Monthly Archives: January 2016

Vapouriser – Second Ascent

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Simon Richardson

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 →

Posted in Repeats | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Vapouriser – Second Ascent

Spooks

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Simon Richardson

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 →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Spooks

Scottish Winter Climbing – A North American Perspective

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Simon Richardson

“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 →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Scottish Winter Climbing – A North American Perspective

Creag Meagaidh Hat Trick

Posted on January 17, 2016 by Simon Richardson

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 →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Creag Meagaidh Hat Trick

Needle Double Tick

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Simon Richardson

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 →

Posted in Repeats | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Needle Double Tick

Anvil Gully Right-Hand Finish

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Simon Richardson

“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 →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Anvil Gully Right-Hand Finish

Crusade – Second Ascent

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Simon Richardson

  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 →

Posted in Repeats | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Crusade – Second Ascent

Moonshine in the Lost Valley

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Simon Richardson

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 →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Moonshine in the Lost Valley

Loads of Scope at Lurcher’s

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Simon Richardson

“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 →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Loads of Scope at Lurcher’s

Don’t Forget The Joker

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Simon Richardson

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 →

Posted in New Routes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Don’t Forget The Joker