Tag Archives: Simon Richardson

Busy Weekend on The Ben

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Simon Richardson

When Helen Rennard and I walked up to the CIC Hut early on Saturday morning (December 3), we were expecting to find it empty. Instead, we found it full of the stars of the 2011 Scottish Tooling Series. They had … Continue reading →

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Full Winter Season Finally Begins!

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Simon Richardson

The unseasonably warm November temperatures came to an abrupt end on Friday November 25 with snow down to low levels across the Highlands accompanied by biting north-westerly gales. Dorsal Arête (II) on Stob Coire nan Lochan in Glen Coe saw … Continue reading →

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Rogue’s Rib Rediscovered

Posted on March 20, 2011 by Simon Richardson

For Iain Small and I, it was another tough call this weekend on where to go. East or west, mixed or ice were the choices, but in the end our decision was simply based on access. After the heavy snowfalls … Continue reading →

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Smear Fear

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Simon Richardson

I’ve been watching the ice grow high up on the right side of Eagle Buttress for several weeks now. In summer, the right arête of the Where Eagles Dare headwall (climbed by State of Independence) is delimited in its right … Continue reading →

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Chasing Shadows

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Simon Richardson

One rainy Sunday several Septembers ago, I ran up to Lochnagar and scrambled up Central Buttress. Near the top I found an abandoned rope, tangled around several large blocks, so I coiled it and continued on my way. Once on … Continue reading →

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Perfect Day

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Last week’s thaw and re-freeze meant that ice, or icy mixed lines, were going to be the order of the day for this week. Roger Webb and I decided to visit Coire an Dubh Lochain on Beinn a’Bhuird to have … Continue reading →

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Brave New World

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Simon Richardson

The weather forecast for last weekend was terrible, but as the week progressed climbing on Sunday began to look a possibility. Iain Small and I hummed and hawed about where to go, trying to balance avalanche risk and high winds. … Continue reading →

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Slioch Adventure

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Roger Webb and I made the long haul into the north face of Slioch on Tuesday February 15. We added an eight-pitch route folowing a line of grooves near the left edge of the 200m-high Main Buttress. Katabasis (VI,6) kept … Continue reading →

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Eagle-Eyed on Lochnagar

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Simon Richardson

With a strong westerly forecast, Lochnagar was the obvious choice for Sunday February 6. The avalanche report was a little circumspect, but Sandy Simpson and I were confident that Saturday’s re-freeze would have firmed up Friday’s brief thaw. In the … Continue reading →

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The Final Solution?

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Pinnacle Buttress of the Tower on Ben Nevis has fascinated me for years. It is an elegant feature running up to the Great Tower from Coire na Ciste just to the left of Glover’s Chimney. Way back in 1996, I … Continue reading →

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