The Big Top - Aonagh Dubh

The good weather was to last the weekend. So Guy and I headed to Aonagh Dubh. Guy had his eye on a route called 'The Big Top' (E1 4c, 5a, 5a, 5a). I wanted to see how my ankle was holding up, plus I haven’t done an interesting route in a long time. So needless to say I was well up for it.

Guy Stevens on the final pitch

Guy clearly comfortable with the exposure

Me on the first pitch.

I led the first pitch because it was the easiest; I thought this would let me know if I was able to take on anything harder. After taking an hour on the first pitch I thought it best to let Guy lead the rest. After a hair raising descent down No.4 Gully it was back to the bags and home.

Great Day!

The Etive

Today was one of the best days we have had all summer. I couldn't wait to get out on to the rock. Unfortunatly my potential climbing partner phoned me at 7 in the morning informing me that he was ill.
I was stuck in the house until my good friend Ross Orr came home. He was also desperate to enjoy the sunshine. I suggested we go down the Etive and the rest is history.

Me on the Right Angle Falls

Ross Orr on The Triple Falls

The Lochy

Luckily we had day off college today which meant Ross, Jamie and I were able to go for a padle down the river Lochy. It was definatly kayaking wheather.

Me

Ross Orr

Don't know why the rain is going upward in this photo

Ross and Jamie at Inverlochy Castle

The Ben was covered in cloud but hopefully the wheather should pick up at the end of the week.

Dry Rock!

Finished college early today, so we were able to go and do some rock climbing. On actual dry rock.

Craig on The Gutter

Placing gear with a midge net on. An essential skill for climbing in Scotland.

Chavtastic

Jamie and myself were showing some of our classmates how to lead climb. So we took them up up 'the gutter', so to speak. Craig and Alan got to grips with placing gear and building belays.

The last day on Stanley

This was my last day doing the run from Stanley to Thistlebrig with Perth Canoe Club. The Tay was nice and high which made the last run perfect, lots of great waves to 'play' in (using the term play losely because I can't really play yet).

Most of our time was spent at wee Erik, which is the most perfect wave when it forms.

Traffic at Wee Erik

Lynn taking me for a wee surf

The Singing Kayaker

PCC kayak display team

As I move to Fort William in two days this will be the last outing with PCC. I would just like to say that for even though I didn't paddle with them as much as I would have liked to. They are a really good bunch of people that are very welcoming and make you feel like you have been going to the club for years. So I am going to miss the wednesday outings, cheers guys.

The Tummel

After a long time not being able to climb or kayak it was good to finally get back on the water in my new boat. On saturday after work I headed to the Tummel with my mate Alisdair Boyce and Perth Canoe Club. A great time was had.

Scott holding his 'throw line'.

Dave showing off his new underwater Kayak

Ross and Louise

Perth Canoe Club on the Tummel

My new boat on the Linnhe

Out of Action!!! Great End Crag - Not Really

My blog has not been updated recently because I broke my ankle, on the third day of my trip down south. I have been recovering well and I am desperate to get back on the rock. On the 2nd day of the trip we headed to Goat Crag, after spending half hour heading to Goats Crag we eventually noticed the mistake then found Goat Crag and climbed Preying Mantis (E1 5b***). The climbing was very sustained and the route is worth everyone of those three stars. From Goats Crag we could see this enormous mass of rock at the other side of the valley, Great End Crag. 

Guy Stevens on the 2nd pitch of Preying Mantis (E1 5b***)

After consulting the guide book we decided to head for Great End Crag the following day. After trudging through horrible marshy ground in the wrong direction again, we finally reached the crag which did not look as good as it did the day before. The crag was really over grown and vegetated. Another party had just started the route which we had planned to go for . The next cleanest looking line was No Holds Barred (E2 5b*). After making steady progress I found myself stuck and decided to back off. My gear (a micro wire) ripped, when I hit the rock I heard a pop which turned out to be my ankle breaking. 

Before the fall on No Holds Barred (E2 5b*)