Monthly Archives: December 2017

Arran’s Capuil Ridge

Kris Lennox sent me details of an enterprising outing on Arran on December 9 when he made a winter ascent of the South-East Ridge of Bheinn Bharrain in the Pirnmill Hills. Kris doesn’t think this very remote feature has been … Continue reading

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Hot Ice

“What a great spell of weather, for winter climbers anyway,” Andy Nisbet writes. “ And frozen turf on crags near the road, crags suitable for the ‘older climber’. But now on Monday December 18, the cold spell was ending, with … Continue reading

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Red Rag Repeated

Dave Kerr, Erick Baillot and Karl Atherton notched up a significant ascent in the Torridon area on December 16 when they made the second ascent of Red Rag (VII,7) on Beinn Dearg. This route was first climbed by Roger Webb … Continue reading

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New Grade VIII for The Cobbler

Tim Miller and Martin McKenna created a new Southern Highlands test-piece on December 15 when they climbed Punter’s Crack (VIII,9) on the South Peak. This was a winter ascent of their 2016 summer addition ‘Davie Taenails’, but the route has … Continue reading

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The Orphan – First Winter Ascent

On December 14, Steve Holmes, Duncan Curry and Hannah Evans made the first winter ascent of The Orphan (VII,8) on the North-East Face of Crowberry Ridge on The Buachaille. This summer VS, which was first climbed by Messrs. Read, Jones … Continue reading

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Tried and Tested Repeated in Glen Coe

Duncan Curry and Steve Holmes repeated Tried and Tested (VII,7) on Stob Coire nan Lochan in Glen Coe on December 12. Their ascent is most probably the second ascent of this steep line that takes the chimney-corner formed by the … Continue reading

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Fionn Coiren Exploration

Jon (Nettle) Foden had an enterprising day climbing and exploring Fionn Coirien on the north side of the Ben Lui group on December 11. “Yesterday I was in Glen Lochy and my plan was Munro bagging with Beinn Chleibh in … Continue reading

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New Glen Coe Test-Piece

Greg Boswell and Guy Robertson added another test-piece to the collection of hard winter routes on Bidean nam Bian’s Church Door Buttress when they climbed a winter version of Lost Arrow on December 11. The route was first climbed by … Continue reading

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From Our Derbyshire Correspondent

This blog is primarily about Scottish winter climbing, but occasionally news comes in from other areas that is just too good not to share. Scottish winter enthusiast Jeremy Windsor, who lives in Matlock in Derbyshire writes: “Just letting you that … Continue reading

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Following in Tom Weir’s Footsteps

Neil Wilson had long admired Tom Weir and Arthur Macpherson’s route up the 280m-high South Rib of Arkle, the Corbett just south of Foinaven. Weir and Macpherson were amongst the first to explore the climbing potential of the Foinaven group … Continue reading

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