Ski Touring in the Silvretta
Descending from a summit in the Silvretta during a recent ski tour.
The ClimbNow team ski tour in large number of areas each winter and spring including the following regions;
- Vanoise
- Haute Maurienne
- Gran Paradiso
- Bernese Oberland
- Mont Blanc Massif
- Swiss Valais
- Queyras
- Andorra
- Kashmir
- Scottish Highlands
Another area visited by both Paul and Euan is the Silvretta region. A full itinerary is now available on the ClimbNow site detailing a possible week long course in this brilliant area.
Skinning in the Silvretta
Ettrick Hills Walking Group Leader Training
Out with Cliff over the last two days working on a Walking Group Leader Training Course for Edinburgh City Council Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. We based ourselves in the Ettrick Valley with the team camping near the bothy, which allowed communal cooking and chat on a fairly miserable Saturday evening. The training covered navigation, group management, flora, fauna, emergency/incident responses etc. On Saturday we had heavy showers and hail. Sunday was much more pleasant with broken cloud and sunshine giving great views from the ridges above the Ettrick Valley.
Aberdour Sea Cliff
John and I have been out today at the Aberdour (Hawcraig) sea cliff with Cathy, George and Gayle. The forecast was for rain at 1pm but this did not materialise and we had sun all day. A few of the routes have nesting sea birds which are best avoided.
Cathy on ‘The Beast’. A strenuous little crack route.
George placing gear on ‘Eech’.
‘End of Silence’ and other routes at Weem
Martin and I used the last day of good weather today before the rain arrives to return to Weem to climb some more of the excellent sport routes. Last week, I attempted ‘End of Silence’ but did not complete the route due to the heat. Today was overcast and the route went on the first redpoint. Martin climbed six routes on the main face. Martin reported all to be of excellent quality. One or two of the routes could do with some more traffic but generally most routes are clean.
Martin enjoying one of the excellent routes at Weem.
Glen Coe
Simon and I headed up to Stob Coire nan Lochan in Glen Coe today and climbed the classic corner of Unicorn. The rock was dry and the route provided excellent climbing requiring a good variety of techniques. Some care is required with loose rock above the main corner. There was one other team out in the coire who climbed Tilt.
Simon enjoying the first pitch of Unicorn
There’s still some snow around in the coire with Broad Gully looking complete from the top of the scree cone.
Stob Coire nan Lochan
Walking in the Pentland Hills
Martin and I have been working today for an events company called Maximillion. We had a great day out walking in the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh. The weather was perfect and lots of walkers and cyclists were out enjoying the sunshine.
The Pentland Hills.
Climbing in the sun at Weem
Yesterday, I was out at Weem climbing with Ivor, Michael, Graham, Pamela and Kenny. Weem crags are located near Aberfeldy and provide both excellent traditional and sports climbs. The routes were all dry and the ‘side wall’ area of Weem Rock was very hot in the afternoon sun.
Climbing on the steep side wall at Weem Crag (photo by Ivor McCourt)
The Hawkcraig, Aberdour
Out at The Hawkcraig at Aberdour again this evening with David, James and Nigel. The crag was busy with lots of teams enjoying the good conditions and the evening low tide.
James and Nigel on the top pitch of Cranium Crack
We did a number of routes including Cranium Crack, the top pitch of which requires some care with loose rock on the easier upper section.
Scrambling in Glencoe
Today I have been out with John, Fiona, Harry, Paul, Bob, Mercy and Wilson from the Falkirk High Tops Team. We parked in Glen Etive and crossed a very low River Etive to gain access to the slopes of Sron na Creise. Once over we completed the grade 3 scramble which finishes on the summit of Stob a’ Ghlas Choire. After some lunch we descended a grade 1 ridge and returned to the bus.
The weather was beautiful all day and all the rock buttresses we were on were dry.
Enjoyable scrambling on good rock.
High on Sron na Creise.
Blackford Quarry
Out for a very pleasant evening with Keith at Blackford Quarry in Edinburgh looking at the rope skills required for tackling the Inaccessible Pinnacle on Skye. The venue worked well and we used routes on both sides of the quarry and the pinnacle to cover lead belaying, removing protection as a second and abseiling. The quarry was catching the sun and there were several pairs bottom roping the routes on the main face. Some care is required with the rock in the quarry as it can be friable.