Monthly Archives: December 2010

Early Season Traverse of the Cuillin Ridge

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Simon Richardson

I was mightily impressed last week when I heard that a team was bivvying out on the Cuillin Ridge. The majority of Ridge traverse attempts, both in summer and winter, fail, so I was delighted to hear a few days … Continue reading →

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New Route on Beinn Udhlaidh

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Simon Richardson

On Wednesday (December 8), Greg Boswell and Neil Carnegie made a difficult new addition to Beinn Udhlaidh. The Crooked Smile (VII,7) takes steep mixed ground to the left of The Smirk to gain a hanging ice smear which leads up … Continue reading →

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The Sting – Finally Repeated After 20 Years!

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Winter climbs are like buses. A route waits 20 years for a repeat, and then two come along together! After failing to climb The Sting on Beinn an Socach on the Bridge of Orchy cliffs the previous weekend, Stuart McFarlane … Continue reading →

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The God Delusion Repeated!

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Martin Moran and Pete Macpherson repeated The God Delusion (IX,9) on Beinn Bhan yesterday (December 8 ) in a 21-hour round trip. They used snow shoes for the approach and started climbing at 8am. They climbed the route in nine … Continue reading →

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Satyr – First Winter Ascent

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Big news from Glen Coe is the outstanding first winter ascent of Satyr by Donald King and Andy Nelson on December 7. Satyr was first climbed in September 1973 by the great Sheffield-based climber Paul Nunn together with Jack Street … Continue reading →

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The Cuillin’s Black Cleft

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Last Thursday (December 2), Guy Robertson and Greg Boswell made the first winter ascent of the Black Cleft on Skye. This well known winter objective lies on Bealach Buttress on Sgurr Mhic Choinnich in the Cuillin and gave a three star … Continue reading →

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Arrochar’s Mammoth New Route

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Yesterday (December 7), Guy Robertson and Greg Boswell pulled off the biggest new route of the season so far, with the first winter ascent of Mammoth, a rarely climbed E3 on the imposing front face of The Brack in Arrochar. … Continue reading →

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Birthday Treat

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Simon Richardson

On Saturday December 4, Henning Wackerhage and Brian Duthie made the long trek through deep snow into Glen Esk where they added a companion route to last season’s addition Once in a Blue Moon. Their five-pitch IV,5 provided a satisfying … Continue reading →

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Central Highlands Update

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Simon Richardson

It was a busy weekend on Ben Nevis once again, with many climbers enjoying steep mixed routes such as Cutlass, Tower Face of the Comb, Gargoyle Wall, Babylon and Darth Vader. Heike Puchan, who made an ascent of the spectacular … Continue reading →

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Magnificent Ardgour

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Simon Richardson

Roger Webb and I were in Fort William on Saturday evening attending the SMC Dinner. On Sunday December 5, we got up early and drove around to Ardgour and headed up Garbh Bheinn. This superb Corbett is rarely in winter … Continue reading →

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