Author Archives: Simon Richardson

About Simon Richardson

Simon Richardson is a passionate Scottish winter climber

Glen Prosen Ice

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Simon Richardson

On Saturday December 17, Henning Wackerhage and Arno Alpi took a chance, and visited North Craig on Mayar in Glen Prosen. This glen is rarely visited by climbers, and lies south of Glen Clova. Their optimism paid off, as the … Continue reading →

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CIC Hut Winds

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Simon Richardson

James Dunn, who was in the CIC Hut on Ben Nevis together with Greg Boswell and Will Sim on December 8, has put together a brief video of the wind that day, and the damage to the CIC Hut roof. … Continue reading →

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Touching The Stone

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Simon Richardson

The 250m-high Shelter Stone Crag in the Loch Avon Basin has been in superb mixed condition over the last couple of weeks. ‘The Stone’ is one of Scotlands’s greatest cliffs and is home to a series of winter routes that … Continue reading →

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Ride of the Wild Bullhorn

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Simon Richardson

On Friday December 16, Nick Bullock and Dougal Tavener climbed a new route on Ben Nevis to the left of The Pretender – a line added by Nick with Andy Turner and Bruce Poll to the East Flank of Tower … Continue reading →

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Stone Temple Pilots – Second Ascent

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Yesterday (December 15), Greg Boswell and Will Sim notched up a highly significant ascent with the first repeat of Stone Temple Pilots (X,9) on the Shelter Stone. This route, which links the summer lines of Steeple, Haystack and Spire directly … Continue reading →

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White Lies on Skye

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Cuillin mountain guide and guidebook author Mike Lates, together with Ben Wear and Mark Francis (Beads) visited the South Face of Gillean yesterday (December 15), and made the first ascent of White Lies (IV,5), a seven-pitch ice line about 50 … Continue reading →

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Siberian Tiger

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Monday December 12 was forecast to be a good day, so fresh from his successful Ben Nevis trip, Greg Boswell texted around to ask if anyone was keen for a day out in the Cairngorms. Guy Robertson and Pete Macpherson … Continue reading →

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Loch Avon Update

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Simon Richardson

The great cliffs on the south side of the Loch Avon Basin have come into remarkably good condition for so early in the season. On the Shelter Stone, Sticil Face has had several ascents. Clach Dhian Chimney and Western Union … Continue reading →

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The Knuckleduster – Second Ascent

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Simon Richardson

After their matter-of-fact repeat of Defenders of the Faith (IX,9) last Tuesday, Greg Boswell and Will Sim spent several days at the CIC Hut with James Dunn. Their stay coincided with last week’s great storm, but they did manage an … Continue reading →

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The Winter Blue Lamppost

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Pete Macpherson and Martin Moran visited Meall Gorm in Applecross on Wednesday December 7. They thought this easily accessible, and relatively low-lying crag was the only place to go without getting blown away, but even so, Martin’s van was rocked … Continue reading →

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