Author Archives: Simon Richardson

About Simon Richardson

Simon Richardson is a passionate Scottish winter climber

North-West Raptor

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Andy Nisbet has continued his excellent run of routes on the Far West Buttress of Beinn Eighe with another new addition on Saturday March 12. The appropriately named Raptor (VI,7), is his seventh new addition to the crag this season, … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on North-West Raptor

Stormy Weekend

Posted on March 16, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Last weekend was wild and stormy with significant snowfall across the Highlands. Despite this, there were good routes climbed on Ben Nevis, in Torridon, and in the Cairngorms. Several teams came back wide-eyed after full-on Scottish adventures, but the most … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Smear Fear

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Simon Richardson

I’ve been watching the ice grow high up on the right side of Eagle Buttress for several weeks now. In summer, the right arête of the Where Eagles Dare headwall (climbed by State of Independence) is delimited in its right … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Smear Fear

New Look Parallel B

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Lochnagar has been in good icy condition recently. Polyphemus Gully has seen close to 20 ascents with many teams stating that it is easy Grade IV. Other icy gully lines that have been climbed recently include Parallel Gully A, West … Continue reading →

Posted in Repeats | Tagged , , | Comments Off on New Look Parallel B

West Side Story

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Andy Nisbet had a great weekend, climbing two routes on Beinn a’Bhuird on Saturday and a visit to the West Face of Aonach Beag the following day. Here is Sunday’s story: “My legs needed an easier time so I headed … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , | Comments Off on West Side Story

Inspiration

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Simon Richardson

East is Best at the moment – Andy Nisbet explains: “Conditions had to be good somewhere and it wasn’t Etchachan. So when Simon reported a perfect day, I wanted one too. So I searched out my projects file and looked … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes, Repeats | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Inspiration

Another Slice of Etchachan

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Simon Richardson

On Thursday March 3, Andy Nisbet and Duncan Tunstall visited Creagan a’Choire Etchachan and made the first ascent of Machete (V,5). This is a companion route to Kukri (first ascent earlier this season) climbing the lower section of the grassy … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Another Slice of Etchachan

Chasing Shadows

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Simon Richardson

One rainy Sunday several Septembers ago, I ran up to Lochnagar and scrambled up Central Buttress. Near the top I found an abandoned rope, tangled around several large blocks, so I coiled it and continued on my way. Once on … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Chasing Shadows

Perfect Day

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Last week’s thaw and re-freeze meant that ice, or icy mixed lines, were going to be the order of the day for this week. Roger Webb and I decided to visit Coire an Dubh Lochain on Beinn a’Bhuird to have … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Gathering in Y Gully

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Simon Richardson

On Monday February 28, Guy Robertson visited Coire an Lochain with Pete Macpherson and climbed the obvious counter-diagonal to Pic’n Mix, which takes the front face of the steep tower high up Y Gully. Guy had tried the line with … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes, Repeats | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment