQNCbzLYFU5tqEZ1EGRK9ZkU05q1WXdXgHwlADrKrR7eyM7kuxsAXChPJCSSWU8FSAfT-1U4WentQnkMdW9fW0/s400/DSCF0826.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142771074211499458" /></a>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-25956694276282577132007-12-04T08:56:00.000-08:002007-12-04T10:28:38.126-08:00And So<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G1_hwL0vTWIReLdvDAMle3P0JE6lhgZpJ9_cZodCbF-sk9Ptd3L7eDoP55NJPQlH95A_UviO8j97UdSqy0L11OtGkwp6NTnVcvuiAo3h_eHYfaVzjDqiZ3smBDcElnWn4jk7C99d6B8/s1600-h/DSCF0738.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G1_hwL0vTWIReLdvDAMle3P0JE6lhgZpJ9_cZodCbF-sk9Ptd3L7eDoP55NJPQlH95A_UviO8j97UdSqy0L11OtGkwp6NTnVcvuiAo3h_eHYfaVzjDqiZ3smBDcElnWn4jk7C99d6B8/s400/DSCF0738.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140168391550435922" /></a><br />Good to get out for the first time this winter yesterday, made a last minute decision on sunday evening and managed to persuade duncan and konnie that it was a good idea. Coire an Lochain was in great condition, well rimed although the weather was fairly filthy all day and snowing quite heavily as we walked out. I imagine that most of the snow is now probably heading very rapidly towards the river Spey.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi9AuKEziR2Q26tCP6e30fZ3lVn4e6xnWTwOHlX11mmxD2WXnd45CdT3pdKkMEbIzUtwyWx24Hr96UqoFBAixWSsEwhLp5mnX08exwkTrye31Uux8tqJjm3mQKbrZvTfd-Ndm4HyxYNw/s1600-h/DSCF0683.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyi9AuKEziR2Q26tCP6e30fZ3lVn4e6xnWTwOHlX11mmxD2WXnd45CdT3pdKkMEbIzUtwyWx24Hr96UqoFBAixWSsEwhLp5mnX08exwkTrye31Uux8tqJjm3mQKbrZvTfd-Ndm4HyxYNw/s400/DSCF0683.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140175482541441682" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4vGMWBg_t4r8Dws_SBKVFaPgMEOuv7Sks6u5VuZ0b36cQRudSQ7sdNm60KbIluDqcDGB-sWDwrStHqiRZdW14-AOwyhhUw4HTXEm1e0CTq9SgOYgp4jO5mbtZXbri44ye1dooairXJE/s1600-h/DSCF0692.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4vGMWBg_t4r8Dws_SBKVFaPgMEOuv7Sks6u5VuZ0b36cQRudSQ7sdNm60KbIluDqcDGB-sWDwrStHqiRZdW14-AOwyhhUw4HTXEm1e0CTq9SgOYgp4jO5mbtZXbri44ye1dooairXJE/s400/DSCF0692.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140176113901634226" /></a><br /><br />Did Savage Slit which was fairly straightforward for the grade, good kit all the way and some enjoyable thrutching. Watched Ian Parnell do a new more direct start to prore and then piss up the rest of the route, making it look very easy. Forgot my jacket and ended up getting slightly damp and cold in the blizzard.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhdIZpJDgQW-Pr3ryaw-GXbQCxcdmbYPjLFX9-jyNCQD0_bUnBdpg6sspJnFI9wrxxskVArm_NXz3XlRu0hWxyCsYaHz_0J2ALEFkFcn8dhZrnTirE4HJPKbRSuFPwZInU02YhqB41Z4/s1600-h/DSCF0718.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhdIZpJDgQW-Pr3ryaw-GXbQCxcdmbYPjLFX9-jyNCQD0_bUnBdpg6sspJnFI9wrxxskVArm_NXz3XlRu0hWxyCsYaHz_0J2ALEFkFcn8dhZrnTirE4HJPKbRSuFPwZInU02YhqB41Z4/s400/DSCF0718.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140174541943603842" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpSGC9JQwkqTNUokLBQYpl94FobbSPISLDJirRQ8IZFe1uR_w-6j9ccR5iJGrbS5C4BbCI9qcYH4TJWkr-UD6H4MsQ9Yj2eKP1b0_PImiSldNoldGLTBItje69HIyIa-ae5RmMJ_FJE8/s1600-h/DSCF0717.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpSGC9JQwkqTNUokLBQYpl94FobbSPISLDJirRQ8IZFe1uR_w-6j9ccR5iJGrbS5C4BbCI9qcYH4TJWkr-UD6H4MsQ9Yj2eKP1b0_PImiSldNoldGLTBItje69HIyIa-ae5RmMJ_FJE8/s400/DSCF0717.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140175864793531042" /></a><br /><br /><br />The heavy traffic on the A9 on the way home (especially the lorries) gave me some seroius road rage. Roll on more northerlies... (hmmm)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_smqGzutZtAoG0pe4q6S2wrcIDoFvHeozABYrDUheNRauveZdgnbRfCBSlABC-FkE6UanU9iyRBgWqO3vIEcZ3uaIBd9YuE9z_V5NuDXIjJK5d4cF1HFWXWOsut8OEUB8c5irIzHFXFs/s1600-h/DSCF0729.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_smqGzutZtAoG0pe4q6S2wrcIDoFvHeozABYrDUheNRauveZdgnbRfCBSlABC-FkE6UanU9iyRBgWqO3vIEcZ3uaIBd9YuE9z_V5NuDXIjJK5d4cF1HFWXWOsut8OEUB8c5irIzHFXFs/s400/DSCF0729.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140171187574145634" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNjM_gW3Dl2vfsn00tJnIOCywivWewyp-KPmWgAQJmoUzhAqihF6kWGWXgbNPLSlkdfWpMjzKc0FRkeY_OPhxOdVsM6zAiY_S-MYOU1ltpOacROUkdRjrF8jgt7BIvkxIJsjponOaIhs/s1600-h/DSCF0730.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNjM_gW3Dl2vfsn00tJnIOCywivWewyp-KPmWgAQJmoUzhAqihF6kWGWXgbNPLSlkdfWpMjzKc0FRkeY_OPhxOdVsM6zAiY_S-MYOU1ltpOacROUkdRjrF8jgt7BIvkxIJsjponOaIhs/s400/DSCF0730.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140182427503559362" /></a>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-42990705147791529392007-11-12T10:31:00.000-08:002007-11-15T12:23:09.420-08:00Carlsberg Don't Do House Parties...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZCZB_Xg_-4vcfIcSNweFE0Rp9j6aNXpUReVbkJfVuvmXt43iFXciQNmhZH6D9-ppBTPFcWHqmMN_NgOCQVSwMEhnj2OtcuRjFtW7xPoO-yGUiLbGbRQZfDcwDLLKDIsz_zFtbhTYDGU/s1600-h/n576935345_1586435_821.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZCZB_Xg_-4vcfIcSNweFE0Rp9j6aNXpUReVbkJfVuvmXt43iFXciQNmhZH6D9-ppBTPFcWHqmMN_NgOCQVSwMEhnj2OtcuRjFtW7xPoO-yGUiLbGbRQZfDcwDLLKDIsz_zFtbhTYDGU/s400/n576935345_1586435_821.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132790378735390034" /></a><br />I guess Saturday night will go down in legend as the 'baby oil party'. It was my flatmate's Chad 30th birthday so I suppose extreme wastageness was always fairly likely but I think this surpassed most expectations. Being Chad we had a week's worth of him bounding around like an excited puppy whilst he sent out various emails and facebook missives telling us the exact schedule for the weekend's activities. Things weren't looking good at about 2am on Saturday morning when he was sprawled on the bathroom floor spewing after a session at Cloisters but Chad rallied manfully and put in a sterling performance at the party. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl0MMRWoOD6FoABBJoumshK1GCTLFzTYLAxVGG52WLpdTa-OXCRhCgeHd8Y6HdqTyRPdKcVWw_Fw8WatCzzwC-dXuURpjkJoqJdLTnAV1zJB4CMHjYK1NMStZ7Uk4VIfT0lSdGaG4NKM/s1600-h/n576935345_1586429_33.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl0MMRWoOD6FoABBJoumshK1GCTLFzTYLAxVGG52WLpdTa-OXCRhCgeHd8Y6HdqTyRPdKcVWw_Fw8WatCzzwC-dXuURpjkJoqJdLTnAV1zJB4CMHjYK1NMStZ7Uk4VIfT0lSdGaG4NKM/s400/n576935345_1586429_33.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132795768919346562" /></a><br /><br />Now there probably ought to be a rule about whatever happens in the Towers stays in the Towers but in the best traditions of tabloid gossip columns, I reckon the dirt needs to be dished. We probably should've realised things were taking a turn for the sordid at the volleyball game on Saturday afternoon. At this point I better explain that the party was a Tom Cruise theme one, so volleyball was being played in homage to the most homo-erotic movie scene ever - the game in Top Gun. This resulted in the rather incongruous scene of Viv, Kiwi Steve and Chad on one side, topless except for dogtags and a liberal coating of lube (and with Steve sporting a fine tache especially cultivated for the occasion) playing playing volleyball sober at 4pm on Bruntsfield links. This actually attracted less strange looks than might be expected but by the time bad light stopped play about 40 mins later the first baby oil bottle was alarmingly half empty and proceeded to be drained further in a congratulatory lube and beer session back in the towers. The slightly worrying thing is that most of the photos below were taken fairly early on in the evening before things really kicked off and most of them feature Kiwi Steve in some disturbing pose or other.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7cLkTkmzFHmiz1eh_FyKlALZ2DLE7VEqI3X6fZo6sZFPr2SicsZ-MadZHLn2kEXxuMl5CeSjbEdD8FaZRsqhT9RAh6Zq3w6TVnPQ8EOe1aKp1ol8xVieIAPPu8C6TjlgmGE9N850eEA/s1600-h/DSCF0621.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7cLkTkmzFHmiz1eh_FyKlALZ2DLE7VEqI3X6fZo6sZFPr2SicsZ-MadZHLn2kEXxuMl5CeSjbEdD8FaZRsqhT9RAh6Zq3w6TVnPQ8EOe1aKp1ol8xVieIAPPu8C6TjlgmGE9N850eEA/s400/DSCF0621.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132797383827049890" /></a><br /><br />When you're hosting a party there's always that alarming moment early on in the evening when nobody's there and you're starting to realise that nobody either likes you or is coming. Luckily this moment normally passes and between 10 and 12 (the first complaint) the party was really rocking. The living room was already descending into the post-apocalyptic gay disco hell that it would become, Rik was doing an admirable job mixing cocktails, Chad's parents were getting down with the best of them and the flat was packed. Some of the younger lot in attendance were shocked at the hardcore level of partying that the oldies were capable of, admitting it put their own efforts to shame and TOG was heard to utter that he'd never seen so many oiled up people in one place before. At this point the mandy began to kick in and everything became a little bit more hazy. The council noise officers turned up at around midnight and Mrs Leith made her first appearance of the evening. This was largely because the flat next door was having a party as well and had come up with strange idea of filling a room with about a 1000 balloons and then running into the room to pop them at some point. This resulted in most of the balloons cascading into the stairwell and being burst by various people which sounded like rockets being let off, aroused the wrath of most of our neighbours and resulted in a slightly wires crossed scuffle (Russell looked very worried).<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbm7eMkZVgxoHNYgCfLznNl3eiEqlrN-J3cPtnuzbTnj0LXNzbqAHYi0vkHzVSyHYzJUtY2JR5op7413GcfBc4WKgg66XnSEml5_Bi5hdJGX58m22VYrMobpRWSvrRhDYLOF0K66BTg0/s1600-h/n576935345_1586427_9779.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbm7eMkZVgxoHNYgCfLznNl3eiEqlrN-J3cPtnuzbTnj0LXNzbqAHYi0vkHzVSyHYzJUtY2JR5op7413GcfBc4WKgg66XnSEml5_Bi5hdJGX58m22VYrMobpRWSvrRhDYLOF0K66BTg0/s400/n576935345_1586427_9779.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132795575645818226" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmT3h_OcNqfSW8Je3tNHDTyBJja6bkQv6IKExeY6ZkB3LhYLSs0WSLucNN88DRBFYkPDQ40oEBrsUyAcbT5DB40swqa8BJ7h_CrhyphenhyphenOifZnW4pxSjLsQfR_6onjgMqMfhb5Fs86a9YXXYQ/s1600-h/n576935345_1586452_3600.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmT3h_OcNqfSW8Je3tNHDTyBJja6bkQv6IKExeY6ZkB3LhYLSs0WSLucNN88DRBFYkPDQ40oEBrsUyAcbT5DB40swqa8BJ7h_CrhyphenhyphenOifZnW4pxSjLsQfR_6onjgMqMfhb5Fs86a9YXXYQ/s320/n576935345_1586452_3600.