Tag Archives: Mike Lates

New Line in Coire na Banachdaich

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Simon Richardson

It’s interesting how different days have yielded better conditions in different parts of the country throughout this prolonged series of storms. On Skye for example, New Year’s Day was the only one with easterly winds forecast, so Mike Lates and … Continue reading →

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The Smear – Repeated at Last!

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Simon Richardson

Mike Lates and Andy Huntington rounded off an exceptional 2013 winter season on Skye with the second ascent of The Smear (V) on the North Face of Sgurr a’Mhadaidh. “Mick Fowler once told me that he’d only ever seen it … Continue reading →

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2013 Skye Winter Meet

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Simon Richardson

Skye guide and guidebook author Mike Lates organised a highly successful winter meet based at the BMC Hut in Glen Brittle from January 18-21. Conditions were close to perfect, and Mike’s highly informative blog covers the activity on the meet. … Continue reading →

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Deliverance

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Simon Richardson

Guy Steven and Mike Lates made a superb addition to the Stone Shoot Face of Sgurr Thearlaich on Skye on Sunday November 4, with the first ascent of Deliverance (VII,7). After seeing that there was a good blanket of snow … Continue reading →

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The Curse of the Hobgoblin

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Simon Richardson

Andy Huntington, Mike Lates and Robin Clothier snatched a good new route in the Cuillin on Sunday (March 4). Andy takes up the story: “I was over at Elgol with Robin on Saturday and we did a route before the … Continue reading →

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Skye Winter Meet

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Simon Richardson

Mike Lates organised a very successful winter climbing meet on Skye from February 3-6. Despite a thaw that stopped all play on the Saturday, good icy conditions were found on three out of four days. On February 3, Paul Cunningham … Continue reading →

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Southern Comfort

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Simon Richardson

Some late news… On December 18, Mike Lates and Matthew Holmes added the 240m-long Southern Comfort (IV,5) to Coire Lagan in the Cuillin. This significant addition, which is similar in difficulty and stature to White Lies (IV,5 – Lates/Francis/Wear) on … Continue reading →

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White Lies on Skye

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Simon Richardson

Cuillin mountain guide and guidebook author Mike Lates, together with Ben Wear and Mark Francis (Beads) visited the South Face of Gillean yesterday (December 15), and made the first ascent of White Lies (IV,5), a seven-pitch ice line about 50 … Continue reading →

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Book Review – Skye The Cuillin

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Simon Richardson

I’ll start off by stating that I’m not particularly qualified to review this new guidebook. An infrequent visitor to Skye, I’ve only climbed a handful of routes in the Cuillin, and I only finally got around to traversing the Ridge … Continue reading →

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Happy Days on Skye

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Simon Richardson

On November 30, Mike Lates and Francis Blunt had a brilliant adventure on Skye. “Francis is on the night watchman scheme at Glenmore Lodge and he gave me quite an education on a hard new mixed line on Bealach Buttress, … Continue reading →

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