North West

So I spent my weekend up in Reiff climbing. After a later start we used our work bus for a 3 hour journey up to the rock. There was eight of us in total and we headed straight to the pinnacle area. Sam and myself got on 'westering home' (E1 5b**), then Sam made good work of 'Earth Shaker' (E2 6a**) which had a great start. I then had a go on Immaculate Deception (E1 5b**) which had some hard initial moves then eased off.
After a break Sam and I spent a while soloing some of the easier routes and just enjoying the Sun and the grippy rock. We finished on 'Sip from the wine of youth again' (HVS 5a**) and went looking for a different climbing area. Didn't have the energy to keep going, so we called it a day.
After a good pub meal and a night in the Buckingham Palace of tents we went to the West Buttresss of  Stac Pollaidh and climbed 'Jack the Ripper' (E1 5b**) which had lots of dubious rock but good climbing on exposed situations. By the team we got to the last pitch the rain started and had we had to climb the crux in the rain, which took some enjoyment away and added some scariness.

 

Lower Roy, Middle Spean and Spean Gorge



There was a lot of rain last night which meant most of the rivers were up all over West of Scotland. Sam, Allen and I started at the Lower Roy which is great fun in big water. We continued onto the Middle Spean and Spean Gorge which was at a brilliant level (it was sitting at 3 on the gauge) and good fun.

Inspecting and running Constriction.

Garry Again

It was just Ron Cameron and me on the Garry this evening, literally. It was much more relaxing compared to the Morriston on Tuesday. However I am having much more fun now that I have a proper play boat.
Unfortunately Ron was still putting me to shame but he has 40 years on me!

Ron Cameron

Morriston

Well I have been working my way up to running this river for sometime and I paddled it rather successfully today. That is after the first attempt didn't go quite to plan. However I am really excited to go back and have another go because I am still buzzing from the first attempt.

There is a video of the Morriston on the Videos page.

Tri-Cep-Chord?

It was a scorcher today and I was on Aonach Dubh. The weather was supposed to break later in the day o it was good to make use of the weather before it changed. Lawrence and I wanted to have a go on Trichord (HVS 5a*). I don't think we stuck completely to the right line, we may have strayed onto the easier pitches of Triceptor but we still had a good time.

On the second pitch.

Lawrence on the walk off.

No Midge Yet





Guy Steven on The Web (E2 5c**)

Finishing early from work today meant I had time to make use of the dry conditions. So I met up with Guy in the Glen and who had a shot on The Web. Then we headed to after crag  and I climbed what I thought was Rubberface but turned out to be Sauer (VS 4c).
Midgies haven't come out yet but it wont be long before they do.

Creag Dubh

I was desperate to get out and climb this morning. As the weather forecast seemed to have missed the mark because I had nothing but blue sky and sun greeting me through the curtains. So I spent the morning looking for a climbing partner, that wasn't hung over from the previous night.
Eventually Sam threw his things together and picked me up then we headed to Creag Dubh.
After I realised I forgot my camera Sam and I started Phellatio (HVS 5a**). Once we did that we moved like a Man on Fire (E1 5b*) because we thought it was starting to rain. Luckily it didn't but there was still Gouttes d'Eau (e2 5b**) on most of the routes.
It was time to get out of there so we headed back to the fort. My prediction is that the next time I get a chance to climb it will be midge season.