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132799518425796018" /></a>After a while things settled back down again and the vibes returned. I spent most of the time in sanctuary of my room or the kitchen, the strange topless goings on in living room being slightly too much at this point, I can remember helping a worried Kiwi Steve locate a new (half litre) vat of baby oil which I'm sure went down well with Chad, Huw, Viv and Duncan. I did pop in to watch a rendition of YMCA - which may have scarred me for life (available in video form on Raph's facebook). At about 2.30 Mrs Leith came up and properly blew her lid, being very scared I hid in Chad's room and left others to deal with her, thanks Susie, Alice and whoever else intervened. I think this was a result of enthusiastic dancing in the hallway that convinced her that her ceiling was close to implosion and the resumption of the party tunes probably didn't help either, nor the roof malarkey. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9NhvqE7cpe2ZW-IggtMLs6pTVsGILrWw4Gk_2QeIWLaOlwlqqsY7HqDehWhir8elkJc_jgo8AkWga_l1wV8YjXz2UqkcixSsheJYYmVsKyzyJIsJGJMni1BKJ5QuN2gnHKmDnH0qHLw/s1600-h/n576935345_1586425_9515.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9NhvqE7cpe2ZW-IggtMLs6pTVsGILrWw4Gk_2QeIWLaOlwlqqsY7HqDehWhir8elkJc_jgo8AkWga_l1wV8YjXz2UqkcixSsheJYYmVsKyzyJIsJGJMni1BKJ5QuN2gnHKmDnH0qHLw/s400/n576935345_1586425_9515.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132796559193329042" /></a><br /><br />Things began to settle down bit at this point, Will and Russell indulged in some quality loved up 'your my best mate' action and Russell had the great scheme of coming to the party, putting his girlfriend to bed in my room ,getting fucked and then getting her to take him home at the end of the night. Nul Points to Helena and Clare for making me (and others) feel more self conscious than I thought was humanly possible (although they weren't the only ones...). Kiwi Steve got himself full marks for disgracefulness when whilst talking to Konnie he managed to perform a full length dive through my bedroom door (probably grease assisted), cut his head on impact on some ice screws and then vom all over the floor. Duncan 'the drugs don't work' Steen (only cos you're a reet fanny). Viv popped in every now again looking more and more like a greasy guido and I'm sure I had some funny chat with Jones and Gaz (fresh from his tasty vodka, raw egg, olive oil and tabasco cocktail with Chris) at some point, it's all a bit fuzzy. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAHXoJ9CxZQSA07o2MtHrBrhsHhhyhXX-L8oKPqWQZ5PaqfBkWbJQSfLIsy06zRjAsXCbK7Gt-0ZUwDOUF05wqbzpqDr-wT4KKiyAU2U865RpLmtSH3ZT1_K2hqqgauDfdMJ1bb6UPh4/s1600-h/n507522850_232808_7476.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAHXoJ9CxZQSA07o2MtHrBrhsHhhyhXX-L8oKPqWQZ5PaqfBkWbJQSfLIsy06zRjAsXCbK7Gt-0ZUwDOUF05wqbzpqDr-wT4KKiyAU2U865RpLmtSH3ZT1_K2hqqgauDfdMJ1bb6UPh4/s400/n507522850_232808_7476.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132045676202194786" /></a><br /><br />Sunday morning was spent in very pleasant manner whilst we listened to the rest of my flatmates get involved in the cleaning up and at about 4 O'clock we emerged to find the place lookin pretty spotless. Cleaning up Steve's vom was a bit more grim and Chad and I had a half hour chat with Mrs Leith who'd calmed down from the night before and was suurprisingly understanding about the previous night's shenanigans. Top Gear, Ewan Macregor's motorcycling thing and the footie highlights provided excellent sunday evening entertainment for my fragile being. The thirty pound parking fine I got this morning was less cool. All in all a top quality evening, the best (and probably last) party we've ever had here, met some cool new people and saw some things involving baby oil that will stay with me for ever. It's awesome when a plan comes together and loads of your friends are all having fun together in the same place (that sounds uber cheesy but I'm still enjoying the glow of an awesome evening).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6B5vyC9Ioaj6KilxkoUGnRDQ_fjFTBWkbsBSJRnX6Ogf_ujySK1Xp2cCA73Q9Li-QJNzbdRokNjiEygzCVxX6kN9ZvuHwgaG89VyxpjCpEkXleTLpf94M0p4Q0wb5mAZAMsJ3VINMm3U/s1600-h/DSCF0622.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6B5vyC9Ioaj6KilxkoUGnRDQ_fjFTBWkbsBSJRnX6Ogf_ujySK1Xp2cCA73Q9Li-QJNzbdRokNjiEygzCVxX6kN9ZvuHwgaG89VyxpjCpEkXleTLpf94M0p4Q0wb5mAZAMsJ3VINMm3U/s400/DSCF0622.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132790765282446690" /></a><br /><br />A new mix online as well, this one is spacey disco thing that has my three current favourite tunes on it, the Lindstrom remix of 'Just an Illusion', the Tim Goldsworthy Maps remix and the 'Still Going Theme' plus LCD Soundsystems 'Someone Great' - best tune of the year? <a href="http://www.musicv2.com/artist/sam_loveday"> <FONT COLOR="red"> Get it here!</FONT> </a><br />Tracklisting<br />1. Weirdo Police - Full Moon & Thunder (Wolf Den Mix) [Redux]<br />2. Holy Ghost - Hold On [DFA]<br />3. LSB - Original Highway Delight [Eskimo]<br />4. Magnus International - Kosmetisk [Full Pupp]<br />5. Michael Mayer & Reinhard Voigt - Transparenza [Speicher]<br />6. Still Going - Still Going Theme [DFA]<br />7. Lindstrom - Breakfast In Heaven [Feedelity]<br />8. Audiofly - Miscalate (Partial Arts Remix) [Rekkids]<br />9. Peter Visti - Dolly [Mindless]<br />10. Randaberg Ego Ensemble - Vestamaran (Prins Thomas mix) [Full Pupp]<br />11. LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great [DFA]<br />12. Imagination - Just An Illusion (Lindstrom Vocal Mix) [Juno]<br />13. Maps - To The Sky (The Loving Hand remix) [Mute]<br />14. Hatchback - White Diamond (Prins Thomas Miks Del 1 & 2) [This Is Not An Exit]<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtdfqv5bPVZdVIVgxDBupOkhB3wmVG-N3qxdsD34dGMOK6wpWIl9iQPIN1btpXinrgBxkO4pZMcfzlzhvHgXzvW1-G8wHgVn3-Db_aqcEiJiIjnWRVsFqHBSbcrnpX44ApO9BSLguQ5Q/s1600-h/n576935345_1586454_3875.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtdfqv5bPVZdVIVgxDBupOkhB3wmVG-N3qxdsD34dGMOK6wpWIl9iQPIN1btpXinrgBxkO4pZMcfzlzhvHgXzvW1-G8wHgVn3-Db_aqcEiJiIjnWRVsFqHBSbcrnpX44ApO9BSLguQ5Q/s400/n576935345_1586454_3875.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132799763238931906" /></a><br /><br /><br />Most of the photos here courtesy C.Harrison & R.Bleaklysam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-77904550391442980632007-11-06T02:43:00.001-08:002007-11-06T03:47:04.770-08:00Underground Misery<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguK32qmENp5Y9xmrRXMwMONgh8xdeiZcNhdERhYWtGB0LH3VYisvSbdxR4e2LmFLYs8CaFj1aEfSBhHFj4pMreDDWZje7tuaiw-oActhEGbrFcQm6ZSpLAMvWycXwpxk2NBfhvedphpJg/s1600-h/DSCF0581.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguK32qmENp5Y9xmrRXMwMONgh8xdeiZcNhdERhYWtGB0LH3VYisvSbdxR4e2LmFLYs8CaFj1aEfSBhHFj4pMreDDWZje7tuaiw-oActhEGbrFcQm6ZSpLAMvWycXwpxk2NBfhvedphpJg/s400/DSCF0581.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129687013769791890" /></a><br /><br />I've not been terribly pysched to get out climbing since I got back from Alps, I was enjoying the warm glow from that for a while and its got to that time of year in Edinburgh when the drinking season starts in earnest and the thought of rock climbing doesn't really feel that appealing. Maybe I just need a sunny day down in the county to sort me out? However, the long range forecast charts have been suggesting some fairly interesting weather for the end of this week and next, the gimp suit has been taken down from summer storage and my picks are quivvering in anticipation...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q0Plrg9ElqRgSsYvwlDyGoM_90uIBZl0lDkHhhyXkHdnedtbBxguzQhUMZlGaDVIWcHK_buoXBy_CMNHXd0aFgmt3Nm-QZsUadRQoumgVlfArU1tiu4xrGIwk-bFNcr6sRW6c9SA2T4/s1600-h/DSCF0596.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Q0Plrg9ElqRgSsYvwlDyGoM_90uIBZl0lDkHhhyXkHdnedtbBxguzQhUMZlGaDVIWcHK_buoXBy_CMNHXd0aFgmt3Nm-QZsUadRQoumgVlfArU1tiu4xrGIwk-bFNcr6sRW6c9SA2T4/s400/DSCF0596.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129688031677041058" /></a><br /><br />Anyway, this weekend was the misery meet and for once the weather was ok and the walk in and out was just about bearable. Duncan came up with the cunning plan of getting the bus to drop us at Bridge of Orchy where we got the train to Corrour (the station at the end of trainspotting that is only accessible by rail). We had to leave Edinburgh promptly at six, which led to a few comedy moments mainly involving Mike having to chase the coach down Lothian Road on his bike on the way back from work. Getting a train doesn't have quite the holiday feel of a ferry but was still pretty cool. On Saturday I walked up quite possibly the most boring Munro in Scotland - Beinn na Lap, its only redeeming feature being that it was about an hour and 45mins round trip. General banter was had on Saturday evening at Staoineag bothy, mainly involving finding out what made people tick, some tribal drumming on the walls at 3am to try and rustle up some more booze, a broken (fucking) hippy's drum and Wallbank's frankly disgraceful behaviour involving a sealed bottle and the fire. On Sunday we walked 16kms to Kinlochleven in the drizzle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAfpQyBUvGDLKcvY5cMJFMdCu0CueLiA3AId3MVdS5RfX0-kmVkfNrYkeH3agWUK-YtqRE965hT-Uu99bRW_CKtaR-1VCO39E6ULa5HT-_OdoDbBvDXEym8MvYWpRZb71lQutEanJnm8/s1600-h/DSCF0605.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAfpQyBUvGDLKcvY5cMJFMdCu0CueLiA3AId3MVdS5RfX0-kmVkfNrYkeH3agWUK-YtqRE965hT-Uu99bRW_CKtaR-1VCO39E6ULa5HT-_OdoDbBvDXEym8MvYWpRZb71lQutEanJnm8/s400/DSCF0605.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129688594317756850" /></a><br /><br />A couple of weeks ago I went and saw Underground Resistance live in Manchester at the warehouse party thing under Piccadilly train station. UR are a sort shadowy, militant Techno collective formed Mad Mike and Jeff Mills in the late '80's and who emerged as part of the '2nd wave' of Detroit (where it all began) artists in about 1989 - the first wave being Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson. They're fairly ideologically driven and espouse a lot of political rubbish (the quote below is their 'creed' from their webpage) but have made some outstanding, genre defining and technologically mindblowing music. The best things to listen to to get a flavour of what they're about is Interstellar Fugitives (an album from 1998) and the Galaxy2Galaxy compilation which contains most of the classic early hits. I've got both so if you're interested...