Author Archives: Simon Richardson

About Simon Richardson

Simon Richardson is a passionate Scottish winter climber

Slioch Adventure

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Roger Webb and I made the long haul into the north face of Slioch on Tuesday February 15. We added an eight-pitch route folowing a line of grooves near the left edge of the 200m-high Main Buttress. Katabasis (VI,6) kept … Continue reading →

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Special Delivery on Meagaidh

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Simon Richardson

On Saturday February 12, Pete Davies, Donnie O’Sullivan and Mike Gardner made a superb addition to the Post Face on Creag Meagaidh. Special Delivery (VI,6) takes the prominent icefall above Staghorn Gully, which doesn’t completely touch down and is approximately … Continue reading →

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Galloway Update

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Simon Richardson

It was a busy time for ice climbers in Galloway and Borders over the Christmas period. Local guru, Stephen Reid, recently contacted me with details of December’s winter climbing activity in the Galloway hills. “The season started off very well,” … Continue reading →

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Free Ranging on The Ben

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Simon Richardson

On Saturday February 12, Malcolm Bass, Simon Yearsley and Jim Higgins made a winter ascent approximating to the summer VS Chicken Run (first climbed by Jimmy Marshall and James Stenhouse in May 1961) on Number Five Gully Buttress. Free Range … Continue reading →

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Second Ascent of The Great Corner

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Nick Bullock and Rich Cross visited Ben Nevis on last Tuesday (8th February) intent on making an ascent of Centurion on Carn Dearg. Unfortunately the route was not white enough for a winter ascent so they continued along to Raeburn’s … Continue reading →

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Shelter Stone Double Tick

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Nick Bullock had a remarkable two days’ climbing on the Shelter Stone, two weekends ago. “Last weekend I was at Glenmore Lodge to present a lecture to the AMI AGM on the Saturday night,” Nick told me. “The plan was … Continue reading →

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Beinn Eighe’s Far West Wall

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Throughout the winter, Andy Nisbet has been quietly developing the mixed climbing potential of the Far West Wall on Beinn Eighe. Andy takes up the story: “I couldn’t help noticing this wall from Fuselage Wall, but I used to think … Continue reading →

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Eagle-Eyed on Lochnagar

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Simon Richardson

With a strong westerly forecast, Lochnagar was the obvious choice for Sunday February 6. The avalanche report was a little circumspect, but Sandy Simpson and I were confident that Saturday’s re-freeze would have firmed up Friday’s brief thaw. In the … Continue reading →

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Striking it Lucky on the Brenva

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Ewan Lyons and Ewan Olivarius went to climb Route Major on the Ben on Saturday January 29 but missed the start in the mist. “We ended up doing a weird and wonderful variation before joining up with the parent route,” … Continue reading →

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Two in a Row for Neill and Ball

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Simon Richardson

On Saturday January 29 (the day after their repeat of Storm Trooper), Tim Neill and Keith Ball returned to Creag Coire na Ciste on Ben Nevis. “While on the belay [of Storm Trooper] we kept looking at the lines in … Continue reading →

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