Leashless Tools Essential!

The Master at work. Andy Nisbet on the first ascent of Paper Trail (IV,5) on Creag Dubh - "the epitome of modern mixed climbing." (Photo John Lyall)

Yesterday (January 11), Andy Nisbet and John Lyall visited Creag Dubh and climbed the big fault immediately left of Great Wall.

“It was the epitome of modern mixed climbing,” Andy told me (with tongue firmly in cheek).

“Fifteen minutes from the road and a magnificent fight through rose bushes, ivy and other frozen vegetation. Followed by surmounting an overhang by climbing a tree. The third pitch involved an exposed traverse on the lip of a huge overhang (although you can’t really see the drop on the picture, or the cuts on my face from the roses). And the fourth pitch was a conventional wade through deep powder and up a crack using an ice pillar which was only attached top and bottom by heather strands. Back home for lunch. Leashless tools essential!”