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwQoxIz27dAZERJLz_JwJGKC79MK93TQbNTT12o-FSYpAMf41T5TTnB7SyRmgbqkPa2Xq-j_Cw8BzO-QKZpfkjvYTs1gT55qdaDu5Yw_EyBishm8lwcldcUWbRO2nYy5fsBhCU50Dgqo/s1600-h/DSCF0555.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwQoxIz27dAZERJLz_JwJGKC79MK93TQbNTT12o-FSYpAMf41T5TTnB7SyRmgbqkPa2Xq-j_Cw8BzO-QKZpfkjvYTs1gT55qdaDu5Yw_EyBishm8lwcldcUWbRO2nYy5fsBhCU50Dgqo/s400/DSCF0555.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129690252175133122" /></a><br /><br /><I>Underground Resistance is a label for a movement. A movement that wants change by sonic revolution. We urge you to join the resistance and help us combat the mediocre audio and visual programming that is being fed to the inhabitants of Earth, this programming is stagnating the minds of the people; building a wall between races and preventing world peace. It is this wall we are going to smash. By using the untapped energy potential of sound we are going to destroy this wall much the same as certain frequencies shatter glass. Techno is a music based in experimentation; it is music for the future of the human race. Without this music there will be no peace, no love, no vision. By simply communicating through sound, techno has brought people of all different nationalities together under one roof to enjoy themselves. Isn't it obvious that music and dance are the keys to the universe? So called primitive animals and tribal humans have known this for thousands of years! We urge all brothers and sisters of the underground to create and transmit their tones and frequencies no matter how so called primitive their equipment may be. Transmit these tones and wreak havoc on the programmers!</I><br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HjdBsP5N_Zo"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HjdBsP5N_Zo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Back to the night, Francois K was on first who is a legendary DJ from New York, I reckon he's probably awesome if you see him on his home turf at his night Deep Space in NY but was pretty average the other day, basically playing a 'top 40' of techno set although it was cool hearing Groove La Chord out on a big system. UR were bloody awesome, a great mix of techno/electro with loads of classics thrown in. My major gripe was that they didn't do 'Amazon' or 'Jupiter Jazz' my two favourites. We left half way through Jeff Mills who wasn't as good as the last time I saw him at the End in London (a proper six hour stomp) but he did play some riduculous sounding full on monster as we left. The train journey down to London at 5am was interestingly messy...<br /><br />Also got a new mix online, you can get it <a href="http://www.musicv2.com/artist/sam_loveday"> <FONT COLOR="red">here (October 07)</FONT> </a><br /><br />1.Steve Bug & Cle - Behind the Curtains [Poker Flat]<br />2.Moonstarr- Detroit [Sonar Kollektiv]<br />3.Tony Allen - Kilode (Carl Craig Remix) [Honest Jon's]<br />4.Hercules - Classique #2 [DFA]<br />5.Phuture - Rise From Your Grave (Tiefschwarz Remix) [Strictly Rhythm]<br />6.Sascha Funke - The Acrobat (Efdemin Remix) [Bpitch Control]<br />7.Simon Baker - Confused (David K Remix) [Infant Ltd]<br />8.Roland Appel - Dark Soldier [Sonar Kollektiv]<br />9.Kevin Saunderson - Till We Meet Again (Carl Craig Remix) [Planet E]<br />10.Einzelkind vs Meat - Words from the Front Line [Get Physical]<br />11.Cybotron - Clear (Cobblestone Jazz Remix) [Juno]<br />12.Redshape - Unifinished Symmetry [Present]<br />13.Taho - The Hybrids [Ovum]<br />14.Kiki & Sasse - Grand Cru [Mood Music]sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-6319264489914090842007-10-19T06:56:00.000-07:002007-10-27T02:51:41.424-07:00Weekend Alpinism<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwy9pVGHDzFnj9DpCnMBPu6py1Zd-imngTorz4-KiHGOwGqqVlUmXrNPISv7I6xSnomH2lVOVvjTjD1mSLF4PIepffRfIH3kNa3qbQsxz_oSufPbwZ4yRUpR-sYnPrRXcSPemJ4Wbuf8/s1600-h/DSCF0466.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwy9pVGHDzFnj9DpCnMBPu6py1Zd-imngTorz4-KiHGOwGqqVlUmXrNPISv7I6xSnomH2lVOVvjTjD1mSLF4PIepffRfIH3kNa3qbQsxz_oSufPbwZ4yRUpR-sYnPrRXcSPemJ4Wbuf8/s400/DSCF0466.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123047824315745026" /></a><br /><b> <font color=red>Wednesday Morning – walking across the meadows to George Square </font></b><br />“Do you fancy going to the Alps for the weekend? The weather forecast is good and I’ve heard the Droites is in good condition.” <br />Konrad doesn’t need much persuading.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCpp2xfeWd7cYm0qqcxCP6sWanGFYReLzT7fqStK5r7XbIo2NAV2Mfd_oGDydFJZe7v6EPEP-mkDBsMGBvXfYRHQUp87EkWeytvsR5sksi2gYdcZmnorKutkzUmnooiP3kBBnlYaYnNA/s1600-h/DSCF0440.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCpp2xfeWd7cYm0qqcxCP6sWanGFYReLzT7fqStK5r7XbIo2NAV2Mfd_oGDydFJZe7v6EPEP-mkDBsMGBvXfYRHQUp87EkWeytvsR5sksi2gYdcZmnorKutkzUmnooiP3kBBnlYaYnNA/s400/DSCF0440.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125306658228979842" /></a><br /><br /><b><font color=red>GBH Party – Thursday night, 11.30pm</font></b><br />I push my way through the body painted mass of the EUMC and head for the door, having felt slightly old and self-conscious whilst clasping a cup of tea for the past half hour. I pass Konrad dressed in a wedding gown and remind him of the ten to five alarm call in the morning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHziWuWqDZDWPe0_C7RJwyaZv9e-XsfERDz_CPyBiNyc3jP3-beD5i4E_nFNh_43kvVoW6JG5kxvYh5GHE1v9wqUmQ7_8Sef375B5f8z_teM9VMGkR6HnpYen19wZ2gX4DtAf_rd60xBo/s1600-h/DSCF0455.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHziWuWqDZDWPe0_C7RJwyaZv9e-XsfERDz_CPyBiNyc3jP3-beD5i4E_nFNh_43kvVoW6JG5kxvYh5GHE1v9wqUmQ7_8Sef375B5f8z_teM9VMGkR6HnpYen19wZ2gX4DtAf_rd60xBo/s400/DSCF0455.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125306967466625170" /></a><br /><br /><b><font color=red>Car Park of the Grands Montets Telepherique, Argentiere, Friday 2pm </font></b><br />“Have you got a lighter Sam?”<br />Cue frantic search of pockets followed by a hurried drive back down the road to Chamonix.<br />One hour later back at the car park, I pull my boots out of the car and suddenly remember the broken lace on one. Another trip down the valley is needed, delaying the walk in by a further hour.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeh3kOTjCpIucBSLdMiwvYIzYDWqVf8J7aapcHyeVBl4SFq3vRSTsDFhkYTHhdSbtVwhzKxrI6URm6qrj0BuLYEpUef3TrL9hSgn8HtKMF0_NEBVR_RLZgxIj1fCFTdxH_jgz11f-8VI0/s1600-h/DSCF0462.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeh3kOTjCpIucBSLdMiwvYIzYDWqVf8J7aapcHyeVBl4SFq3vRSTsDFhkYTHhdSbtVwhzKxrI6URm6qrj0BuLYEpUef3TrL9hSgn8HtKMF0_NEBVR_RLZgxIj1fCFTdxH_jgz11f-8VI0/s400/DSCF0462.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125658892791892226" /></a><br /><br /><br /><b><font color=red>Argentiere Refuge, Friday 8.30pm </font></b><br />The long slog up from Argentiere is a drag, four and half of walking and 1500m of height gain drains the legs, especially in the knowledge that we have to get up in four hours time. Still, the autumnal trees were pretty and the setting sun turning the Aiguille Chardonnet and Aiguille d’Argentiere blood red was a memorable sight. <br />First glance at the face in the fading evening light worryingly reveals ice in all the right places, no excuse now and the knot in the stomach tightens further.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFAhNPjFJqCzAyToUdR-BOLveE_u1u46La7wZ11yXAhU5R2jCCXhZEkDBA2N-zM8Hriq8mfqka1XP27uP38ahFlx4I_RDjZoi6VSB8wDrS-OTopiLF-zeP_uyILpEDJWo0lQUMM9jp58/s1600-h/DSCF0477.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFAhNPjFJqCzAyToUdR-BOLveE_u1u46La7wZ11yXAhU5R2jCCXhZEkDBA2N-zM8Hriq8mfqka1XP27uP38ahFlx4I_RDjZoi6VSB8wDrS-OTopiLF-zeP_uyILpEDJWo0lQUMM9jp58/s400/DSCF0477.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125659511267182866" /></a><br /><br /><br /><b><font color=red>Bergschrund, Saturday 3am</font></b><br />We left the refuge an hour and a half ago, the whole situation feels increasingly bizarre considering we were at the GBH party 24 hours ago. The 1000m of La Ginat (ED1) lies above us, 500m of 60 degree ice slope, followed up an orion face (harder on the day) style headwall tacked on top and then 100m of easy ground to the breche, just what my unacclimatised lungs called for. No moon tonight and the ‘schrund rears suddenly rears out of the slope, a quick ferret around reveals an improbable way through on the right but fears are assuaged by the reassuring squeak of perfect neve.<br />We continue up into the darkness, moving easily together over the lower icefield, the only respite for burning calves being the occasional pause to place a screw.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEbTLs4rC3RCLD9RIHN8Ku2Xqj4HyaBZ2fOFVfNdIiP8avH6tGiUfl89Lr4cx_Nml_MBZH3Wb2kfje_a4uprYOY88VibZ1s8qnxLNzJ8JU1x49fdnQuXfAOsWuE3oKmUHRSqXC4C1bOk/s1600-h/DSCF0486.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEbTLs4rC3RCLD9RIHN8Ku2Xqj4HyaBZ2fOFVfNdIiP8avH6tGiUfl89Lr4cx_Nml_MBZH3Wb2kfje_a4uprYOY88VibZ1s8qnxLNzJ8JU1x49fdnQuXfAOsWuE3oKmUHRSqXC4C1bOk/s400/DSCF0486.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125655740285896898" /></a><br /><br /><b><font color=red>Headwall, Saturday 8am</font> </b><br />A cunning sleight of hand (and a rather strange decision by Konrad to stop 50m below the steepening) gives my partner the first pitch. He pulls it out the bag on the unconsolidated 80˚ wall, no decent runners for 25m with the consequence of a slip unthinkable for both. The next five pitches fly by, most of them more than 60m due to a magical extending rope. <a><br /> <img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RgoHHaWMRWjehnH89eq38ByG1Od4rtF-RjEn580qFusFui0n3bbrUXZ4hsZm6IOqzpNTT3ERFouMfzl4clK82h3K4dM2tS1a4yDMKPFnlZgAcRRQlKqJ7WO7J0T1g1bUMx4GgPdUBvc/s400/DSCF0494.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125672868615473538" /></a>The wall is plastered in Styrofoam, a pleasure to climb but yielding mainly ‘sub-optimal’ screws. We climb up in virtual silence, the need for conversation negated by the practised efficiency that comes from the cumulative hours spent climbing together (plus Konrad’s chat stinks). The spell is broken on the last steep smear. I get halfway and begin to wobble, worn out by 900m of ice below and the thin air around, with my calves on fire I manage to traverse a little left and belay. Konnie doesn’t fancy the last 30m either and we manage to avoid the meanest looking bit by some steep mixed climbing to its left.