Summer 2023
Rock-climbing beneath the Lagginhorn – 6th July 2023
Weissmeis traverse, from south ridge to north flank – 5th July 2023
Making the most of an early start from the Almageller hut.
Good snow cover leading up to the start of the scrambling on the main ridge.
Getting started on the ridge.
Nearing the summit of the Weissmeis, always a fine situation here, looking back at the snow summit crest.
Descending the north flank, entirely on glacier, with some interesting glacial features to negotiate.
Pigne d’Arolla from the Cabane des Vignettes – 28th June 2023
Pointe de Vouasson, above Arolla – 26th June 2023
A summer ascent of the Bel Oiseau – 23rd June 2023
A great middle height peak at 2600m for great views and acclimatising, above the lac d’Emosson in western Switzerland.
A circuit of the five tops of the Cairngorms – 24th May 2023
Taking in the ‘Five tops of the Cairngorms’ – the summits that are all over 4000ft – that connect together as a great circuit, split by the great Lairig Ghru. These are Braeriach, Sgor an Lochain Uaine (Angel’s Peak), Cairn Toul, Ben Macdui and Cairngorm. The plan was to do this in a counter-clockwise direction with an overnight camp planned at the Corrour bothy.
Having started at the Sugar Bowl and gained access through the Chalamain Gap, we now have the great view looking through the Lairig Ghru. The slopes of Ben Macdui are in the far distance up on the left. Our route to the start of our first summit of Braeriach takes the long ridge of Sron na Lairig on the right.
Quite a bit of cloud for most of our summits…! Here we are at the summit of Braeriach.
A break in the cloud gave us this view looking down towards Lochain Uaine as we traversed between Sgor an Lochain Uaine and Cairn Toul.
Heading down to the Corrour bothy at the south end of the Lairig Ghru, a welcome sight after a big day!
Quite a few tent parties were arriving at the bothy, 15 arrived eventually. As the cloud cleared it was great to look up at the journey for the next day, of Ben Macdui above the Tailor’s burn.
Inside the bothy was quite cosy… Enough space for 5 folk to sleep, but enough space for some to cook at a time and chat with strangers arriving from all corners, most were heading north back to Aviemore for the next day.
Heading up the flanks to the side of the Tailor’s burn the next day, Cairn Toul in the background.
Looking back where we’d come from, the white dot of the bothy in its area of green is just visible…
Arriving at the summit of Ben Macdui, with a cheerful snow bunting singing away to accompany us.
Arriving on Cairngorm: the sun finally came out to give us the views of all the summit we had climbed and link our journey between them. Well done guys!
Great to be back climbing at Diabaig – 19th April 2023
Diabaig is a fantastic set of crags, found heading west beyond Torridon. Need to get used to the combination of friction and crack-climbing on this wonderful gneiss rock. Great views looking out towards the north of Skye and on towards the Hebrides.
Winter 2022-2023
Skiing the Couloir in Coire an Lochan – 15th April 2023
Making the most of the sunshine around the Cabane Brunet – 28th March 2023
Photo credit: Graham Dudley
Photo credit: Graham Dudley
A local circuit on the Crois des Prélayes – 21st March 2023
Dad still happy on his skis…!
A week of ski-touring skills & adventures around the Grand St Bernard pass – 17th March 2023
Photo credit: James Shawdon
Photo credit: James Shawdon
Photo credit: James Shawdon
Photo credit: James Shawdon
Photo credit: James Shawdon
Photo credit: James Shawdon
An escape from the Lötschenpass hut – 9th March 2023
Accessed by from the Lötschental in the Swiss Valais, an atmospheric place for a hut and to travel from as the sun appeared out of the whiteout. Great to see some mountains!
An intro to ski-touring in the Cairngorms – 5th February 2023
Based out of Aviemore in the Highlands, we were able to use the Cairngorm Mountain ski area to help with our approach to the summit of Cairngorm itself. From here there are a number of great slopes for skiing ‘over the back’, and ski-touring back up again.
