Author Archives: Simon Richardson

About Simon Richardson

Simon Richardson is a passionate Scottish winter climber

The God Delusion Repeated!

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Martin Moran and Pete Macpherson repeated The God Delusion (IX,9) on Beinn Bhan yesterday (December 8 ) in a 21-hour round trip. They used snow shoes for the approach and started climbing at 8am. They climbed the route in nine … Continue reading →

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Satyr – First Winter Ascent

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Big news from Glen Coe is the outstanding first winter ascent of Satyr by Donald King and Andy Nelson on December 7. Satyr was first climbed in September 1973 by the great Sheffield-based climber Paul Nunn together with Jack Street … Continue reading →

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The Cuillin’s Black Cleft

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Last Thursday (December 2), Guy Robertson and Greg Boswell made the first winter ascent of the Black Cleft on Skye. This well known winter objective lies on Bealach Buttress on Sgurr Mhic Choinnich in the Cuillin and gave a three star … Continue reading →

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Arrochar’s Mammoth New Route

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Yesterday (December 7), Guy Robertson and Greg Boswell pulled off the biggest new route of the season so far, with the first winter ascent of Mammoth, a rarely climbed E3 on the imposing front face of The Brack in Arrochar. … Continue reading →

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Birthday Treat

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Simon Richardson

On Saturday December 4, Henning Wackerhage and Brian Duthie made the long trek through deep snow into Glen Esk where they added a companion route to last season’s addition Once in a Blue Moon. Their five-pitch IV,5 provided a satisfying … Continue reading →

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Central Highlands Update

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Simon Richardson

It was a busy weekend on Ben Nevis once again, with many climbers enjoying steep mixed routes such as Cutlass, Tower Face of the Comb, Gargoyle Wall, Babylon and Darth Vader. Heike Puchan, who made an ascent of the spectacular … Continue reading →

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Magnificent Ardgour

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Roger Webb and I were in Fort William on Saturday evening attending the SMC Dinner. On Sunday December 5, we got up early and drove around to Ardgour and headed up Garbh Bheinn. This superb Corbett is rarely in winter … Continue reading →

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New Routes on The Douglas Boulder

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Nick Bullock has been busy on the front face of The Douglas Boulder on Ben Nevis. With Matt Helliker he made the first winter ascent of Nutless with a new Direct Start at VI,7 and the pair also added Rutless … Continue reading →

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Shadbolt’s Chimney

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Yesterday (December 2), Pete Macpherson, Martin Moran and Francis Blunt made the first winter ascent of Shadbolt’s Chimney on the Bhasteir Tooth on Skye. This 50m-high fierce slit on the north face of the Tooth was first climbed by Shadbolt … Continue reading →

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Ramping Up Sgorr Ruadh

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Despite clear weather in the West, extreme cold, difficult road conditions and sometimes huge depths of snow have made the choice of venue difficult in recent days. Several keen activists have had heir plans dashed. Part of the problem is … Continue reading →

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