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqrkvC5AVW-HxTlhX0uhvLsTEOrGidxecZf85RxNbFV9_t1U4K0GFubAbWXQAdyQOQslKr-WMv3TvHYXLWMeXzwuah1fL80ELu0njimJNoiRGuqynCR6yy2e0VTtLAifEtyoD4HakVwM/s1600-h/DSCF0505.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqrkvC5AVW-HxTlhX0uhvLsTEOrGidxecZf85RxNbFV9_t1U4K0GFubAbWXQAdyQOQslKr-WMv3TvHYXLWMeXzwuah1fL80ELu0njimJNoiRGuqynCR6yy2e0VTtLAifEtyoD4HakVwM/s400/DSCF0505.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125654185507735714" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjbdEiS2naXtqlL85zbgomjRwZsKLp6qafnea-BbSxJUZwdq5Y3WCVn0u_Zr1Wcik_zCAxJEkzQmzIr_OBsYgfY1THKecmAxjc31_36lRFKVU6ndRQ9w5iibD9im4kCitxr-Aev9ifQo/s1600-h/DSCF0501.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjbdEiS2naXtqlL85zbgomjRwZsKLp6qafnea-BbSxJUZwdq5Y3WCVn0u_Zr1Wcik_zCAxJEkzQmzIr_OBsYgfY1THKecmAxjc31_36lRFKVU6ndRQ9w5iibD9im4kCitxr-Aev9ifQo/s400/DSCF0501.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125658025208498418" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBAzyx8IMSv20mQfc2Xg-Lr_uZC7iBwuZkPk0hNUVipqc53ZHoOxANlrg_Ylu0ZEYt0ZnjOkd-sk7SKCLpaxe9ZTL2HhBPGzULeK6lyX5Hr6i_9BFBs512k-QirqVfLx9nzGaGrgslNs/s1600-h/DSCF0496.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBAzyx8IMSv20mQfc2Xg-Lr_uZC7iBwuZkPk0hNUVipqc53ZHoOxANlrg_Ylu0ZEYt0ZnjOkd-sk7SKCLpaxe9ZTL2HhBPGzULeK6lyX5Hr6i_9BFBs512k-QirqVfLx9nzGaGrgslNs/s400/DSCF0496.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125657136150268130" /></a><b><font color=red>Breche des Droites (3950m), Saturday 3pm</font></b><br />The view of Mt Blanc and the Valais is breathtaking, but this is maybe down to the last 150m of deep, soul-destroying powder in the final gully coupled to my unacclimatised lungs straining for oxygen. The view of the gully we have to abseil down is less pleasant. Five hours later we’re sitting on a small ledge, its dark, getting cold and I’m certainly exhausted. The rap down the gully was worse than it looked. Both of us managed to narrowly avoid being squashed by huge falling blocks, the ropes got repeatedly tangled thanks to the shallow angle of the couloir and to top it all off I ran out of water about two hours ago.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZaglzlbl2SGPddp_6Xsh_xocViqkNslqV-2SuGh7U-EH6yL46WZ3OvAM1R0IMI_UITxKOx5v2A73lLXVkd_mJx_jxkrYlL-F23Gdhoip7H5L6fGJh9U48MR2H3k7NWTKldNxSNes3ng/s1600-h/DSCF0516.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZaglzlbl2SGPddp_6Xsh_xocViqkNslqV-2SuGh7U-EH6yL46WZ3OvAM1R0IMI_UITxKOx5v2A73lLXVkd_mJx_jxkrYlL-F23Gdhoip7H5L6fGJh9U48MR2H3k7NWTKldNxSNes3ng/s400/DSCF0516.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125656521969944786" /></a><br /><b><font color=red>Rognon de Talefre, middle of the Talefre Glacier, Saturday 11pm</font></b><br />“Konrad, I can’t go any further lets just get out of the breeze behind this rock and spend the night here.” <br />I eventually stirred from the small ledge and we completed the last rap to the glacier, the bergshrund was hard to cross and we blundered about in the dark for a while. By the time we reached the middle of the glacier I was completely spent, my fuel tank was pushing empty and the lack of water was contributing to a very dodgy head gasket. Even though the Couvercle hut was only about an hour further on, reaching it would involve traversing a very crevassed area or a considerable descent and re-ascent. I was spending the night here.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9DYFjnCynQlhSBZ3w_7GWR1T2i6oj_An3wHKWJkek-jB5z-BeVN36R4X_C_1b7Z4fW1smWRdMFOCPqqzIZeFiEuQag3ePcA5PDikBxc5DxD26qaPmWGaEXQxdE8Gt3ecNszNNQSMvng/s1600-h/DSCF0517.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk9DYFjnCynQlhSBZ3w_7GWR1T2i6oj_An3wHKWJkek-jB5z-BeVN36R4X_C_1b7Z4fW1smWRdMFOCPqqzIZeFiEuQag3ePcA5PDikBxc5DxD26qaPmWGaEXQxdE8Gt3ecNszNNQSMvng/s400/DSCF0517.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125664093997287746" /></a><br /><br /><b><font color=red>Couvercle Refuge, Sunday 8am</font></b><br />I’ve had better nights but also worse. It can’t have been colder than about minus two and you can get surprisingly warm in a bothy bag, I also managed to resist the dubious pleasure of spooning with Konrad…<br />The stove was on at the Couvercle when we arrived and after draining enough water to cool Sellafield, I was revived by soup and smash that’d been meant for the previous night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpQpLsmfrA9njT4-8AC253pEpsoFC_ar-j3vxSKKY9-rWJCqJU_iUf4G9cYWcL_1wWYarbNb74czk5X8mg0_ZxHKcUjeJ8RMqj0loek-_JPCjOLB70Llz9SFmzClmSQ09q-jBr7NcHYA/s1600-h/DSCF0524.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpQpLsmfrA9njT4-8AC253pEpsoFC_ar-j3vxSKKY9-rWJCqJU_iUf4G9cYWcL_1wWYarbNb74czk5X8mg0_ZxHKcUjeJ8RMqj0loek-_JPCjOLB70Llz9SFmzClmSQ09q-jBr7NcHYA/s400/DSCF0524.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125662324470761762" /></a><br /><br /><b><font color=red>Montenvers, Sunday 1pm</font></b><br />Always a nice feeling when you’re down safely, wasn’t looking forward to the final slog down to Cham because the train was closed but the tingly glow of success was beginning to flow to my weary extremities and the thought of a 'special' at Poco Loco drove me on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwrsnPb3rTzSpiZboQoCJHMmVik5FcePOKtxQ-jN84LUixSDLnOpDhwEwuQFN4MNfr1p1bV52U2CixDGR4qgZ8XBk_c0bjVsMdkW6mo5UrhDb7pRcUk0u36aqKeA2goc6inOOhluUucs/s1600-h/DSCF0532.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwrsnPb3rTzSpiZboQoCJHMmVik5FcePOKtxQ-jN84LUixSDLnOpDhwEwuQFN4MNfr1p1bV52U2CixDGR4qgZ8XBk_c0bjVsMdkW6mo5UrhDb7pRcUk0u36aqKeA2goc6inOOhluUucs/s400/DSCF0532.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125663363852847410" /></a><br /><br /><b><font color=red>Micro Brewery, Chamonix, 7pm</font></b><br />Beer!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnR3QakD0CxYpW3WAJYHRI3xdTCnIu_GSJ0QT1ulU2pPpXCXD046W5oIKvYt-0GGgs47raeL9MMEqX2Wu3IwpOP_ka9oLd-S8rTmnH7rq22L2NCeUciAu_eIgkRs1r9Ip-RaLMuU_Yug/s1600-h/DSCF0535.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnR3QakD0CxYpW3WAJYHRI3xdTCnIu_GSJ0QT1ulU2pPpXCXD046W5oIKvYt-0GGgs47raeL9MMEqX2Wu3IwpOP_ka9oLd-S8rTmnH7rq22L2NCeUciAu_eIgkRs1r9Ip-RaLMuU_Yug/s400/DSCF0535.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125665412552247634" /></a><br /><br /><b><font color=red>Edinburgh, Monday 1pm</font></b><br />Mission Accomplished. We made it back on schedule despite a very blonde morning that involved me losing my wallet twice, once in Geneva airport and once on the plane (got it back though).<br />Weekend Alpinism certainly beats vegetating in the Burgh. It was knackering, but nothing equals sitting in the sun at around <br />4000m on a Saturday afternoon with a 1000m ice face below you feet and the whole of the Alps spread out on either side.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eglHj6ZTtmsPQzPVv3IrnQ6jyutJo6tvOaHPI6F6NUf3frseBuFqlBTmlykH2w92_V21BAzcfQ-uDxE1iat5TXCIDa-9BdmBfkkFANgsXVFpeO9sA1gZu6whIrDfmiCcpSuNjcA2cus/s1600-h/DSCF0545.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eglHj6ZTtmsPQzPVv3IrnQ6jyutJo6tvOaHPI6F6NUf3frseBuFqlBTmlykH2w92_V21BAzcfQ-uDxE1iat5TXCIDa-9BdmBfkkFANgsXVFpeO9sA1gZu6whIrDfmiCcpSuNjcA2cus/s400/DSCF0545.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125666481999104354" /></a>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-56230120856088551712007-10-08T09:51:00.000-07:002007-10-09T05:03:42.493-07:00Only fit for a mountain goat<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrKKSj-xU_jz33UsMpemMfBj5fjuuHCnzpI2n_kB34I-FUZTsNRqDCg0G7-Mu_VTMBlbeAd6J45dH5J14hiGlLcFFkmhJu3wWpvZqheRTX22rSQrn3WUrb-dNaIEjCBpPTDEMbGCxIkM/s400/DSCF0401.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119298277057254498" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTm59nNlLJs6RN0bJbzG6hhly2w7Z3X9zPRPf3Mj-bxcctcRAs7U_a54drSETAhbQDcc71XgOW_USjppDJ2zh6jzmb0sQAvL6wJ4OMQx1a8TsWVijuM-2CuSK4zsi6DgMx8xVqVqjpDbM/s1600-h/DSCF0405.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTm59nNlLJs6RN0bJbzG6hhly2w7Z3X9zPRPf3Mj-bxcctcRAs7U_a54drSETAhbQDcc71XgOW_USjppDJ2zh6jzmb0sQAvL6wJ4OMQx1a8TsWVijuM-2CuSK4zsi6DgMx8xVqVqjpDbM/s400/DSCF0405.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119299887669990530" /></a> Whenever I go walking in the mountains with my dad we inevitably end up on some dodgy scrambling that wasn't in the original plan and which he doesn't really enjoy. Normally he gets through it ok but without lots of muttering about how this sort of terrain is only suitable for a mountain goat. Kiwi Steve, Helena and I went to the aptly name Goat crag in Borrowdale on Sunday and I spent a large part of the day thinking similar thoughts. The crag gets a glowing report along the lines of 'showcasing the best that the valley has to offer' and has lots of multi-starred HVS's and E1's including the Hard Rock classic Praying Mantis. Perhaps we should have had second thoughts about visiting a slow to dry north facing crag in early October but the weather had been dry for three a days, Saturday was supposed to have been glorious and the Geoffcast was fairly positive...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPRQPcEGQ8C5ZSzCQn4KqT4iXJ_AFKCc7hdm2Fbaplz26UHeI-42dUvScizpqFy7uEPnBfSd6xvs_HID7LDPhCQHINK0w5BplhKcdx0uN_UQuinouo8siFEK1dUKEozLZdH4mZHoR-_s/s1600-h/DSCF0406.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnPRQPcEGQ8C5ZSzCQn4KqT4iXJ_AFKCc7hdm2Fbaplz26UHeI-42dUvScizpqFy7uEPnBfSd6xvs_HID7LDPhCQHINK0w5BplhKcdx0uN_UQuinouo8siFEK1dUKEozLZdH4mZHoR-_s/s400/DSCF0406.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119300660764103826" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGmae4cNlUgEaXbv2WL4-KImc6FCgfG2jT5ZtIOd-kVm1Ya6fksW_gZmyI5vAMBAVSaLVsr33pf1z8_AOdVjzXv2M6yR_8PsdiKZjbODra0bJBWbH5OP2q03m2X4tZY2PuMv5kf6t1NQ/s1600-h/DSCF0423.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGmae4cNlUgEaXbv2WL4-KImc6FCgfG2jT5ZtIOd-kVm1Ya6fksW_gZmyI5vAMBAVSaLVsr33pf1z8_AOdVjzXv2M6yR_8PsdiKZjbODra0bJBWbH5OP2q03m2X4tZY2PuMv5kf6t1NQ/s400/DSCF0423.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119301060196062370" /></a>I was in a particularly buoyant mood after England's unexpected triumph on Saturday (cue much jumping around the living room by myself) and despite having only got having had three hours sleep (imminent work deadline) was pysched for a day of 'cranking and sending' (© G.Marshall). My partners were slighty stiff after completing the Pentland Skyline the day before and Steve was probably suffering after New Zealands loss (choke?) the night before. The walk up to the crag felt more like the jungles of South-East Asia than the bracing fells of Cumbria, it was warm and sticky and a heavy dew dripped off the trees and bracken whilst the worrylingly vegetated cliff loomed out of the gloom like the facade of a long lost temple. The scramble up to the base was precarious and the lichenous rocks were greasy to put it mildly. We chose to an HVS to 'warm up on' before possibly tackling something harder. The route we settled on was called Cursing Caterpillar' a **HVS and the beginning at least looked dry. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7a87kNzS_ovapUgjVWtl8h-8TlgpQKICHVVMgcMGIPutN3z8h1ksEJYDcK6Xus6Q7hNwYWPFWo8QnpnDKWwXzwTyQMwHmquHebtqYNzmRuKhdFg_PJWUjXLG63hMaNsMHgcTKiEiE8k/s1600-h/DSCF0427.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7a87kNzS_ovapUgjVWtl8h-8TlgpQKICHVVMgcMGIPutN3z8h1ksEJYDcK6Xus6Q7hNwYWPFWo8QnpnDKWwXzwTyQMwHmquHebtqYNzmRuKhdFg_PJWUjXLG63hMaNsMHgcTKiEiE8k/s400/DSCF0427.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119301777455600818" /></a><br /><br /><br />I slightly concerned when Steve almost slipped off the first move but he soon arrived at the belay and we quickly followed him up, I wasn't sure if the rock the slippy or whether it was my mind just playing tricks, but the climbing was straightforward enough. The next pitch was the crux, skirting a bulge, traversing a slab and then through an overhang and steeply up to belay. The first bulgy section was wet and I went up and fannied about for while before sacking it in. Helena was sent up and ignoring the overhanging dry bit I had tackled she squirmed her way up a unpleasant looking wet and mossy groove to the right before traversing onto the slab. Deciding she preferred the look of a more direct 5b way through the overhang, she gave it a few trys before being spat off and going for the normal way instead, this gave by far the best climbing on the route; a few burly moves through an overhang then some steep face climbing and finally a pleasant slab. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToMmXRuGHoDNx0NrZAyHJjZ73JsswKDr6nr7cUK0ixiuK1GX3mHRor8vGqNVWBwyF7rcV327_iV3RT5htvOJW8EIo3wDEP6DyY_3FRNuBPAWvNMBC-Y_5LPQzKpbuyqPvXBv5cY_HVgk/s1600-h/DSCF0432.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToMmXRuGHoDNx0NrZAyHJjZ73JsswKDr6nr7cUK0ixiuK1GX3mHRor8vGqNVWBwyF7rcV327_iV3RT5htvOJW8EIo3wDEP6DyY_3FRNuBPAWvNMBC-Y_5LPQzKpbuyqPvXBv5cY_HVgk/s400/DSCF0432.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119303748845589698" /></a><br /><br />The next pitch was a masterly lead from Steve, although its debateable whether it was actually classifiable as climbing. It started innocuously enough - a thin traverse across a slab before he disappeared out of sight and then sent down a fairly steady stream of moss and earth. The next 15m of consisted of extreme heather climbing: a precarious mixture of grabbing huge tufts and hoping the big grass clumps that passed for footholds didn't rip out. Definitely one one for the amateur botanist. This was followed by a wet mossy slab that both Helena and I pendulumed across seconding before a final few steep horticultural moves were needed to reach the belay. Without a doubt the hardest ungraded pitch I've ever done.<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eVvrR4lUiDiZsd_mAGndrlCuxT9fJQA_Ye-MFLy9onSQRnv474OyanB3YmtvEKAl5exGlJs0wUH6KIKg_E218H7UjMKsKpbCEA4OEZ63EYMGugn-f7P-AM9-KxfnJHuuIVKcAi0cWhg/s1600-h/DSCF0433.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eVvrR4lUiDiZsd_mAGndrlCuxT9fJQA_Ye-MFLy9onSQRnv474OyanB3YmtvEKAl5exGlJs0wUH6KIKg_E218H7UjMKsKpbCEA4OEZ63EYMGugn-f7P-AM9-KxfnJHuuIVKcAi0cWhg/s400/DSCF0433.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119306038063158514" /></a><br /><br />By now the mist had descended and we'd already spent a good five hours on the route, so much for warmup. The guidebook warned that the next pitch climbed a jamming crack that had now fallen down and that it was 4c. The guidebook author was either fibbing or hadn't reclimbed it, I've climbed a fair few 4c pitches and this felt more like solid 5c. The rock was also very different to lower down, having smooth surfaces and sharp edges more akin to quarried dolerite (visions of rosyth) and was covered in a decent coating of greasy lichen After climbing past a sizeable birds nest I flailed my way up what remained of the crack, rested a few times and then gave up, not my best leading day. Steve went up, got a little higher before resting and then managed to pendulum to another groove, this looked hideously loose but was actually ok before a final mossy cornice needed to be overcome to reach the top. As the walk off is supposed to be a lengthy faff we got dn in 3 raps and got back to car as darkness fell, feeling slightly sheepish at taking 8hrs for a 120m route. I'm not sure if I can really recommend Goat crag unless you go during a really dry spell and stick to the real classics, I dread to think what state one star routes or less are in, if especially two star ones feel like something out of the Lost World.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0njaJncyie_pDWkx7IxfxetN6SWCPNS4DnBH31UQkct8VEd7Xnkd2ZiMnjPQ1RLWqGnfqypEwDkZdqgLz2FC3VYnj13RVhP3Jg6HQjKvb7C52wSG2kQ1nxtbgsE-i1DwjGWESA8tPfE/s1600-h/DSCF0437.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0njaJncyie_pDWkx7IxfxetN6SWCPNS4DnBH31UQkct8VEd7Xnkd2ZiMnjPQ1RLWqGnfqypEwDkZdqgLz2FC3VYnj13RVhP3Jg6HQjKvb7C52wSG2kQ1nxtbgsE-i1DwjGWESA8tPfE/s400/DSCF0437.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119305393818064098" /></a>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-2914877607256429912007-10-03T05:46:00.000-07:002007-10-03T07:28:10.188-07:00Cuillin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDt97c-Bs6RvQgVr2anjf3jS9pq3TUwmTZpXXH7g7f-q1cqcK-cqfBJZZP4nT9jojIPJr408M14_IcFc89HYr2_OukRJtV6hHSUbnuTjxYTHxCjqb7J3pJGPNA7CQq3xgiXIilo3xugPs/s1600-h/DSCF0315.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDt97c-Bs6RvQgVr2anjf3jS9pq3TUwmTZpXXH7g7f-q1cqcK-cqfBJZZP4nT9jojIPJr408M14_IcFc89HYr2_OukRJtV6hHSUbnuTjxYTHxCjqb7J3pJGPNA7CQq3xgiXIilo3xugPs/s400/DSCF0315.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117107362699957074" /></a><br />With the weather looking pretty peachy if a bit parky in the North West and a pretty minimal chance of rain, there was really only one place that I was going to go last weekend. Pysche levels were pretty high and by midweek the lure of the Cuillin Ridge on Skye was proving too strong to resist, Will and Steve were roped in Jones's party on Wednesday night and the plan finalised.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gAlGZ3HyKE_XvdvzwIvSYKMselF0YvsESl3U3NMvEEQtP2lzbQWyFHnOmn64GsWCsWiK5N1MMRuMPWgumB7BzBTWyCHj5vQ6KXoCdFb5CZiUPL8DMwKLay3Pm5IYGXdFVXV7F_Zmrwk/s1600-h/DSCF0295.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gAlGZ3HyKE_XvdvzwIvSYKMselF0YvsESl3U3NMvEEQtP2lzbQWyFHnOmn64GsWCsWiK5N1MMRuMPWgumB7BzBTWyCHj5vQ6KXoCdFb5CZiUPL8DMwKLay3Pm5IYGXdFVXV7F_Zmrwk/s400/DSCF0295.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117109518773539682" /></a><br /><br />After the normal faff leaving Edinburgh, a swing by Rik's to pick him up following a last minute decision to come along and the usual disorganised shop at the Forth Road Bridge Tesco, we didn't really get on our way till almost 8, not ideal for the long drive to Glen Brittle. Still the journey whizzed by, aided by England's rugby victory and the sexy voice of Annie Mac on radio. We rendez-voued with Steve and Will in the Slig and managed to fit seven people and kit in the drive down the glen. We turned in at about twenty past one, not really relishing the alarm going off at quarter to four.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-JE2aIeRThKN8S4cOYgNWfgriscQcOl_VdWA439MAREM75grwZ34wmDW06HjQUxKbIaFgXWGXDXfWKdGkbmiHjS9u-YZcJP9-tIy56ARSTJXh7ykgC81VXgeaKmeZk0B15-JEpwwWFs/s1600-h/DSCF0302.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-JE2aIeRThKN8S4cOYgNWfgriscQcOl_VdWA439MAREM75grwZ34wmDW06HjQUxKbIaFgXWGXDXfWKdGkbmiHjS9u-YZcJP9-tIy56ARSTJXh7ykgC81VXgeaKmeZk0B15-JEpwwWFs/s400/DSCF0302.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117110128658895730" /></a><br /><br />Alpine starts never get any easier, and after a minor path dilemma, found the right one and trudged up into Coire Ghrunda. The only exciting moment on the walkin was Will dropping his Platipus somewhere near the lochan in the dark, but he swiftly found it and dawn was slowly breaking as we pulled up onto the ridge crest. We dumped our sacks and scrambled along the ridge to Garbhs Bheinn, the first point of the ridge. The problem about choosing the easier walk up the Coire instead of the scree slops of Garbhs Bheinn is that you have to retrace your steps back, so for the first part of the ridge you feel like you're making no progress. It was 0707 when we turned and began the traverse proper.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0-Bx6b1s0O-Sn4JOXzitG0H8SCWq06RsEdO6BVGM2KItj2PwTI2WxI1HD4dzNU5xvbvzAj7ay8STNo9vBETUvVktYO8AxUDRn5zmprI0ekoPUm3Qyh_lsUgjlidd_mEEH3i9VtDbIoE/s1600-h/DSCF0311.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0-Bx6b1s0O-Sn4JOXzitG0H8SCWq06RsEdO6BVGM2KItj2PwTI2WxI1HD4dzNU5xvbvzAj7ay8STNo9vBETUvVktYO8AxUDRn5zmprI0ekoPUm3Qyh_lsUgjlidd_mEEH3i9VtDbIoE/s400/DSCF0311.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117110613990200194" /></a><br /><br />The first part of the ridge to the TD gap is pretty straightforward, the legs are fresh, the rock wounderfully rough and featured, the sun is shinig and the whole thing seems a bit of a breeze, after the first Munro of Sgurr nan Eag we made a detour off the ridge to bag the optional one - Sgurr Dubh Mor (you might as well if you're there). The gap is a wee bit of a struggle but very short lived. From here its a shortish scramble to Sgurr Alasdair - the highest point (sort of all downhill from here...). At this point a quick glance at the watch showed that Es had just about finished by now on his record breaking run, we still had another 8 hours to go - I'm not sure he's really human.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfn8ILs4vNq-VzJ2PyZCDooUhlJ6IkL2tORFqpLjcSCJB-ATzZc4N7qHfKS2NNk-9F6ia5xdEm3IjavQINXSOPRRGCtShoaYBW6BIOwb2xutKYn5fgBmuvzUyY99CFgFMNZnlFNHViR8/s1600-h/DSCF0322.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfn8ILs4vNq-VzJ2PyZCDooUhlJ6IkL2tORFqpLjcSCJB-ATzZc4N7qHfKS2NNk-9F6ia5xdEm3IjavQINXSOPRRGCtShoaYBW6BIOwb2xutKYn5fgBmuvzUyY99CFgFMNZnlFNHViR8/s400/DSCF0322.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117112190243197890" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80t3WJpDvrNSOs48jXM7twrORz1pWQ56P22khBS-PsqjW8oP3pL_HUQaaSSkRPHr3fEougC7eNrebapirXIytKeSVoWnzCT7D9zCG6GTT_SKAcFzUyV0HWLxbti1wDuQzqvTGBpuliPw/s1600-h/DSCF0328.