Pointe Ronde ski-tour – 27th January 2023
To end a fine week with the Eagle Ski Club, benefiting from great weather and conditions, we were able to top the trip with an ascent of the Pointe Ronde, a great ski-touring summit that gives great views of the Valais Alps and the Mont Blanc massif, as well as still plenty of powder for the descent.
Vallon du Van – 26th January 2023
Over ‘la Golette’ at Marécottes – 25th January 2023
Ski-tour on the Bel Oiseau, above Finhaut – 24th January 2023
Winter returns to the Cairngorms – 15th January 2023
A weekend of improving ski-touring skills, heading up Cairngorm itself and into the Northern Corries. It was a wintry weekend with much new snow coming in and wind. Good for focusing on the transitions between ski and touring mode, and great to be able to ski down to the car park.
A ski-tour over Cairngorm to Loch A’an – 12th December 2022
A fine day of sunshine after days of cloud and snowfall. Amazing snow and a good cover down to the loch and back through Coire Cas.
A promising start on the drive up to Cairngorm with Meall a’Bhuacaille catching the first sun.
Looking down at the Saddle, Loch A’an and Beinn Mheadhoin beyond.
Down to the loch side, looking towards the Shelterstone crag and Carn Etchachan.
You can just make out some folk down by the loch
Great snow and turns down the Cairngorm Coronation Wall into Coire Cas.
Summer 2022
A traverse of the southern Cuillin Munros
An early start for what was going to be a warm day, part of the glorious weather the country was experiencing over the Jubilee bank holiday weekend.
This journey was part of a relay connecting all the Munros across Scotland being carried out by the Veteran Women’s Munro Relay.
Looking across towards the Isles of Eigg, Rum and Soay.
Coire Ghrunnda
Near the summit of Sgurr Alasdair
One of the tricky sections of Sgurr Thearlaich
Traversing Collie’s Ledge on Sgurr MhicCoinnich
On the In Pinn…
In Pinn summit
Sgurr a’Ghreadaidh
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Rock-climbing at Neist Point on Skye
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Summer Mountain Leader Assessment – Expedition to the north of Glenfinnan
Winter 2022
A circuit of the northern corries of the Cairngorms – 2nd April 2022
Ski-touring adventures above Zinal – 5th March 2022
Aladdin’s Couloir, a classic gully adventure in the Cairngorms – 11th January 2022
Looking at the back wall of the cliffs of Coire an t-Sneachda in the Cairngorms. Aladdin’s Gully takes the district line to the left of Mel. The gully has a short ice section just at the narrows, which you can see, before the climb heads up and right behind the pinnacles to the plateau at the top.
Different views of the lower section of the gully. Here we are climbing the route by a series of pitches, using the rock and sometimes the snow to make belay anchors.
Nearly at the top…! The gully takes us to a surprising flatter section amongst the pinnacles, with views looking back down where we’ve come from…
… and the last section up to the top…
… and onto the Cairngorm plateau. Quite a different landscape, but great to look back at the cliffs and some of the impressive terrain and the ridge-line of the Fiacaill Ridge.
Ski tour on Fionn Bhein, above Achnasheen – 7th January 2022
A great fairly straight-forward ski-tour on an accessible Munro in the central Highlands.
Great views looking west towards Torridon, with Liatach and Beinn Eighe standing out…
… and to the north-west you could see Slioch catching the sun, Loch Fada and the rest of the Letterewe range.
And not a bad cover of snow for the ski down, so it was worth doing two laps of the top slope!
A snowy day on the Fiacaill Ridge – 5th January 2022
A good first winter mountaineering route after learning some good cramponing skills. The route is like a great snowy scramble, with some interesting steps and a bit of exposure.
Still a whiteout at the top of the ridge!
Winter solstice – crevasse rescue practice 21st December 2021
Looking through the Lairig Ghru, in the Cairngorms, to wards Cairn Toul.
We had had a couple of days of practicing making different snow belays and now the team were able to put them into practice, working through the process of improvised crevasse rescue.
The Lairig Ghru pass looking north…
… and looking further north and west to the rest of the Highlands.
