Monthly Archives: March 2011

Inspiration

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Simon Richardson

East is Best at the moment – Andy Nisbet explains: “Conditions had to be good somewhere and it wasn’t Etchachan. So when Simon reported a perfect day, I wanted one too. So I searched out my projects file and looked … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes, Repeats | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Inspiration

Another Slice of Etchachan

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Simon Richardson

On Thursday March 3, Andy Nisbet and Duncan Tunstall visited Creagan a’Choire Etchachan and made the first ascent of Machete (V,5). This is a companion route to Kukri (first ascent earlier this season) climbing the lower section of the grassy … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Another Slice of Etchachan

Chasing Shadows

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Simon Richardson

One rainy Sunday several Septembers ago, I ran up to Lochnagar and scrambled up Central Buttress. Near the top I found an abandoned rope, tangled around several large blocks, so I coiled it and continued on my way. Once on … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Chasing Shadows

Perfect Day

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Last week’s thaw and re-freeze meant that ice, or icy mixed lines, were going to be the order of the day for this week. Roger Webb and I decided to visit Coire an Dubh Lochain on Beinn a’Bhuird to have … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Gathering in Y Gully

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Simon Richardson

On Monday February 28, Guy Robertson visited Coire an Lochain with Pete Macpherson and climbed the obvious counter-diagonal to Pic’n Mix, which takes the front face of the steep tower high up Y Gully. Guy had tried the line with … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes, Repeats | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Loch Etchachan Makeover

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Simon Richardson

I was looking across to the central Cairngorms from the South Summit of Beinn a’Bhuird on Monday when Roger Webb asked me the name of the crag set back from Creagan a’Choire Etchachan. “Those are the crags above Loch Etchachan,” … Continue reading →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , | Comments Off on Loch Etchachan Makeover

Extasy Repeated!

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Guy Robertson and Pete Benson made the second ascent of Extasy (VIII,8) on Creag Meagaidh on Monday February 21. This landmark route, which takes the awe-inspiring 300m-high wall between Smith’s Gully and The Fly, was first climbed by Dave Hesleden … Continue reading →

Posted in Repeats | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Extasy Repeated!