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80t3WJpDvrNSOs48jXM7twrORz1pWQ56P22khBS-PsqjW8oP3pL_HUQaaSSkRPHr3fEougC7eNrebapirXIytKeSVoWnzCT7D9zCG6GTT_SKAcFzUyV0HWLxbti1wDuQzqvTGBpuliPw/s320/DSCF0328.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117111232465490850" /></a>The Kings Chimmney passed easily and at about 1130 we were standing atop the Inn Pinn. I was quite happy with the 4hrs 30mins we'd taken to this point. This put us inside the rockfax split for a total time of 12hrs end to end, the time we roughly needed to take if we wanted to finish in daylight. The weather had clouded over a bit but still looked good, so the sunnies came off but still no need to wear more than a t-shirt. The next section went on and on and on, lots of semi-technical scrambling that was easy enough but needs a little care and constant ascents and descents. By the time we reached Bidean Steve was feeling it a bit and had run out of water, I gave him an energy gel and some of mine and he perked up considerably.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8GyHFmftb-M2MSd7k7ewt4emyCPDxrI_jRXmGU6MLA-86SL7vstW-CpIHtxSOoOb6Aj-vJch1qkr8BW43LsxmaytCmYBFBUrIiNPlYVTl52Art-v8UW4JVBNDCf-Y0cNoezGs5J5T2g/s1600-h/DSCF0332.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8GyHFmftb-M2MSd7k7ewt4emyCPDxrI_jRXmGU6MLA-86SL7vstW-CpIHtxSOoOb6Aj-vJch1qkr8BW43LsxmaytCmYBFBUrIiNPlYVTl52Art-v8UW4JVBNDCf-Y0cNoezGs5J5T2g/s400/DSCF0332.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117111657667253170" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzS_mGSdiw_suvl5YdtP908Iqld9jwvnOCx8BDVJuoJBgnp7pwUln4n-758ZnLsdHL8t8jHxatKt9SH-sgE8ZiWnhHF7lo2hwMk6PAProkWpzz57-K6sO9Ljq9Fvt3_68LCm2xQTVtzqk/s1600-h/DSCF0342.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzS_mGSdiw_suvl5YdtP908Iqld9jwvnOCx8BDVJuoJBgnp7pwUln4n-758ZnLsdHL8t8jHxatKt9SH-sgE8ZiWnhHF7lo2hwMk6PAProkWpzz57-K6sO9Ljq9Fvt3_68LCm2xQTVtzqk/s320/DSCF0342.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117113525978026978" /></a>It was now about 3pm, we felt we'd made good progress but the guide suggested a further 5.5 hrs from this point to the summit of Sgurr nan Gillean. This was a bit of a sick joke as the end was clearly in sight now and it would also mean we'd finish in the dark. Nothing to do but plow on. The next section was definitely the hardest for me, traversing Bidean was fun but the slog up Bruach na Frithe wasn't. I was running low on water but had to ration it a bit in order to share with Steve and Will, I was feeling pretty dehydrated and the legs were beginning to protest. However, the sun came out again bathing everything in late afternoon light and when we reached the summit of Bruach in an 1hr 40mins - well inside the rockfax time of 3hrs30mins, I knew it was in the bag.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHggGkrzZJu3Y-y0rrPwkPr4rzz-zfo-HpMs7RT6EYtur7gtk5pxUtDYy29escm0kslcPisL5lCRJLrFlWZcVl_06Ws9-eOxr93-izhP7rIzsA50xcE9Up8Fi02fqqYk4Q9xtVJ1zhP9M/s1600-h/DSCF0356.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHggGkrzZJu3Y-y0rrPwkPr4rzz-zfo-HpMs7RT6EYtur7gtk5pxUtDYy29escm0kslcPisL5lCRJLrFlWZcVl_06Ws9-eOxr93-izhP7rIzsA50xcE9Up8Fi02fqqYk4Q9xtVJ1zhP9M/s400/DSCF0356.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117117086505915474" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilV6eayjRF0Xx5sZHSSETcddw-C0k6M6O9cPCMCBH5ul3PGn79PzftYSviwLSGhW69ZZmblRCreNDet_sG4jbTUqX2_WCpCGxZQmsZklHDpQVzzs99EVd_EQG6bXGpVp5trKJ1QG_9f3A/s1600-h/DSCF0364.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilV6eayjRF0Xx5sZHSSETcddw-C0k6M6O9cPCMCBH5ul3PGn79PzftYSviwLSGhW69ZZmblRCreNDet_sG4jbTUqX2_WCpCGxZQmsZklHDpQVzzs99EVd_EQG6bXGpVp5trKJ1QG_9f3A/s320/DSCF0364.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117114423626191874" /></a>The last sting in the tail was Naismiths Route up the Bhasteir Tooth, Rick calmly soloed it and I led up after with Will and Steve behind. Although super exposed, it's on massive holds and was surprisingly straightforward despite the tired legs. From here its another load of scrambling down and then finally up the last bit to the top of Sgurr nan Gillean. Topped out at 7.27pm, 11hrs and 20mins after starting. It was pretty cool sitting at the top as the Red Cuillin were illuminted by the setting sun and looking back at the torturous 7 miles of ridge crest and the 300m of ascent and descent we'd done. It really lives up to its tag as the best alpine outing in country and although never hard it does keep concentrating the whole way as a slip would be pretty fatal most of the way along. It was a great time of year to do it as well, no midges or people and the weather wasn't too warm which meant dehydrating was less of a problem. Great day out and I reckon the team photo on the top says it all really.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbv0ph40EfHt6YwCWQDRqamAMYcUhw0ENja5K7ak9hpgellG1dYy43wKU4aezQ9-kfEDSQ4XuuwUJSAQlNLjZ3KV0dquV2UxTTqitOFL7dRhNPqeG1XxefkL2JjCYGm9gPAt71vnpfRU/s1600-h/DSCF0380.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbv0ph40EfHt6YwCWQDRqamAMYcUhw0ENja5K7ak9hpgellG1dYy43wKU4aezQ9-kfEDSQ4XuuwUJSAQlNLjZ3KV0dquV2UxTTqitOFL7dRhNPqeG1XxefkL2JjCYGm9gPAt71vnpfRU/s400/DSCF0380.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117114621194687506" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6qLDt-sCIEyZb0SqylNTTsg9fMEA-m_9ZyzejYleRKsOi4s9joUg_U6rreXfCsQ-1YzpMOz6BdL9uwPTaFA-E04_n9ScC_ml5WEmh81loaHHw4gkUfDbuuXPBlJzhFH5NNyvfuoFGi0/s1600-h/DSCF0372.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6qLDt-sCIEyZb0SqylNTTsg9fMEA-m_9ZyzejYleRKsOi4s9joUg_U6rreXfCsQ-1YzpMOz6BdL9uwPTaFA-E04_n9ScC_ml5WEmh81loaHHw4gkUfDbuuXPBlJzhFH5NNyvfuoFGi0/s400/DSCF0372.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117114947612202018" /></a>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-57761470007100604602007-09-24T09:28:00.000-07:002007-09-24T09:37:34.143-07:00Righto, here's a mix that I did the other day, its basically a deep house kinda thing, so quite relaxed and chilled out, you can download it <a href="http://www.musicv2.com/artist/sam_loveday"> <FONT COLOR="red">here (scroll down the page a bit and it's the September 07 one).</FONT> </a> <br />Tracklist:<br />1. Gudrun Gut - In Pieces (Burger/Voigt Remix) [Monika] <br />2. Naughty - World of Woman [Mood Music] <br />3. Mountain People - Mountain People 04 [Mountain People] <br />4. Hardrive - Deep Inside [Strictly Rhythm] <br />5. Serafin - Dream Sequence [Mountain People] <br />6. Vince Watson - Renaissance [Planet E] <br />7. Dj Gregory - Elle (Ame Remix) [Defected] <br />8. Coldcut - Walk A Mile In My Shoes (Henrik Schwarz Remix) [Ninja Tunes] <br />9. Torrance & Hochstrate - Shrinkage [Four:Twenty] <br />10. Marcelino Galan - House & Art (Charles Webster Remix) [House Cafe] <br />11. Funk D'Void - Lovin' (Hipp-E Remix) [Soma] <br />12. Burger/Voigt - Man Lebt Nur Zweimal [Kompakt] <br />13. Will Saul & Lee Jone - Hug The Scary (Partial Arts Remix) [Aus] <br />14. Kenny Hawkes & David Parr - Gemini [Rekkids] <br />15. Studio - Life's A Beach (Todd Terje House Mix) [Information] <br />16. Thomas/Mayer - Uber Wisen [Kompakt]sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-37321717933227396132007-09-14T09:34:00.000-07:002007-09-16T02:17:38.396-07:00Fred's Wedding<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0S8AxfUhhWImDsYjYP8-rpAEN8pI3SdKEYfgQ2-fn_ekBZ6U8hXg95Bzsgx-TnGul_oaOvoc-vjD0Xe_9sBvOReYO0zw7j1L7y5Aallee5dg39ftGUb51VGw7h3Pj4m_FIJtIriRiAE/s1600-h/s832865077_1200323_330.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0S8AxfUhhWImDsYjYP8-rpAEN8pI3SdKEYfgQ2-fn_ekBZ6U8hXg95Bzsgx-TnGul_oaOvoc-vjD0Xe_9sBvOReYO0zw7j1L7y5Aallee5dg39ftGUb51VGw7h3Pj4m_FIJtIriRiAE/s400/s832865077_1200323_330.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110728439626549730" /></a><br /><br />It was my good friend Fred's wedding last Saturday down in Sussex so I made the long trip South and ended up having a cracking weekend. Went out with my sister to Fabric and then some random bar in Farringdon on Friday night and ended up having a fairly messy one, which wasn't great preparation for the following day...<br />I'm not sure there was any way that I was legally allowed to drive on Saturday morning but I somehow navigated my way through parts of South London I never knew existed and after getting stuck in a highly irritating traffic jam on the outskirts of East Grinstead I met up with all the Trants boys in the pub for lunch. The service itself was quite entertaining with a wise-cracking vicar and some good singing from the choir, because I'd been tasked with videoing the thing I got the privilege of sitting with the great and good in the front row. Reception was good fun as well, Jules lived up to his name by stumbling around clutching a bottle to his chest by about 8.30pm. Good luck Fred and Soph (who looked v.beautiful on the day) and hope India is fun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKFKK5Osxl9MgtUdodJk4cMeR7Ki8rIL-35DZGO9dO6L83pAs2R0rWH9tLyYIXBP2eNIQoIdbHZtqM4_jrPkqrC5HNzXZ-W0btEKFJSzf6aYMs-pqQKy-Z8ngOEP6LapZFeiMgDtSrKo/s1600-h/s832865077_1200322_40.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKFKK5Osxl9MgtUdodJk4cMeR7Ki8rIL-35DZGO9dO6L83pAs2R0rWH9tLyYIXBP2eNIQoIdbHZtqM4_jrPkqrC5HNzXZ-W0btEKFJSzf6aYMs-pqQKy-Z8ngOEP6LapZFeiMgDtSrKo/s400/s832865077_1200322_40.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110728598540339698" /></a>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-78704809911632314772007-09-04T09:21:00.000-07:002007-09-04T09:50:32.408-07:00Hackers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7QpM7LYSJEGTtuPMijX6O5v6RbakJ28nYAGwXptzLf2jiaTESBpuev3M72uLsmHgKVmhHujOGi16Xu_YW904fsIHjWi5yDiLvBWLvDpfzcSqZ1VRSdcad-nOwG3kvgx4ARvL59Jt9zw/s1600-h/n197819208_36428695_8084.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7QpM7LYSJEGTtuPMijX6O5v6RbakJ28nYAGwXptzLf2jiaTESBpuev3M72uLsmHgKVmhHujOGi16Xu_YW904fsIHjWi5yDiLvBWLvDpfzcSqZ1VRSdcad-nOwG3kvgx4ARvL59Jt9zw/s400/n197819208_36428695_8084.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106390895853132258" /></a><br />Not much has been happening in the last few weeks since I got back from the Alps, certainly in the climbing sense. Been trying to write this report for my supervisor et al. Having a rather big crisis of confidence about the PHD at the mo, not really sure if I want to be doing it and whether I can actually do it... To make matters worse I've just got the thesis of French academic through the post, its on my topic, written last year and seems to be the last word on the matter. It's also in French, 1500 pages long and I've got to have read it by the end of the month. Bollocks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx252oh0PR8zffZ8J6PlkQE9JpZSJdzoEViVppEqBEbXh0-cjFSarN9_NJ_8GUXepf5qauqc8XY-agzf1R-MF2WEdqnWzJMPfHNxONaVTUlnd1lAA-m-7ZTAR5IXB-aSBy_CB2DRAcwms/s1600-h/n197819208_36428699_9380.