Monthly Archives: January 2016

Vapouriser – Second Ascent

Uisdean Hawthorn and Tom Livingstone pulled off an important second ascent on January 16 when they repeated Vapouriser (VIII,8) on Creag an Dubh Loch in the Southern Cairngorms. “Tom didn’t arrive in Perth until 10:30pm,” Uisdean explained. “I had been … Continue reading

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Spooks

On January 14, Simon Yearsley and I added a new route we called Spooks (VI,6) to Meall nan Tarmachan in the Southern Highlands. Simon takes up the story: “Simon and I have known each other, and known of each other, … Continue reading

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Scottish Winter Climbing – A North American Perspective

“It’s always great to see visiting climbers enjoying the Scottish winter, and early January saw just that,” Simon Yearsley writes. “I picked up US climbers Josh Wharton and Mikey Schaefer from Edinburgh Airport on January 2 and spent the evening … Continue reading

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Creag Meagaidh Hat Trick

Several years ago I had a pleasant morning climbing the East Ridge of Mheall Coire Choille-rais, an excellent Grade II on the south side of Creag Meagaidh. Looking north I could see the profile of a prominent buttress in the … Continue reading

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Needle Double Tick

Last week saw one of the standout events of the season when The Needle (VIII,8) on the Shelter Stone was ascended on consecutive days. Ian Parnell and Kenton Cool climbed the route on January 8, and the following day, Andy … Continue reading

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Anvil Gully Right-Hand Finish

“I was out on Creagan Cha-no yesterday [January 10] with Tony Credland and Gregor Ewing,” Martin Holland writes. “After climbing Anvil Gully we were looking for something quick to do and abbed back down to a belay just below the … Continue reading

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Crusade – Second Ascent

  On January 9, Iain Small and Uisdean Hawthorn pulled off an important repeat when they made the second ascent of Crusade (VII,8) on Church Door Buttress in Glen Coe. “After climbing up on Church Door Buttress in summer 2013 … Continue reading

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Moonshine in the Lost Valley

On January 9, Mark Chadwick and Simon Tietjen climbed Moonshine (V,7), a probable new line to the right of Moonlighting, on Lost Valley Buttress. “On Saturday a few of us gathered in the Glen Coe car park with plans on … Continue reading

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Loads of Scope at Lurcher’s

“There’s loads of scope at Lurcher’s so we just had to go back (January 8),” Andy Nisbet explains. “Actually it had been snowing a lot from the east so its west facing aspect maybe wasn’t the best option, but we … Continue reading

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Don’t Forget The Joker

Graham Stein and Mick James added a good new route to the remote Loch Mullardoch hills on January 1. “Being rather starved of climbing opportunity recently, I was keen to make the most of the colder conditions on New Year’s … Continue reading

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