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This blog celebrates Scottish winter climbing. Please contact me with news of your latest adventure.
simon@scottishwinter.com Archives
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Meta
Winter Climbing Links
- Adam Hughes
- Andy Inglis
- Andy Turner
- Blair Fyffe
- Colin Moody
- Colin Threlfall
- Dave MacLeod
- Dave Riley
- Euan Whittaker
- Greg Boswell
- Guy Robertson
- Henning Wackerhage
- Ian Parnell
- Ian Stewart
- James Edwards
- James Roddie
- James Thacker
- Jim Higgins
- Ken Applegate
- Kev Shields
- Mark Chadwick
- Martin Holland
- Martin Moran
- Matt Helliker
- Mike Lates
- Mike Pescod
- Murdoch Jamieson
- Neil Adams
- Neil Morrison
- Niall Ritchie
- Nick Bullock
- Nick Carter
- Pete Benson
- Pete Macpherson
- Richard Bentley
- Simon Frost
- Simon Yearsley
- Steve Ashworth
- Tim Neill
- Tom Livingstone
- Uisdean Hawthorn
- Will Sim
Category Archives: Commentary
Topsy-Turvy
The topsy-turvy season continues. A brief thaw on January 3 followed by a dry cold snap was not the best recipe for good winter climbing. The Scottish mountains are unusually dry at the moment and the freeze thaws should be … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, New Routes, Repeats
Tagged Andy Nisbet, Braeriach, Guy Steven, Murdoch Jamieson, Northern Corries, Roger Webb, Simon Richardson
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Cat and Mouse
The cat and mouse game of finding good winter climbing conditions continues. The forecast icy blast on New Years Day promised much for January 2, but the snowfall was significantly less than predicted and mainly limited to the Cairngorms and … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, New Routes, Repeats
Tagged Andy Nisbet, Ben Nevis, Braeriach, Creagan Cha-no, Greg Boswell, Guy Robertson, Lurcher's Crag, Northern Corries, Roger Webb, Simon Richardson
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Blink And You Miss It
“Blink and You Miss It!” Mark Chadwick exclaimed on Facebook after making a well timed ascent of an attractively rimed Auricle (VI,7) in Coire an Lochain with Duncan Hodgson. Following the Christmas Day thaw and Boxing Day storm, winter conditions … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, New Routes
Tagged Andy Nisbet, Ben Nevis, Ben Richardson, Duncan Hodgson, Lochnagar, Lurcher's Crag, Mark Chadwick, Northern Corries, Sandy Allan, Simon Richardson, Susan Jensen
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Winter on The Sentinel
This winter continues to be a frustrating one. A cold snap before Christmas saw Sophie Grace Chapell and I heading for the Southern Sector of Lochnagar. The buttresses on the left side corrie have a westerly aspect, which makes them … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, New Routes
Tagged Lochnagar, Simon Richardson, Sophie Grace Chappell
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Lean Times in Raeburn’s Gully
Before the high pressure properly set in at the beginning of December there were some fine days with cool nights. Winter climbing looked pretty hopeless, but the deep gullies high in the Cairngorms kept a little snow and ice. Several … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary
Tagged Adam Archibald, Gavin Mackenzie, Lochnagar
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New Winter Season Underway
Winter has arrived on the Scottish mountains. Andy Nisbet and Steve Perry were first off the mark on Friday November 4 with an ascent of the classic Fingers Ridge in Coire an t-Sneachda. They were fortunate that it started to … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, Repeats
Tagged Andy Clark, Andy Nisbet, Ben Cruachan, Ben Nevis, Dave Almond, Helen Rennard, Northern Corries, Steve Perry, Stuart MacFarlane
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James Edwards (1976 – 2016)
Scottish climbing lost another much-loved figure in August after James Edwards slipped and fell in the Fisherfield mountains. James was setting up a radio relay station for the Wilderness Challenge on behalf of the Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team, who then … Continue reading
Des Rubens (1952 – 2016)
In late June, the Scottish climbing community were shocked to hear of the death of Des Rubens in the Alps. Des was one of the most energetic and likeable activists on the Scottish scene and many climbers were deeply saddened … Continue reading
Chasing The Ephemeral
As soon as the second edition of Ben Nevis – Britain’s Highest Mountain (which I co-authored with Ken Crocket) was published in 2009, Tom Prentice asked me whether I would like to write a book about Scottish winter climbing. The … Continue reading
Snow At Last!
Saturday’s (January 28) snowfall brought many of the higher cliffs into winter condition at the weekend. Ben Nevis was busy with many of the Early Season favorites such as Gargoyle Wall, The Clanger, Cutlass and Sidewinder seeing ascents. Notable ascents … Continue reading →