Author Archives: Simon Richardson

About Simon Richardson

Simon Richardson is a passionate Scottish winter climber

The Scottish Winter Climbing Meet

Richard Bentley has sent me details of the inaugural Scottish Winter Meet that will be held in Fort William from 2-3 February 2013. “This weekend meet is being organised by local guides and instructors with the support of the Mountaineering … Continue reading

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Echo Crack – First Winter Ascent

Conditions on Friday December 7 were challenging across the Scottish Highlands with deep snow making approaches to many cliffs difficult and potentially dangerous. Stuart McFarlane and John Williams seized the opportunity of the snowy conditions however, to make a brilliantly … Continue reading

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The Gravestone

Craig Lamb and Findlay Cranston made a good addition to Clais Rathadan on December 5, with the first ascent of The Gravestone (VI,6). This little cliff makes a good fall back option of the weather is too wild higher up … Continue reading

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The Old Man’s Crag

Andy Nisbet climbed a couple of new routes on Am Bodach on December 2 – South Buttress (II/III) and Old Man’s Ridge (III). He returned on December 5 with Duncan Tunstall to add another route to the crag. Here is … Continue reading

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Going Gangnam Style on Beinn Ime

On Sunday December 2, Stuart McFarlane and Stuart Burns added a good five-pitch new route to Fan Gully Buttress on Beinn Ime. Gangnam Style (V,7) climbs the obvious hanging right-facing corner system to the left of Ben’s Fault. “I tried … Continue reading

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Titan Cracks

There was a clutch of good mixed routes climbed on Ben Nevis last week, and I expected the mountain to be busy on Saturday December 1. Helen Rennard and I were attending the SMC dinner that evening in Fort William, … Continue reading

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The Survivor – Second Ascent

On Sunday December 2, Guy Steven, Keith Ball and Ewan Rodgers (third time in crampons!) made the second ascent of The Survivor on Ben Nevis. Guy described it as “a fantastic route – we really had to stretch the legs!” … Continue reading

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Tomahawk Crack

On Saturday I was looking across to the headwall on Number Three Gully Buttress and couldn’t help noticing a line cleaned through the hoar frost straight up the centre of the wall. I was intrigued, because I knew that Sioux … Continue reading

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Bald Eagle

With attention primarily focused on Ben Nevis and the Northern Cairngorms at the moment, it is refreshing to have news of a new route in the Northern Highlands by Andy Nisbet, Jonathan Preston and Pat Ingram on November 28. Andy … Continue reading

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All Go in Coire n Ciste

The current spell of cold and snowy weather has resulted in some excellent ascents in Coire na Ciste on Ben Nevis. This corrie is ideally suited to early season mixed with routes mainly dependent on hooks and torques rather than … Continue reading

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