Tag Archives: Michael Barnard

Rudge and Wood’s Route

On January 19 Doug Bartholomew and Michael Barnard made the probable first winter ascent of ‘Rudge and Wood’s Route’ on Sgurr nan Gillean. This narrow dyke on the West Face of the Second Pinnacle on Pinnacle Ridge was first climbed … Continue reading

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Mid December Update

The first half of December was wild and windy, which rather limited activity. The Northern Corries were popular, and on Creagan Cha-no, the new mini guidebook prompted a flurry of activity filling in the remaining lines, which are mostly in … Continue reading

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Marmalade – First Winter Ascent

On January 7, Michael Barnard and John MacLeod had a fine day making the first winter ascent of Marmalade (VI,6) on D Gully Buttress on Buachaille Etive Mor. “With the cold weather and snow down to lower levels, it seemed a … Continue reading

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Canopy on Blaven

Michael Barnard and John MacLeod made one of the finest first winter ascents this season when they ascended Canopy (VI,6), a Severe chimney-line on Blaven. The route was first climbed by Ian Clough and party in a productive Skye trip in 1968. Michael … Continue reading

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Skye Winter Festival Report

The seventh Skye Winter Festival was another great success. A short bout of winter at the beginning of the two-week event saw five new routes before the meet resorted to more traditional Cuillin games for the next ten days. Local … Continue reading

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Skye Winter Climbing Festival

Several folks have commented that I left a bit of a teaser about the Skye Winter Climbing Festival following my post about Here Today, Gone Tomorrow. The festival was an outstanding success with over 20 new routes and only one … Continue reading

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Shear Fear on Ben Nevis

Michael Barnard and John MacLeod climbed a possible new ice route on Ben Nevis on February 14. “We climbed the obvious icefall overlooking the easier upper gully of 1934 Route, which makes a good finale to Vanishing Gully,” Michael told … Continue reading

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Nordwand Superdirect

Michael Barnard and John MacLeod climbed an exciting new pitch high on the North Face of Castle Ridge of Ben Nevis on February 7. “For the most part we took a line approximating Nordwand Direct,” Michael told me. “We started … Continue reading

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Here Today and Gone Tomorrow in Coire a’Ghrunnda

News is starting to trickle in from the Skye Winter Festival organised by local guide Mike Lates. Conditions have been cold and icy and a number of new routes have been found including an excellent-looking icefall in Coire a’ Ghrunnda … Continue reading

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Hidden Gully on Skye

Steve Perry and Michael Barnard added an excellent new winter route to Skye on January 17. Unfortunately Steve’s email sat in my spam folder for a couple of weeks, so better late than never, here is Steve’s story: “Having spent … Continue reading

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