Monthly Archives: November 2010

Southern Highlands Spotlight

The Bridge of Orchy cliffs to the south of Glen Coe have seen a fair amount of activity over the last few days. The crags are now well frozen and have escaped the very heavy snowfalls further east. In the … Continue reading

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Enigma Variations

Roger Webb and James Edwards braved the snow-strewn roads north of Ullapool on Sunday November 28 and made a winter ascent of the summer HVS Enigma Grooves on Stac Pollaidh. After a gruelling approach through thigh-deep snow, they followed the … Continue reading

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Go West

With blizzards sweeping cross the country from the East, and the Cairngorms covered in deep snow, going West was the obvious choice this weekend. The favoured venue was Ben Nevis, where many mixed climbs such as Sioux Wall, Darth Vader, … Continue reading

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The Secret Repeated Again

Yesterday (November 23), Pete Macpherson and Martin Moran made an ascent of The Secret on Ben Nevis. This modern test-piece, high on Creag Coire na Ciste overlooking Number Three Gully, was first climbed in December 2007 by Andy Turner, Steve … Continue reading

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Cornucopia’s Left Edge Climbed!

It’s been a busy few days on Ben Nevis with many hard classics such as Darth Vader, Cornucopia, Sioux Wall and Gargoyle Wall all seeing ascents. Big news from the weekend, was the first ascent of the improbable left arete … Continue reading

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Another Busy Weekend in the Cairngorms

As usual, early season activity continues to focus on the Northern Corries. During the weekend Coire an t-Sneachda was especially popular and there were ascents of The Lamp, Belhaven, Burning and Looting, Pot of Gold and Houdini. Also of note … Continue reading

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New Route on Stag Rocks

The south-facing Stag Rocks in the Loch Avon Basin are a good option after a fresh snowfall. They are best early in the season before the sun gets high in the sky and strips the crag. Last week, on Wednesday … Continue reading

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Hard New Test-Piece for the Northern Corries

I’d heard rumours on the grapevine of a hard new addition in Coire an t-Sneachda by Pete MacPherson and Martin Moran on Saturday (November 13), so I was delighted when Pete contacted me last night with details of their ascent. … Continue reading

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New Grade VIII for The Ben

News just in… on Saturday November 13, Steve Ashworth and Paddy Cave made a significant addition to Number Three Gully Buttress with Apache (VIII,9), which climbs the bulging wall to the right of Sioux Wall. This imposing shield-like feature is … Continue reading

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All Go on Cairngorm

It’s been a busy few days on Cairngorm with many teams focusing on the Northern Corries. The exposed turf is well frozen, and the steeper mixed routes are in good early season condition. Snow fell almost continuously through the weekend … Continue reading

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