Monthly Archives: January 2011

Gael Force Ridge

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Late last year on December 16, Andy Nisbet visited the Lower Corrie in Coire Garbhlach in Glen Feshie with Sandy Allan and made the first ascent of Spice Boys (III), the ridge left of Garlic Gully. Andy returned with local … Continue reading →

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All Aboard the Elephant Train!

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Simon Richardson

On Saturday January 8, Donnie O’Sullivan, Tim Marsh and Pete Davies visited The Brack in Arrochar, and climbed the classic Great Central Groove. The following day (January 9) they returned and added Elephant Train (V,6). This interesting variation takes the … Continue reading →

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Crazy Sorrow – First Winter Ascent!

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Big news from a busy weekend was the first winter ascent of Crazy Sorrow on Lochnagar on Sunday January 9 by Guy Robertson and Pete Benson. This summer E4 6a, which takes the roof and crack-line to the right of … Continue reading →

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Riding the Storm

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Several years ago, my good friend Chris Cartwright suggested that there was a new route to do on the front face of the Edge of Darkness buttress on Beinn an Lochain in Arrochar. This attractive feature lies on the North … Continue reading →

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Glen Esk Explorations

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Various parties have been exploring the mica schist crags of Glen Esk in the Southern Cairngorms over the last few winters, and on Saturday January 8, Andy Nisbet and Duncan Tunstall had a great visit to Bruntwood Craig at the … Continue reading →

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Greg Boswell’s Magnificent Run of Routes

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Nineteen-year old Greg Boswell has had a remarkable run of routes over the last 20 days or so. Together with his astonishing  first ascent of To Those Who Wait (IX,9) on Ben Nevis, Greg has ticked off some of the … Continue reading →

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Culloden First Winter Ascent

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Some late but very significant news – on Wednesday December 22, Iain Small, Gordon Lennox and Tony Stone made the first winter ascent of Culloden on Creag an Dubh Loch. Culloden was first climbed by the Barley brothers in 1967 … Continue reading →

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Daylight Robbery

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Roger Webb, James Edwards and I snatched a quick route on Cairngorm yesterday (January 7), when we visited Creagan Coire Cha-no on the Eastern side of Cairngorm. It was a beautiful day, but strong winds and snowfall over the past … Continue reading →

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Slaying the Ghost in the Great Wilderness

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Mullach Coire Mhic Fearchair, which lies deep in the Great Wilderness, is one of the most remote Munros in Scotland. In January 2007, Roger Webb and I visited the steep cliff on its north side to climb the compelling central … Continue reading →

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Surviving the Thaw on Cryogenic Corner

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Simon Richardson

On Saturday (January 1), Andy Nisbet and Sandy Allan visited Aonach Beag and made the first ascent of the 150m-long Cryogenic Corner (IV,4), which lies 60m right of The Navigator on the West Face of the mountain. The West Face … Continue reading →

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