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This blog celebrates Scottish winter climbing. Please contact me with news of your latest adventure.
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Winter Climbing Links
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Tag Archives: Simon Richardson
Timing Is Everything
There is an attractive single pitch crag sitting under Cnap Coire na Spreidhe on Cairn Gorm. It was first explored in summer 2012 by Rik Higham, Raphael Bleakley and Gwilym Lynn who climbed the prominent line of Nethy Crack (VS … Continue reading
Posted in New Routes
Tagged Cairn Gorm, Gary Kinsey, Roger Webb, Simon Richardson
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All Go on Shapeshifter Wall
It’s been busy on Shapeshifter Wall on Lurcher’s Crag in the Cairngorms. The steep three-pitch Shapeshifter (VIII,8) was the brainchild of Steve Perry who made the first ascent with Andy Nisbet and Helen Rennard last January. The route was repeated … Continue reading
Posted in New Routes, Repeats
Tagged Craig Holden, Creagan Cha-no, Harry Newmark, Lurcher's Crag, Mark Robson, Ross Cowie, Simon Richardson, Steve Elliot
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The Edge of Profanity – Second Ascent
On November 30, Dave Brookes and Jules Harris put to bed a well-known problem on Creagan Cha-no when they made the first free ascent of The Edge of Profanity. This short, but deceptively steep route, was first climbed early last … Continue reading
Posted in New Routes, Repeats
Tagged Braeriach, Creagan Cha-no, Dave Brookes, Graeme Gatherer, Jules Harris, Roger Webb, Simon Richardson, Steve Elliott
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Dundonnell Face
The night of November 18/19 was the coldest in the recent cool snap and Neil Wilson, Roger Webb and I were lucky enough to be in Torridon. Next morning the turf was brick hard at sea level so we set … Continue reading
Posted in New Routes
Tagged Beinn Alligin, Neil Wilson, Roger Webb, Simon Richardson
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White Walkers
Mark Robson and I took the easy option on Sunday November 17 and arrived late at the Cairn Gorm Ciste car park in the full knowledge that others would be ahead of us and making a trail to Creagan Cha-no. … Continue reading
Posted in New Routes
Tagged Creagan Cha-no, Mark Robson, Simon Richardson
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Winter Starts
Winter in the Scottish Highlands started in late October when a cold north-westerly deposited a layer of snow on the West. Conditions were typically early season, with the turf not fully frozen, and the best climbing conditions were found in … Continue reading
Blackmount Wall
The heavy snowfall at the end of January fell without any wind and coated the Scottish mountains with a uniform layer of powder snow. This was a boon for skiers, but for classic winter climbing it needed to consolidate a … Continue reading
Posted in New Routes
Tagged Buachaille Etive Mor, Iain Small, Simon Richardson
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Sunset Buttress Revisited
I’d been meaning to return to Sunset Buttress on Lochnagar for years. I first climbed it in 1994 when winter climbing in the Southern Sector was not very fashionable. Rick Allen and I made an ascent of the original summer … Continue reading
Posted in New Routes
Tagged Forrest Templeton, Lochnagar, Simon Richardson
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November Cold Snap
After a very warm first half of November, the cold easterlies that set up in the middle of the month were good news for winter climbers. The big decision was whether to go east or west. Going west meant better … Continue reading
Posted in New Routes, Repeats
Tagged Ben Cruachan, Ben Nevis, Braeriach, Creagan Cha-no, Dave Almond, Helen Rennard, Mark Robson, Northern Corries, Simon Richardson
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New Mini Guidebook to Creagan Cha-no
Today, the Scottish Mountaineering Club published a mini-guide to the popular and easily accessible Creagan Cha-no on the east side of Cairn Gorm. This is the first guidebook published for the cliff and includes all routes climbed until the start … Continue reading →