Category Archives: Commentary

SMC Journal New Routes Website

Posted on January 2, 2023 by Simon Richardson

The Scottish Mountaineering Club collects route descriptions for new routes climbed each year and publishes them in the SMC Journal. These descriptions are now available online via the following interactive website: < https://newroutes.smc.org.uk> The website is available to all and works … Continue reading →

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Winter Begins!

Posted on December 8, 2022 by Simon Richardson

Once again, it’s been a slow start to the Scottish winter season and most of November was unseasonably mild. There was a three-day window in late November when the snowed up rock routes in the Northern Corries came briefly on … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged Carn Etchachan, Dave Almond, Lochnagar, Nathan Adam, Neil Adams, Northern Corries, Oli Kemi, Paul Ramsden, Stuart McFarlane | Comments Off

Duncan Tunstall (1962 – 2022)

Posted on March 11, 2022 by Simon Richardson

My friend Duncan Tunstall died last month. Duncan lived with an inoperable brain tumour for 20 years, but this never stopped him living life to the full. Duncan had huge energy, great imagination, and an unstoppable love for adventure. He … Continue reading →

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Livingstone On a Roll

Posted on February 22, 2022 by Simon Richardson

It has been a challenging season so far with limited snow during the first part of the winter and a continuous run of storms through January and February. High standard climbing and new route activity has been (literally) thin on … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Repeats | Tagged An Teallach, Beinn Eighe, Ben Nevis, Callum Johnson, Ella Wright, Matt Glenn, Northern Corries, Stob Coire nan Lochan, Tim Exley, Tom Livingstone, Tom Seccombe | 4 Comments

How to Report a New Route

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Simon Richardson

Scottish new routes are recorded in the Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal which is published annually. In addition, new route descriptions are stored in a database which forms the basis for SMC guidebooks. The database aims to be comprehensive and currently … Continue reading →

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January Update

Posted on January 24, 2022 by Simon Richardson

January has been disappointing month for Scottish winter climbers. The weather has been dominated by warm high pressure systems and any snowfall has quickly disappeared with sudden thaws. The dry air and associated wet bulb effect has allowed the remaining … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, New Routes, Repeats | Tagged Adam Russell, Ali Rose, An Teallach, Andy Sharpe, Ben Nevis, Braeriach, Di Gilbert, Doug Bartholomew, Erick Baillot, Forrest Templeton, Graham Wyllie, Guy Robertson, Hamish Frost, Lochnagar, Mark Robson, Northern Corries, Sebastian Gidelski, Simon Richardson, Steve Holmes, Stuart MacFarlane, Wojciech Polkowski | Comments Off

New Winter Season Finally Underway

Posted on November 30, 2021 by Simon Richardson

It’s been a slow start to the Scottish winter season and most of November has been remarkably mild. There were a couple of short bursts of winter at the end of October when snowed up rock routes in the Northern … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, New Routes | Tagged Blaven, Mike Lates, Northern Corries, Tilly Cottrell | Comments Off

Rick Allen (1954 – 2021)

Posted on September 14, 2021 by Simon Richardson

On 25 July 2021 a series of avalanches swept down the East Flank of K2 taking the life of Rick Allen. In an instant, Britain lost one its finest ever mountaineers. Rick was born in London on 6 November 1954. … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged Rick Allen | 5 Comments

2021 Winter Catch Up

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Simon Richardson

Now that winter is over, and lockdown largely behind us, I have summarised activity from January 4 until the end of the season. The Cuillin: Big news from Skye was the first winter ascent of Mongoose Direct (VIII,8) on Sgurr … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, New Routes, Repeats | Tagged Aidan Robinson, Alex Urquhart-Taylor, Ali Rose, An Garbhanach, An Gearnach, Andy MacDonald, Anne Craig, Aonach Dubh, Ben Nevis, Ben Vorlich, Benarty Hill, Bidean nam Bian, Blaven, Bonaidh Dhonn, Buachaille Etive Mor, Callum Johnson, Cameron Richardson, Campsie Fells, Craig Gudmondsson, Creach Bheinn, Creag an Tulabhain, Cruach Ardrain, Damian Goncerz, Danny Church, Doug Bartholomew, Douglas Fransson Lee, Duncan Helm, Freddie Crowley, Garbh Bheinn, Garry Campbell, Helen Rennard, Ian Hall, Jacob Davies, James Laing, James Thompsett, Jamie Grant, Jamie Greig, Jamie Sketon, Jim Cooper, Jim MacFarlane, Katharina Lenz, Lochnagar, Mam na Gualainn, Maol Odhar, Marco Limonci, Mark Robson, Meall Dubh, Meall Ghaordaidh, Mullach nan Coirean, Neil Adams, Orazio Lo Tauro, Paul Morris, Rich Bentley, Rob Giddy, Robin Clothier, Sebastian Wolfrum, Sgurr Ghiubsachan, Sgurr Mhic Choinnich, Simon Richardson, Steve Kennedy, Stob Coir a'Chearcaill, Stuc an Lochain, Tim Miller, Will Attridge, Will Rowland, Willie Jeffrey, Wojciech Polkowski, Zoe Thornton | Comments Off

SMC Journals Now Online

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Simon Richardson

Over the last four years The Scottish Mountaineering Trust have supported a project to scan back copies Scottish Mountaineering Club Journals and make them available to the public on line. They are available on the SMC website here. The Journal … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Uncategorized | Tagged Scottish Mountaineering Trust, SMC Journal | Comments Off