Greg Boswell on the first winter ascent of Jumping Jupiter (VIII,8) on Carn Etchachan. This summer E2 takes cracks on the left side of the slab of Time Traveller, and was first climbed by John Lyall and Andy Nisbet in August 1997. (Photo James Dunn Visuals)
Greg Boswell, Ian Parnell and James Dunn made a rainy walk across the Cairngorm plateau through frequent slushy showers on Wednesday December 21 to the top of Carn Etchachan. Greg and Ian abseiled down to the foot of the summer E2 Jumping Jupiter, whilst James Dunn positioned himself to take photos.
“We abbed down to find our route very white but the temperature was quickly rising,” Greg told me. “The route was home to some thin and slightly bold climbing with a hard crux through the first roof/overlap. I belayed after the first crux pitch under the roof above the slab. The roof of the second pitch was not playing ball, and after some dithering around, I turned the roof via the arete on the left and made a rightward trending traverse to gain the summer line again, and finished as for that. We gave the route VIII,8. This was the last route before Christmas, so time for a rest and a bit of training, so I’m ready to get stuck in as soon as my Mum lets me leave the house after the festive period!”