A ski descent into the Loch Avon basin – 12th December 2021
After a few more days of snow fall, the cover made it OK to ski all the way down to Loch Avon, over the back of Cairngorm, taking you right into the centre of these mountains.
Looking up Loch Avon to the cliffs fo the Shelterstone, preparing for the ski tour back up…
…and a further good ski down the Ciste Gully, taking care with a few holes in the snow cover near the bottom..!
Finding the ski legs, first ski tour of the season on Cairngorm – 3rd December 2021
This well-known summit holds the snow well on many sides so is great for combining ski-touring with skiing, and dropping into different views and environments.
Summer 2021
Atmospheric conditions on the Cairngorm plateau
photo courtesy of Anna Henly
The best VDiff climb in Scotland…! Agag’s Groove on Buachaille Etive Mor
The approach to the climb involves starting up Curved Ridge, high up above Rannoch Mor.
Looking down on the Rannoch Wall, here catching the sunshine, the location of many fine rock climbs.
Agag’s Groove is a route of 4 pitches taking the right edge of the Rannoch Wall.
Some amazing climbing in a spectacular location!
Welcome sunshine on Glenbrittle beach
A murky day on the Cuillin southern Munros
With a number of Cuillin Munros left to do, we were able to link several of the southern summits of the Cuillin despite not much of a view most of the time. At least the Inaccessible Pinnacle is still distinct!
Rock-climbing at Neist Point on Skye
The Green Lady pinnacle, the venue of our rock-climbing as well as the sea cliffs down to the left.
A sunrise start on the Cuillin ridge
An early start from a cold bivvy, above Coire Grundda, having climbed the Dubhs slabs the day before.
Arriving at the summit of Sgurr Alistair, a shadow of this peak sits out on the morning haze.
Looking north from the summit of Sgurr Alistair.
…and looking east….
… and south, looking on towards Gars-bheinn and Sgurr nan Eag at the south end of the Cuillin ridge.
Approaching the narrows between Sgurr Thearlaich and Sgurr Mhic Choinnich.
The very fine route of King’s Chimney (Diff) on Sgurr Mhic Choinnich.
A moody Inaccessible Pinnacle
Dubhs ridge
The continuous profile of this scramble of rock slabs and short walls extends up from Loch Coruisk, initially to the summit of Sgurr Dubh Beag. Following a couple of exciting abseils off this summit, a further scramble up onto the munro of Sgurr Dubh Mor and on to the Cuillin ridge can be made.
At the abseil…
… looking on to Sgurr Dubh Mor
Looking back at the site of the abseils on Sgurr Dubh Beag and beyond to Loch Scarvaig and Elgol.
An Teallach traverse
Starting at Dundonell and finishing in Corrie Hallie, our traverse started with tackling the fine summit of Bidean a’ Glas Thuill.
Fine views looking north from Bidean a’ Glas Thuill towards Little Loch Broom and on to the Summer Isles.
From the summit of Bidean a’ Glas Thuill the fine summit of our next challenge of Sgurr Fiona.
On the summit of Sgurr Fiona.
Looking on towards the Fisherfield wilderness.
Winter 2021
Ben Macdui and Castlegates Gully
Cairngorm
Braeriach
Meall a’Bhauchaille
Sgor Gaoith and the Glenfeshie hills
Summer 2020
A sunny day on Castle Ridge, Ben Nevis – 27th September 2020
Castle Ridge frames the right-hand edge of the north face cliffs of Ben Nevis, and also, facing south-east, catches much of the morning’s sun. This was welcome as some snow had fallen 2 days previously and still some remained beneath the summit on the Observatory face. This route is a fantastic line on good rock with many moves on slabs and short walls. There are key sections where a longer pitch is necessary where the terrain becomes as easy climbing, with some interesting but possible moves and just a bit of exposure.
High up on the route having done the upper tower, the sense of space and wonder of the corrie behind and the surrounding cliffs.
Looking back behind Castle Ridge at the summit of Carn Mor Dearg that connects to Ben Nevis on the right.
