2010 update

Ive not "blogged" for a while and thought it was about time i brought things up todate. 2010 seemed to fly in after our little girl Eilidh arrived at the end of February. Nearly a year on and shes up and about walking.

Work continued through the summer with a trip to Hoy and the Old Man. Terry and I were lucky with the conditions finding dry rock throughout.

I found a new sport in bodyboarding which along with biking kept me fit through the Autumn, Aileen managed to catch the above shot of me in December ;-), looking forward to getting back in the water in the Spring.

Winter first!

Ben Nevis

I took Anna and Richard yesterday up Ledge Route on Ben Nevis. Amazing day with blue skies and no wind. A good covering of snow which i think was hiding the ice? Very busy with lots of teams on the ridges. I was working for Irish Adventures .

Northern Corries

A few photos of the Cairngorms over the last couple of weeks courses at Glenmore Lodge and Ecosse Mountains. Looks like the alpine conditions will continue.

Ski Tour

Cracking day today in the North East, sunny with no wind. I went for a quick ski tour up my local hill, Ben Rinnes. Only one client today, the four legged variety, Bracken, finally managed to tire him out. The snow fall from the last 4 days has coated the hill in great touring conditions and i managed to ski from the top right down to the car at the Ben Rinnes distillery. "The" winter continues!

Photos from Friday

The Learn to Lead course at Glenmore Lodge finished on Friday with John and Mike leading themselves up Got Track gully which was in great nick. The thaw during the week had relieved the cracks of their early season rime/ice which made finding gear and anchors a bit easier. -8 in the corrie and a strong northerly wind, not a day for hanging around!

Mild, wet heavy snow and avalanches

Death ropers!

Runnel avalanche debris

I am working at Glenmore Lodge this week on a Learn to Lead in winter course. Mike and John led themselves up 4 pitches just to the right of Alladins Mirror before abbing off and escaping the wet heavy snow. Sneachda has been busy the last couple of days and the good conditions changed today with overnight rain, a rise in the freezing level and some patchy light drizzle. We witnessed an avalanche/wet slide coming out of The Runnel this morning which eventually slowed close to the corrie floor. The Runnel was soloed about 30 mins later, crazy, with lots of bigs cornices still above the trident gullies. Hopefully conditions will improve through tomorrow.

Ben Ice

Jayne and I made an early start and headed west to the Ben. The ititial plan of Tower Ridge was not a goer due to the high winds, poor viz and tired bodies. We eventaully climbed some great water ice on the organ pipe wall which gave us a 60 m calf burning WI3. Couldnt see much higher up but there seemed to be alot of snow moving around. East is best!