Monthly Archives: January 2012

BMC Winter Meet – Ben Nevis Update

The BMC Winter Meet visited Ben Nevis en masse on Friday January 27 and came away with an impressive haul of routes including Sioux Wall, Smith’s Route, Darth Vader, Babylon, North-East Buttress, Tower Ridge, Gargoyle Wall, Tower Face of the … Continue reading

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BMC Winter Meet – Loch Avon Update

The Loch Avon Basin has been a much-visited venue this season, and it was a popular location of Day 2 (January 24) of the BMC Winter Meet with two ascents of the classic Postern on the Shelter Stone. Iain Small … Continue reading

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Pic ‘n Mix – The Mindless Finish

On Day 1 (January 23) of the BMC International Meet, Nick Bullock set the pace with the first full winter ascent of the Mindless Finish (IX,10) to Pic ‘n Mix. This summer E3 5c pitch is followed by the original … Continue reading

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Don’t Die of Ignorance – Repeated at Last!

I have a long backlog of ascents to write up from last week’s BMC Winter Meet, but some posts just can’t wait…. Greg Boswell and James Dunn pulled off a coveted repeat yesterday (January 29) when they made the second … Continue reading

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Rudolf – First Winter Ascent

Murdo Jamieson and Martin Moran had a great day on Beinn Eighe on Monday January 23 with the first winter ascent of Rudolf (VIII,8/9) on the Far East Wall. “Conditions were just right after three days of humid cool weather,” … Continue reading

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Fly Me To The Moon

On the evening of Sunday January 22, Iain Small and I were planning to be at Glenmore Lodge for 7pm for the start of the BMC International Meet, so we were looking for a suitable nearby winter venue. Unfortunately the … Continue reading

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Guerdon Grooves – Second Ascent

I’m just back from the International Winter Meet at Glenmore Lodge. This superb biennial event consists of 40 guests from 20 different countries climbing with 40 Scottish-savvy British climbers all under the watchful eye of Becky McGovern and Nick Colton … Continue reading

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Book Review – Winter Climbs in the Cairngorms

I have a battered copy of the second edition of this popular guidebook on my bookshelf. It is over 30 years old (the staples are rusting) and was written by one of the world’s greatest ice climbing pioneers – John … Continue reading

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Playing Cribbage in Glen Feshie

Andy Nisbet made another visit to Glen Feshie yesterday (january 20): “With a good forecast before a very windy weekend, but rain moving in to the West, another trip to Coire Garbhlach felt right. A complex rib between the two … Continue reading

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Crawling Round Meagaidh

Collectors of Cold Climbs routes will be interested in the email I’ve just received from Tim Neill: “Keith Ball and I thought about Ben Alder for Monday just past too! It was such a nice day, but probably the best … Continue reading

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