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Curved Ridge on Buachaille Etive Mor – 26th September 2020
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West Buttress on Lochnagar – 14th September 2020
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A dawn start to the Cuillin Ridge – August 2020
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Walking in to loch Coruisk and the start of the Cuillin Ridge – August 2020
Winter 2020
A fab day on the Jamspitze in the Silvretta – 22nd February 2020
As part of a multi-day ski-tour in the Silvretta region of Austria, and sandwiched between some days of poor weather, here we had an excellent day with powder and sunshine on the Jamspitze summit.
Winter mountaineering in the Cairngorms – 14th February 2020
Col d’Argentière – 16th January 2020
Col de l’Encrenaz in the Aiguilles Rouges – 15th January 2020
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Col du Passon traverse – 14th January 2020
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Brèche du Berade ski-tour – 2nd January 2020
Autumn 2019
A free-for-all on Cairngorm! – 19th November 2019
A sunny day had been forecast, with no winds. In the week before there had been freezing temperatures to the valley and the snow that had fallen a week earlier was still covering the higher summits of the Cairngorms. Despite it being a Monday, a fair number of folk were out on the hill, try all modes of transport…!
Setting off from Cairngorm summit looking across at Beinn Mheadhoin.
Loch A’an
A fellow ski-tourer heading back up the slope.
A boarder letting it rip…
…followed by some bikers!
Looking across the Cairngorm plateau and beyond to Ben Macdui, Cairn Toul and Braeriach.
Returning down the north side of Cairngorm through the closed ski area of the Ciste, still loads of snow though…
…and finishing looking down at Glenmore forest and Loch Morlich.
Cairngorm ski-touring – 13th November 2019
Driving past Loch Morlich, I had to stop to take a photo of the mountains reflecting in the loch, with the sun just appearing over Cairngorm.
Not many other photos today as the cold wasted the battery’s life too quickly… Here I’m close to the summit of Cairngorm looking across to the northern Corries. The snow had a surprisingly good cover, and although it was quite crusty there was enough of it and space to make the turns. It was great skiing off one of the highest peaks around, and in the sun too..!
Cuillin scrambling on Sgurr a’Ghreadaidh – 3rd November 2019
Traverse of Bla Bheinn – 2nd November 2019
Summer 2019
Mont Blanc Summit – 16th September 2019
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Aiguilles des Entreves traverse – 3rd September 2019
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Dri Hornli rock-climbing – 30th August 2019
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Weissmies South Ridge – 29th August 2019
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Riffelhorn scrambling – 25th August 2019
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Monte Rosa summits – 22nd August 2019
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Mont Blanc at sunrise – 16th August 2019
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Zumsteinspitze Monte Rosa – 3rd August 2019
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Aiguille du Tour – 31st August 2019
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Finsteraarhorn summit – 23rd July 2019
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The Dufourspitze, the highest of the Monte Rosa summits – 4th July 2019
Getting the first of the sun’s rays at 7am. We’ve been on the move for just over 4 hours since leaving the hut, on glacier and snow ridge, and the rock of the summit ridge is very welcome.
Looking back towards Lyskamm
… and across to the Monte Rosa summit of Nordend
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Rock-climbing on the Riffelhorn above Zermatt – 2nd July 2019
A good training rock-climb, one of several on the south face of the rocky summit of the Riffelhorn
The climbing really is in a spectacular place, looking down at the vast Gorner glacier and all the fine mountains all around.
Looking across at climbers on a parallel route to us.
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Moiry alpine ridges and glaciers – 28th June 2019
We spent a few days at the Moiry hut, building on the team’s experience of ridge climbing and scrambling.
Here we are on the north ridge of the Pigne de la Lé…
… and on its summit
The next day we travelled further up the Moiry glacier to reach the Dent des Rosses which had a good rocky ridge to climb and descend.
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Aiguilles Marbrées traverse – 24th June 2019
The traverse of the Aiguilles Marbrées is a great introduction to alpine scrambling and mountaineering on a rocky ridge.
With a little bit of exposure…
…. and a little bit of awkwardness, it’s a great ridge for trying out this sort of alpine adventure.
