Author Archives: Simon Richardson

About Simon Richardson

Simon Richardson is a passionate Scottish winter climber

Braeriach’s Forgotten Pinnacle

Posted on November 11, 2010 by Simon Richardson

On Sunday November 7, Roger Everett and I visited Coire nan Clach on Braeriach. Few climbers have visited this hidden little coire that nestles under the summit of Einich Cairn, but it sports a handful of granite ribs that are … Continue reading →

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The Winter’s First New Routes

Posted on November 4, 2010 by Simon Richardson

More details on the Huntington-Clothier direct ascent of Pinnacle Arete climbed on October 23 on Ben Nevis reported in Tuesday’s post. Rather than follow the normal winter line, which moves right on the second pitch into a corner on the … Continue reading →

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New Season Underway!

Posted on November 2, 2010 by Simon Richardson

The new season began on Wednesday October 20 with an ascent of the classic Savage Slit (V,6) in Coire an Lochain by Helen Rennard and Andy Nisbet. An early start meant they were first on the route that had another … Continue reading →

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Hard New Addition to Lochain

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Guy Robertson and Greg Boswell added a great late season addition to the Northern Corries last Friday (April 23). The Snow Pimp (VIII,9) takes the crack in the arete right of Hooker’s Corner then continues direct where Conundrum zig-zags about. … Continue reading →

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Final Fling?

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Simon Richardson

On Sunday April 18, Guy Robertson and I made a late season trip to the Ben. After a late start and failure on Plan A, we arrived under the headwall of Observatory Buttress at about 2pm in the afternoon. We … Continue reading →

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Second Ascent of Pic’n Mix

Posted on March 31, 2010 by Simon Richardson

On Monday March 29, Guy Robertson and Greg Boswell made the second ascent of Pic’n Mix in the Northern Corries. This fierce (IX,9) was first climbed by Ian Parnell and Tim Emmett in April 2006. The route starts up Never … Continue reading →

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Ben Nevis – Ship of Fools Repeated

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Yesterday March 27, Iain Parnell and Greg Boswell made the second ascent of Ship of Fools (VIII,7), high up on Indicator Wall. This quintessential thin ice route takes a series of very thin ice grooves (30 cm wide in places) … Continue reading →

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Another Way up Orion Face

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Simon Richardson

On Sunday March 21, Tony Stone, Iain Small and I linked together a series of grooves up the right side of Orion Face before finishing up the very steep headwall between Orion Directissima and Slav Route.  We climbed the first … Continue reading →

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Redemption, Lochnagar

Posted on March 17, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Guy Robertson and Pete MacPherson made the second ascent of Redemption (VIII,7) on Tuesday March 16. Heavily hoared conditions on The Stack meant it was more like Patagonia than Scotland! They found four runners on the entire route. The rime … Continue reading →

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Another New Route on the Minus Face

Posted on March 14, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Yesterday March 13, Roger Webb and I went up to the Minus Face to take advantage of the unusually good ice conditions at mid-height on the Ben. Unfortunately the thaw had set in which spoiled our chances of climbing Minus … Continue reading →

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