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx252oh0PR8zffZ8J6PlkQE9JpZSJdzoEViVppEqBEbXh0-cjFSarN9_NJ_8GUXepf5qauqc8XY-agzf1R-MF2WEdqnWzJMPfHNxONaVTUlnd1lAA-m-7ZTAR5IXB-aSBy_CB2DRAcwms/s400/n197819208_36428699_9380.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106391406954240498" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGnXfC9JsskimZRCsx_jkdDuKIF2CLKUUuEOj7xLDLROdrSfExssG-sXOYtuFLkURmePxvJX4xc341dP0C7FlSvYWHsVCLlcn1pCEwjuGwAgqzt9soEd9SMbPdvU3V5kunux_QWhyM74/s1600-h/n197819208_36428700_9714.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGnXfC9JsskimZRCsx_jkdDuKIF2CLKUUuEOj7xLDLROdrSfExssG-sXOYtuFLkURmePxvJX4xc341dP0C7FlSvYWHsVCLlcn1pCEwjuGwAgqzt9soEd9SMbPdvU3V5kunux_QWhyM74/s400/n197819208_36428700_9714.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106392218703059490" /></a>On a lighter note, the weekend before last was Hackers. After monsoon like conditions all week, once the weekend arrived it brightened up. Played two rounds of golf on Friday with the senior Hackers, beat Tim Begg in the morning 4/2 and Dad and I beat Tim and Nigel G-D in the afternoon. Dad won overall with 26 points, not a vintage year by any means. Unfortunately we lost the cricket on sunday for the first time in 10 years. The village have decided to make the match 45 overs a side, a little ambitious after starting at midday. We ground out 165 quite slowly in 44.4 overs, Nigel GD scored 74, Mark GD and Tim Begg 30 each and not much from anyone else. I notched up my usual duck, but at least it wasn't a golden one eh Harry. I did manage to get one wicket when bowling with the best ball I've almost ecer bowled, pitched about 2-3 feet outside off and ripped back to clip middle. We were cruising when they were 60-6, but they had a good partnership to reach 100ish-7. Then things became slightly farcial as it got too dark to bowl our fast bowlers and we had to send down gimme spin in the last few overs. This made it pretty easy for Alkham to knock off the runs, esp as the fielders couldn't see the ball. Nigel got two wickets in two balls with Alkham needing only 5 win (I dropped a catch at this stage on the boundary that luckily wasn't crucial) but they managed to hold on for a win in 43rd over and pitch black. Still, the village were super chuffed and we had a good drink afterwards in the new look Marquis with its friendly landlord.<br />Fred's wedding on Sunday, which is bit scary. He also wants me to video it, God knows how that'll turn out?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtnqWp9_KS3-2j-YiE1sscQD9RWG2u3a9HuWx9TJOCS-FUjuzi_xYU2v1GXN4hKDYW6j-SZS1CnbORVylqyzO2NKbetLcqkwv8cxGmw4rk-_ndR4-jkbian2TPQ7-FMg_JPzk07xXW64/s1600-h/n197819208_36428747_7619.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtnqWp9_KS3-2j-YiE1sscQD9RWG2u3a9HuWx9TJOCS-FUjuzi_xYU2v1GXN4hKDYW6j-SZS1CnbORVylqyzO2NKbetLcqkwv8cxGmw4rk-_ndR4-jkbian2TPQ7-FMg_JPzk07xXW64/s400/n197819208_36428747_7619.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106391819271100946" /></a>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-50275140168084598972007-08-14T09:38:00.000-07:002007-08-14T10:02:44.542-07:00Alpine VideosJust thought I'd upload some alps videos onto the web. Quality is a bit rubbish as they're from my digital camera. Favourite one is probably Konrad sticking lukewarm waterbottles down his pants...<br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/449exomW_k0"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/449exomW_k0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br /><font color="red">The Aigle Hut before the storm arrived </font><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6YG9Lubb3TU"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6YG9Lubb3TU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br /><font color="red">How to cook bivvy pasta in a Gordon Ramsay stylee </font><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_VHwJjgNdeI"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_VHwJjgNdeI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br /><font color="red">View from the top of the Grande Casse after climbing the North Face </font><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8uvIPggH5ro"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8uvIPggH5ro" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" <br />height="350"></embed></object><br /><br /><font color="red"> Beer and Bru after the Paroi de Bazel </font><br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bK3Z2BPzBqE"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bK3Z2BPzBqE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>sam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8387421247608953008.post-48211707055871534272007-08-12T11:51:00.000-07:002007-08-14T05:45:18.296-07:00Back Home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4UHLfCRfYaclTJBGdWThi7pL_70x4WZkB3N3dodVltSEqlP2uyQofWIxJp_Dgh7VxZ4ZkxdMHla0HmtV3pT0QKFpWTQvMzPZuzUSakBeiF_H5_usbFAx-fPVj91bHA_WsEuCV0WzOGY/"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4UHLfCRfYaclTJBGdWThi7pL_70x4WZkB3N3dodVltSEqlP2uyQofWIxJp_Dgh7VxZ4ZkxdMHla0HmtV3pT0QKFpWTQvMzPZuzUSakBeiF_H5_usbFAx-fPVj91bHA_WsEuCV0WzOGY/s400/IMG_0628.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097889521597550498" /></a><br />The north face of the Piz Cengalo (3370m) is supposedly the largest in the central alps at 1100m, we’d come to climb the classic Gaiser-Lehman route on the NW pillar, which was climbed exactly the same day in 1937 as Cassin and partners were setting out on their epic 1st ascent of the NE face of the Piz Badile. The route takes some initially broken ground before a fine series of clean slabs sweep for about 600m to the broken summit ridge. Although the climbing is not as hard as on the Cassin, the Cengalo definitely feels more committing, remote and is a more intimidating objective. The route finding is far more complex and vague, there are no amenable bolted belays, not a great deal of fixed gear, you have to carry big boots, crampons and an axe for the heavily crevassed approach and it’s necessary to continue up over the summit and down to Italy on the other side. This means you don’t get the crowds that flock to its illustrious neighbour. Whilst we were climbing we counted 15 people strung out over the Cassin whilst there was no one else on any other of the routes on the face and only us on the Cengalo. It looked a bit riduclous with a 3 hour queue at the crux and acres of empty rock either side. As a comparison, when Konnie and I climbed the Cassin in early July 2005 we were the only people on the whole face, I reckon if you’re keen on doing it then go early season and avoid weekends like the plague.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ2RT1WkHzvaf40szQxR7nsRW3xKX-9xJcmFbtkTn5pZcfqhvVI1pe9N0isn9HsofW3YFuFFMo_d1EVj9tP6BnDZycn5oQK0S33w-DbeGp5GuH-7Crk17PKXP8i63lk9WcbP3_tFyvYY/s1600-h/IMG_0631_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ2RT1WkHzvaf40szQxR7nsRW3xKX-9xJcmFbtkTn5pZcfqhvVI1pe9N0isn9HsofW3YFuFFMo_d1EVj9tP6BnDZycn5oQK0S33w-DbeGp5GuH-7Crk17PKXP8i63lk9WcbP3_tFyvYY/s400/IMG_0631_2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098521229682413490" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkoqMlfxPY-_xjgmFBbrxVHhCQf06U4uyjGCjStAHqhfuH6sZIfKyOa61ldDbFvkxXBN9G9LNknB5lKWXMsv8YjxF_jKYlJ9-sJ0pNgLe1tJeVjEK8ksa-lZZmyi-l1UdNnltPRM04O4/s1600-h/IMG_0634.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkoqMlfxPY-_xjgmFBbrxVHhCQf06U4uyjGCjStAHqhfuH6sZIfKyOa61ldDbFvkxXBN9G9LNknB5lKWXMsv8YjxF_jKYlJ9-sJ0pNgLe1tJeVjEK8ksa-lZZmyi-l1UdNnltPRM04O4/s400/IMG_0634.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098522157395349442" /></a>Another early start saw us trudging down under very bright moonlight to the moraine and then up the well-frozen Cengalo glacier, a recce the previous night had shown the best line to be up under the Badile, followed by a traverse and then a descent to the start of the route, avoiding the heavily crevassed central section of the glacier. Even so, there were still a few sizeable jumps over big holes and a precarious move over the rimaye to the start of the rock. The first few hundred metres were fairly easy and we moved together, initially too far to the right, before snaking back left to the start of the difficulties. From here the route just flowed up the wonderfully clean granite of the slabby crest, taking corners, cracks flakes, frictiony bits, never too hard but often enjoyably run-out. Soon we emerged into the sun and all too quickly we reached the shattered rocks of the final ridge that we followed for a couple of hundred metres to the top. Sitting on the summit in the midday sun, I reflected on the fact that it was one of those days where everything seems to go right and the ingredients of partner, fitness, weather and line all gel perfectly and you smoke the route. The views were pretty awesome as well, on one side the vast sweep of the Badile's slabs with the Oberland and the Mischabel chains behind and the on the other the Piz Bernina, the most easterly of the alpine 4000ers. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuFQUIOG1ptz1VuGGTIgH5LxYxWYswc5MRQ5qxuUAmTeVeTUWR9JCYWhXgUp5YyoyDNKlhGTxMqwtzaoD09QEBg6jpuFMtbwo5gQu1O-uEA3v_QXZkRv4YHfxSf9r3WnHXciAZOcaIks/s1600-h/IMG_0643.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuFQUIOG1ptz1VuGGTIgH5LxYxWYswc5MRQ5qxuUAmTeVeTUWR9JCYWhXgUp5YyoyDNKlhGTxMqwtzaoD09QEBg6jpuFMtbwo5gQu1O-uEA3v_QXZkRv4YHfxSf9r3WnHXciAZOcaIks/s400/IMG_0643.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098523673518804946" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii62xsPi7WrF8Iqd50TtzH4bD4nYiOorfyAOhl6Js7vtXyg-w6U29Rgi8SM608DQSCYy2-mrY5s_aK_LNyiudohQy6LHCrO2CM4jQYGOIl77_PESLjDcY6t2IDPFnO3Bc9-oK3xIEscnc/s1600-h/IMG_0644.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii62xsPi7WrF8Iqd50TtzH4bD4nYiOorfyAOhl6Js7vtXyg-w6U29Rgi8SM608DQSCYy2-mrY5s_aK_LNyiudohQy6LHCrO2CM4jQYGOIl77_PESLjDcY6t2IDPFnO3Bc9-oK3xIEscnc/s400/IMG_0644.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098524511037427682" /></a><br />The plan from here was to amble down into Italy, spend two nights at the Gianetti hut in the upper Val Porcellizzo to climb a couple more routes before heading back over to the car in Switzerland. When I arrived at the rifugio I bumped into Luca Maspes who I’d climbed with on the BMC international meet in early March. He was helping out in the huts above his home in the Val di Mello in order to maximise his time putting up new routes on the surrounding cliffs. The two freebie beers on arrival were gratefully received. With the climb in the bag so surprisingly quickly a pleasant afternoon of sunbathing and sleeping followed before a dinner which was very tasty if a bit on the small side.