Category Archives: Commentary

New Winter Season Finally Underway

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Simon Richardson

It’s been an unusually slow start to the Scottish winter season. Normally by the second half of November winter climbing is in full swing, but temperatures have been higher than usual and the weather very unsettled. Winter routes were climbed … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, New Routes | Tagged Andy Harrison, Aonach Mor, Ben Nevis, Braeriach, Calum Agnew, Gary Kinsey, Northern Corries, Roger Webb | 3 Comments

Updated Mini Guidebook to Creagan Cha-no

Posted on November 5, 2020 by Simon Richardson

Just in time for the new winter season, the Scottish Mountaineering Club have published a new edition of their mini-guide to the easily accessible Creagan Cha-no on the east side of Cairn Gorm. The guide is fully comprehensive and includes … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged Creagan Cha-no, Simon Richardson | Comments Off

Martin Moran (1955 – 2019)

Posted on June 3, 2020 by Simon Richardson

Last year was a terrible period for Scottish mountaineering with Andy Nisbet and Steve Perry’s accident in February, and then three months later, Martin Moran was lost in the Indian Himalayas. Personally, I found it difficult to reconcile that three great … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged Martin Moran | 1 Comment

End of Season Wrap Up

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Simon Richardson

With settled high pressure and cool nights, winter climbing conditions have looked superb over the last month, but with the hills close due to Coronavirus, it is all been rather academic. However. I thought I’d take the opportunity to catch … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, New Routes, Repeats | Tagged Adrian Gaughan, An Ruadh-Stac, Beinn Alligin, Beinn Eighe, Ben Nevis, Ben Vorlich, Creag an Socach, Damian Granowski, Dave Almond, Gleouriach, Greater Cuillin Traverse, Innaccessible Pinnacle, Jack Brooks, James Seaman, Jamie Hageman, Jamie Skelton, Jo Polak, Jonathan Preston, Kevin Woods, Lucy Spark, Mark Robson, Mike Lates, Mungo Ross, Nathan Adam, Neil Wilson, Peter Nellist, Red Cuillin Traverse, Roger Webb, Sgurr nan Clachan Geala, Sgurr nan Gillean, Simon Richardson, Stac an Fharaidh, Tim Miller, Will Rowland, Winter Munro Round | 1 Comment

Ewan Lyons (1969 – 2020)

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Simon Richardson

On March 13 Ewan Lyons, known to some as Captain Solo, died as a result of a fall on Beinn Dearg. Dave Kerr has written the following tribute: Ewan was one of the most prolific and accomplished Scottish winter soloists … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged Dave Kerr, Ewan Lyons | 1 Comment

International Winter Meet Day 6

Posted on March 2, 2020 by Simon Richardson

Two new routes on Garbh Bheinn was the big news from the last day of the winter meet (February 28). The South Wall is very rarely in winter condition, but continuous storms had plastered it in snow making it a … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, New Routes, Repeats | Tagged Al Todd, Alfie Maun, Ben Nevis, Callum, Damian, Emily Ward, Garbh Bheinn, Guy Robertson, Jamie Skelton, Lukas Klingora, Neil Adams, Northern Corries, Peter Hoang, Simon Richardson, Stac Buidhe, Tim Miller, Trym, Wadim | Comments Off

International Winter Meet Day 5

Posted on February 28, 2020 by Simon Richardson

Heavy snowfall overnight on strong westerly winds resulted in dangerous windslab conditions on the fifth day of the International Meet (February 27). On Ben Nevis this confined teams to wind scoured cliffs such as the Minus Face, where the three … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, New Routes, Repeats | Tagged Andrew Marshall, Andy Inglis, Beinn Udlaidh, Ben Nevis, Carl Nystedt, Creag an Socach, Creag Meagaidh, Gwylim Lynn, Hell's Lum, Ian Dempster, Jakub Cejpek, Kirsty Pallas, Luca Celano, Maarten Van Haeren, Michael Poulsen, Neil Adams, Neil Byrne, Neil Silver, Nicolas Dieu, Paul Headland, Peter Hoang, Richard Bentley, Seokju Woo, Simon Richardson, Stob Coire nan Lochan, Stuart MacFarlane | Comments Off

International Winter Meet Day 4

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Simon Richardson

On February 26, the wind dropped and all eyes turned to Ben Nevis with close to 40 climbers from the International Meet active on the mountain. The standout performance came from Peter Hoang (Canada) and Neil Adams who made an … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, New Routes, Repeats | Tagged Al Todd, Alex Mathie, Alfie Maun, Beinn Bhan, Beinn Eighe, Ben Nevis, Buachaille Etive Mor, Dave Almond, Frano Udovic, Franz Friebel, Hamish Frost, John Higham, John Hutchinson, Masa Sakano, Murray Cutforth, Neil Adams, Nicholas Wylie, Peter Hoang, Rene Lisac, Robin Clothier, Scott Grosdanoff, Stob Coire nan Lochan, Tom Phillips, Trym Saeland, Wadim Jablonski | 1 Comment

International Winter Meet Day 1

Posted on February 23, 2020 by Simon Richardson

After twelve months of planning, the 2020 International Winter Meet finally got underway last night when 55 climbers from 23 countries met at Aviemore Youth Hostel. After a slow start to the winter, the February storms have magically transformed the … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Repeats | Tagged Beinn Eighe, Ben Nevis, Callum Johnson, Damian Granowski, Dave Almond, Jamie Skelton, Lukas Klingora, Michael Poulsen, Neil Adams, Nicolas Dieu, Northern Corries, Paul Ramsden, Peter Hoang, Rich Bentley, Seokju Woo, Stob Coire nan Lochan, Trym Saeland, Wadim Jablonski | Comments Off

Can Do on Nocando Crack!

Posted on February 2, 2020 by Simon Richardson

I left out the Guy Steven and Steve Holmes’ ascent of Nocando Crack (VII,8) on January 29 in Coire an Lochain in the Northern Corries in my last post January Scottish Winter Diary because Nocando Crack is neither a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Repeats | Tagged Guy Steven, Northern Corries, Steve Holmes | Comments Off