Author Archives: Simon Richardson

About Simon Richardson

Simon Richardson is a passionate Scottish winter climber

SMC Journals Now Online

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Simon Richardson

Over the last four years The Scottish Mountaineering Trust have supported a project to scan back copies Scottish Mountaineering Club Journals and make them available to the public on line. They are available on the SMC website here. The Journal … Continue reading →

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Lockdown Catch Up

Posted on January 9, 2021 by Simon Richardson

While Mainland Scotland is in full lockdown, I do not feel it is appropriate to report ongoing winter climbing activity on scottishwinter.com, so I’m using this post to catch up on recent weeks. The extended spell of cold and snowy … Continue reading →

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New Age Raiders

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Simon Richardson

On December 22, Greg Boswell and Callum Johnson added New Age Raiders (IX,9) to Bidean Nam Bian in Glen Coe. This superb addition to Church Door Buttress climbs very steep ground to the right of The Ninety-Five Theses (IX,9) before … Continue reading →

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Metamorphosis – Complete Summer Line

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Simon Richardson

Tim Miller and Jamie Skelton notched up the first new Grade IX of the season when they made the first complete ascent of Metamorphosis on Ben Nevis. This sustained summer E2 was first climbed in winter by Iain Small and … Continue reading →

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Fathomless on Garbh Bheinn

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Simon Richardson

Jamie Skelton and Matt Glenn continued the winter interest in Garbh Bheinn by making the first ascent of Fathomless (VII,7) On December 3. The route starts up the summer HVS Excalibur before moving right. “The steep initial pitch was well … Continue reading →

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Quoth the Raven – Nevermore

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Simon Richardson

Iain Small and Dave MacLeod succeeded on an outstanding new route on December 7, when they made the first ascent of Nevermore (VIII,8) on Number Five Gully Buttress on the Ben. The great soaring overhanging corner on the right side … Continue reading →

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After Church Arete

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Simon Richardson

James Lamont and Dave Slade made an enterprising first ascent last night (December 6) when they climbed the buttress bordering the east side the north face of Little Glas Maol. After Church Arete (II) lies east of the cliff containing … Continue reading →

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Johnson-Miller Twin Pack

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Simon Richardson

On December 4, the day after their ascent of The Flying Fox (VIII,8) on An Teallach, Callum Johnson and Tim Miller visited the Eastern Ramparts of Beinn Eighe and climbed a second new route. Never Never Land was graded VIII,8 which makes … Continue reading →

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The Flying Fox

Posted on December 5, 2020 by Simon Richardson

The first significant new route of the season fell to Callum Johnson and Tim Miller on December 3 when they climbed the right side of the Hayfork Gully Wall on An Teallach. The Flying Fox (VIII,8) lies to the right … Continue reading →

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Curly’s Arete Second Ascent

Posted on November 27, 2020 by Simon Richardson

Greg Boswell, Callum Johnson and Hamish Frost pulled off a notable repeat on November 25 when they made the second ascent of Curly’s Arete on Number Three Gully Buttress on Ben Nevis. This steep VIII,8 follows the right edge of … Continue reading →

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