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRv1-W0ItwnzGL5LWQ4t8PvBuVYAgehYgHQGoPGXfCVWZhTtHaTcGgNPYCm2Pe6Ua-jwEd3RXWN5VZM7_gXJVk-gOyCHLuGb2o7-ovpCXx6kWPEkrTQwP8wBn3DCusLWsXO2E2YSJS0w/s1600-h/IMG_0666.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRv1-W0ItwnzGL5LWQ4t8PvBuVYAgehYgHQGoPGXfCVWZhTtHaTcGgNPYCm2Pe6Ua-jwEd3RXWN5VZM7_gXJVk-gOyCHLuGb2o7-ovpCXx6kWPEkrTQwP8wBn3DCusLWsXO2E2YSJS0w/s400/IMG_0666.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098526001391079410" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_OqM9bz5wDP6UwezbPWacFltED6gwAd0WS2J3jINdtWspqCXzM5ZPt7Oja7rqDvMaJ8ET4FrGkiFDEQCSF6BNLZJFFBuedygtvxmi4irym6iim8NNhG6e46DR4eX02HoiHNclizW1t4/s1600-h/IMG_0649.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_OqM9bz5wDP6UwezbPWacFltED6gwAd0WS2J3jINdtWspqCXzM5ZPt7Oja7rqDvMaJ8ET4FrGkiFDEQCSF6BNLZJFFBuedygtvxmi4irym6iim8NNhG6e46DR4eX02HoiHNclizW1t4/s400/IMG_0649.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098526645636173826" /></a>The next days route was the Spigolo Vinci (TD/TD+) - not named after Leonardo, on the Punta Angela, a subsidiary summit on the Cengalo’s south side. I can’t praise this route enough and looking back it now I think its certainly the best climbing I’ve done in the alps and the last five pitches the best in a row I’ve done anywhere. We inititally tried the integral of the ridge but the rock on the first tower was very lichenous, dirty and gritty so we abed off after a couple of pitches and walked up to the normal start. Its quality also ensures its popularity and it was by far the busiest route we climbed with about 10 people ahead on the ridge. However, our faff meant we were way behind the rest and we decided to move slowly up the initial easy section to avoid waiting. The first hard pitch is the crux, a layback crack up the slabby ridge crest, given Fr6a in the Italian guidebook and VII in the AC one, but certainly not feeling that hard at the time. After this followed airy traverses on chicken heads, steep bridging corners and more laybacks, all on the world’s best rock, in warm sun with cracking views. At one point I was enjoying myself so much I decided to throw my camera off the ridge, so all the photos here are courtesy of Konrad. Unfortuately we caught up with some very slow Italians (the first on the route in the morning) on the penultimate hard pitch, a slippery layback. Their leader had more gear strapped to him than Rob Reglinski would take on a big wall (I’m not actually joking here) and he placed around 15 cams in the 12 or so hard metres of the pitch (we clipped the two pegs and placed a wire). His two seconds then proceeded to haul themselves up on the cams, making no attempt to climb, even on the easy (VS max) top section. Now my ethics aren’t as strong as some and on longer alpine routes I have no qualms in the occasional bit of French free or maybe hooking a wire when seconding in winter. However this did take the piss a bit and Konnie and I suppressed giggles whilst watching them, but on a more serious note you wonder whether they should’ve been there to begin with and what would’ve happened if things turned nasty…<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IK5fWKGsVQi4CKneQDSrtT47KwuFsbZqlIY28EuN_c6aEB5UDY3bQRrbpp2OKn9cPWtq6i8v2oa77YNeM6xvaZD1gSOZGsRCm9thTIoEHhNVU0lB0KXjuO0Q_AK1mYWFGlXtBnnb_-c/s1600-h/IMG_0657.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IK5fWKGsVQi4CKneQDSrtT47KwuFsbZqlIY28EuN_c6aEB5UDY3bQRrbpp2OKn9cPWtq6i8v2oa77YNeM6xvaZD1gSOZGsRCm9thTIoEHhNVU0lB0KXjuO0Q_AK1mYWFGlXtBnnb_-c/s400/IMG_0657.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098528067270348818" /></a><br /><br />After an interminable wait for two pitched we skipped past them on the last and then slightly rudely barged in front for the abseils. This was fine until on the third one the rope would not pull at all. This coincided with a particularly uncomfortable hanging stance and we waited, and waited and waited. Eventually one of them appeared and communicated to his friends the problem and they helped us free the rope. It then transpired that the rope wasn't jammed at all, but the maillon that we had threaded it through was too small and was creating too much friction to pull the rope through. Despite our pushing in front, they couldn’t have been more friendly and patient and I was thankful they were a team of Italians not French. We finished with no further mishaps and I quickly ran around to look for my camera on the other side of the ridge to try and get the memory card. No luck unfortunately and the rest of the evening passed in haze of red wine and freebie liqueur. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNJkLG7gNqP3VzACnDd5eWac2lG4yyYiGPgEJEl9gGRnScw5oc9xXxljhyphenhyphenPwlLExQMfpOComf3xX_DdpAq8lIzf7J8lbW0cjtbE6U7H76IjzjXWj3XQEWpbH30opKsiV-R_ii7gzdAQY/s1600-h/IMG_0673.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNJkLG7gNqP3VzACnDd5eWac2lG4yyYiGPgEJEl9gGRnScw5oc9xXxljhyphenhyphenPwlLExQMfpOComf3xX_DdpAq8lIzf7J8lbW0cjtbE6U7H76IjzjXWj3XQEWpbH30opKsiV-R_ii7gzdAQY/s400/IMG_0673.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098530034365370418" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFJRlWxPPHHaNiCvR5QeZKyExYLIdKUncg9HNftg51jmhoajVwIldNhStxA1bpid_l5iD_OMUTE-ry5JxaSGxwqIwfcZM8ZInRYZaanyALfxI72bDHBFaD-71ZdS-CRzskiUuhMI7O0I/s1600-h/IMG_0677.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFJRlWxPPHHaNiCvR5QeZKyExYLIdKUncg9HNftg51jmhoajVwIldNhStxA1bpid_l5iD_OMUTE-ry5JxaSGxwqIwfcZM8ZInRYZaanyALfxI72bDHBFaD-71ZdS-CRzskiUuhMI7O0I/s400/IMG_0677.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098530987848110146" /></a> The last route of the trip was the airy 400m Spigolo Mauri (V+) – the south ridge of the Punta Torelli (3137m), the sun/shade line in the photo. As we geared up we saw a mountain goat begin to climb some slabs opposite, at first they were easy angled but got progressively steeper. He kept on moving carefully up ground which most climbers would've found tricky until he reached the ridge crest! The first 120m of our route were fairly straightforward slabs so we soloed up to the foot of the two crux pitches. The first was airy and delicate the second a little thrutchy with sinker jams. After this, the rest was fairly straightforward and we topped after two and three quarter hours with plenty of time to get back over the two cols and down to Bondo. The walk back isn’t a great deal of fun, 4 hours of scree hell in the hot sun, I’m undecided whether abbing the North ridge of the Badile is less faff and easier than walking round the back. Anyway, Konnie bravely offered to walk the 45mins or so from the Sasc Fura hut to where our bivvy kit was stashed. I have to say I felt about all of about 10 seconds of guilt as I tucked into my rosti and beer while waiting for him but that soon passed…<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiKxHu4UFvqYcnCRzZnmkpc4Clx6nMEOgk9l0us525NiuXrog04giMpEjXroRROixBoN2Er6ws8gFjOC20ynyTWO-WpRcUBq7CXa9KptnIJNu6lnUAtJdoIhKbu4jAv5ftoZV7Y3RY2I/s1600-h/IMG_0696.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiKxHu4UFvqYcnCRzZnmkpc4Clx6nMEOgk9l0us525NiuXrog04giMpEjXroRROixBoN2Er6ws8gFjOC20ynyTWO-WpRcUBq7CXa9KptnIJNu6lnUAtJdoIhKbu4jAv5ftoZV7Y3RY2I/s400/IMG_0696.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098531473179414610" /></a><br /><br /><br />When we got to valley the forecast everywhere in the Alps was pretty dire for the rest of the week so we decided to pack it in and head home a bit early. The next morning we drove to Cham, which we’d managed to avoid till now to meet up with Duncan and pick up some stuff for Chad. The weather was truly dire, non-stop heavy rain – our first for three weeks, and low cloud. Still in 12 hours we managed to tick off most of the fleshpots: Poco Loco, Beluga, English bars etc. Duncan cut his trip short and drove back with Konnie and I As all French cars have their home department on the numberplate, we played excellent game of trying to spot every one and by the end we’d managed to tick off about 70 of 95. There was particular excitement when we got 2A – Corsica, but unfortunately the big ticks of 64 – Pyrenees Atlantique and 29 – Finisterre (2 unconfirmed sightings) eluded us. Before we got on the ferry we made a detour via Ypres, visiting the Tyne Cot cemetery and then the Last Post, which is sounded at 8pm every evening at the Menim Gate. Tyne Cot is a very moving sight, it’s the largest war cemetery with 12,000 graves – many unknown, and a further 30,000 names on tablets of those who have never been found. <br /><br />All in all an excellent trip, we managed 15 routes of over 10 pitches, 10 of which were high-mountain ones in three and a half weeks. I'd also drove about 2500 miles at an average speed of 41 mph and fuel consumption of 44.6 mpg (I love the computer in my new car). By the end I was exhausted and pretty climbed out, definitely in need of a break. I also found out some fairly sobering news when I returned home; 3 climbers had been killed by serac fall on the normal route on the Barre des Ecrins. We'd descended under these same seracs twice in the last two weeks and at the time they looked fairly stable, but... This sort of news does throw you a bit, especially as even the most solid looking ice cliff can collapse with no warning. You can minimise risk and climb as safely as possible but if you're unlucky enough to be under them when it occurs there's nothing you can do. Terribly sad news and condolences to all their families and friends. Doubt I’ll get much climbing done in the next couple of weeks as I’ve got lots of work to do and the weather looks complete pants. Still, the joys (???) of Edinburgh in the festival...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWWQWvPTDC7haKhvjxLNU3Y64rXjaDu58r6N0wqkZNBNt0l0ramiZ2wFNQjJZLPXD7X0jhFdnNKJxQ9pWjZE43YF3T-nSUwUBmT4cGfruK6KsaqwIZwkLg-Lm49J4LuO8TlODc7BivSI/s1600-h/IMG_0690.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWWQWvPTDC7haKhvjxLNU3Y64rXjaDu58r6N0wqkZNBNt0l0ramiZ2wFNQjJZLPXD7X0jhFdnNKJxQ9pWjZE43YF3T-nSUwUBmT4cGfruK6KsaqwIZwkLg-Lm49J4LuO8TlODc7BivSI/s400/IMG_0690.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098531911266078818" /></a><br /><br />All Photographs courtesy of K.Rawliksam lovedayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16223836521740603794noreply@blogger.com4