-
This blog celebrates Scottish winter climbing. Please contact me with news of your latest adventure.
simon@scottishwinter.com Archives
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- September 2021
- May 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- June 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- May 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- June 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
Meta
Winter Climbing Links
- Adam Hughes
- Andy Inglis
- Andy Turner
- Blair Fyffe
- Colin Moody
- Colin Threlfall
- Dave MacLeod
- Dave Riley
- Euan Whittaker
- Greg Boswell
- Guy Robertson
- Henning Wackerhage
- Ian Parnell
- Ian Stewart
- James Edwards
- James Roddie
- James Thacker
- Jim Higgins
- Ken Applegate
- Kev Shields
- Mark Chadwick
- Martin Holland
- Martin Moran
- Matt Helliker
- Mike Lates
- Mike Pescod
- Murdoch Jamieson
- Neil Adams
- Neil Morrison
- Niall Ritchie
- Nick Bullock
- Nick Carter
- Pete Benson
- Pete Macpherson
- Richard Bentley
- Simon Frost
- Simon Yearsley
- Steve Ashworth
- Tim Neill
- Tom Livingstone
- Uisdean Hawthorn
- Will Sim
Author Archives: Simon Richardson
Early Season Update
By any measure it’s been a slow start to the season. During the cold snap in November many climbers enjoyed good climbing on the well known early season venues in the Cairngorms and Ben Nevis, but a major thaw followed … Continue reading
Posted in New Routes, Repeats
Tagged A' Chralaig, Adam Russell, Ben Nevis, Creagan Cha-no, Lochnagar, Uisdean Hawthorn
5 Comments
Silver Fox
On November 19, Mike Lates and Sophie Grace Chappell made an excellent early season addition to Coire Lagan in the Cuillin with the first ascent of the 235m-long Silver Fox (V,5). “The long curving fault line from the corrie floor … Continue reading
Posted in New Routes
Tagged Mike Lates, Sgurr Mhic Choinnich, Sophie Grace Chappell, The Cuillin
Comments Off on Silver Fox
Theory of Relativity
“Last February I’d been soloing some new routes on the southern end of Lurcher’s Crag with Andy Nisbet,” Steve Perry writes, “when we came across a very steep looking corner-cum-groove line that Andy thought looked about Tech 9 (he’s usually … Continue reading
Posted in New Routes
Tagged Andy Nisbet, Jonathan Preston, Lurcher's Crag, Sarah Sigley, Steve Perry
Comments Off on Theory of Relativity
James Edwards (1976 – 2016)
Scottish climbing lost another much-loved figure in August after James Edwards slipped and fell in the Fisherfield mountains. James was setting up a radio relay station for the Wilderness Challenge on behalf of the Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team, who then … Continue reading
Book Review – A Passion for Climbing
My great friend John Wilkinson has kept a diary throughout his climbing life. Last year, after encouragement from several of his climbing partners, he published it as A Passion for Climbing. John came into climbing at the relatively advanced age … Continue reading
Des Rubens (1952 – 2016)
In late June, the Scottish climbing community were shocked to hear of the death of Des Rubens in the Alps. Des was one of the most energetic and likeable activists on the Scottish scene and many climbers were deeply saddened … Continue reading
Chasing The Ephemeral
As soon as the second edition of Ben Nevis – Britain’s Highest Mountain (which I co-authored with Ken Crocket) was published in 2009, Tom Prentice asked me whether I would like to write a book about Scottish winter climbing. The … Continue reading
Capricorn on Ben Nevis
Carn Dearg Buttress on Ben Nevis became particularly icy at the end of February and the classic Gemini (VI,6) saw many ascents together with the very good, but less frequented Waterfall Gully Direct Finish (VI,6). On March 10, just before … Continue reading
Posted in New Routes
Tagged Ben Nevis, Nick Bullock, Tim Neill
Comments Off on Capricorn on Ben Nevis
Immortal Memory – Second Ascent
It’s been something of a landmark year on Beinn Eighe with repeats of many hard routes, and on March 3, Murdoch Jamieson, Ian Parnell and Uisdean Hawthorn continued the trend with the second ascent of Immortal Memory (IX,9). “ We … Continue reading
Posted in Repeats
Tagged Dave MacLeod, Ian Parnell, Murdoch Jamieson, Steve Perry, Uisdean Hawthorn
Comments Off on Immortal Memory – Second Ascent
New Winter Season Underway
Winter has arrived on the Scottish mountains. Andy Nisbet and Steve Perry were first off the mark on Friday November 4 with an ascent of the classic Fingers Ridge in Coire an t-Sneachda. They were fortunate that it started to … Continue reading →