Inaccessible Pinnacle, Skye

Sunday was one of those days you wait years for. The Cuillin, blue sky, warm, no wind and no midges, awesome!

A great day to tick off one of your last Munros for Jim, Stevie, Hugh and John from Stirling Walking Club. Probably the hardest Munro which involves some easy but exposed climbing/scrambling.

Cheers to the guys for a great day.

2 Peaks.... but really 3

Spike and I spent Friday night and Saturday taking a charity group of 15 from South Wales up Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike. The Ben was still holding on to its full winter conditions above 1100m with firm snow underfoot, bit of a shock for the group. 5 hrs up and down then an overnight drive to Seathwaite. After an early start we were back in the car park at 9.30am having ticked off Scafell Pike. From here the group headed south to Snowdon and home. Im sure they would have completed the round in under 24 hrs..... well done and for great causes.

The Dark Side.....

A bit of after work fun and play last week with a trip down the upper Feshie. Ive not been in a kayak for a while so it was a bit of a baptism of fire with not many eddies about and the river at a good level. Liam and Olly kept us entertained or was it me with the only swim of the evening! Cheers to Graeme for the photies.

DofE

I have just been out with St Aloysius College from Glasgow on a bronze DofE training. This was 2 days and 1 night in and around the Arrochar area. The 3rd years done well covering 20km over the 2 days with lots of learning along the way. A cold night was spent just below the Ben Ime/Narnain col. Quite a few folks up rock climbing on the Cobbler but a bit chilly with the Easterly wind.

Centurion.....

Graeme and I had a days safety work today in Glen Feshie on the Centurion film set, they were playing catch after missing a day in February due to bad weather. Couldnt have picked a better day, sunny, cool and very little wind. The filming of the stunt doubles was shot from a helicopter which im sure will look very impressive with the Glen Feshie, Moine Mor and Cairn Toul back drop. A long but chilled out day. The film is due out at the end of the year.

The Ben, Tower Ridge

I spent yesterday guiding Alasdair up Tower Ridge. We found great spring/alpine conditions and the weather wasnt too bad either, not a bad day for Alasdair's birthday treat. It turned milder in the afternoon with snow still falling above 1000m for a spell. There still lots to go at with 0.5, indicator wall, white line, glovers, comb, green?? still "looking" good and Smiths looked best with fat blue/green ice on the normal and icicle finishes. We descended No4 gully which would be a good ski just now. Cooler conditions should improve things further.

Well done to the Childrens Trust folks who managed to carry a full size Dalek to the summit!

Yesterday i was working for West Coast Mountain Guides.

Chamonix Ski

Just back from a weeks skiing in the Chamonix valley. Conditions off and on piste were great and the climbing conditions looked good as well, snow shoes required for access. Chris, Caroline and I had a great morning on the Valley Blanche with 1.5ft of snow in places. Its a pity about the exchange rate......... managed to find the most expensive plate of chips ever...... £6.50!