Highest wild camp in Britain - Ben Nevis summit, 14th-15th April 2012.

After lots of talk and crazy ideas, I finally realised an ambition of mine to camp on the summit of Ben Nevis this weekend. Myself and Ian left the North Face car park at about 3pm (ish) on Saturday afternoon and headed up to the top car park, from where we struck off up to the Halfway Lochan to gain the tourist path. At this point, the forecast, "isolated snow flurries and light winds" started! We didn't see that many folk, just onr guide and his clients coming down after climbing "Good Friday", I think and  two guys who'd done "Gardyloo Gully". Everyone else was the usual mixed bag the prepared and not so...     

Ian approaching a gloomy, deserted summit.After the Red Burn, the snow became more consolidated, but once off the zig-zags the going became heavier with a slight crust over a softer layer making the going (with a large pack) really hard work. At one point it almost became map reading time as the cloud closed in, until we spotted the next cairn and avoided the faff of navigating in bad weather! You have to wonder, is it foolhardy or brave for the "samba/jeans/anorak" crowds to go out there in such changeable conditions? I know my view, but they must look as incredulously at us (in our finest), as we do at them in their sports-fashion outfits!     

An even gloomier, deserted summit. Not the clear skies and stunning views we had hoped for. We did see a couple more climbers just topping out on Tower Ridge at about 7 - 7.30pm, and then two more that seemed to come from the North East Buttress/Observatory Ridge area and passed our tent as they (had to now with the visibility) navigated their way off the plateau. Once we had the tent pitched and extra layers on, it was into the sleeping bags and time to cook. Phoning home had to be done over by the Trig Point, which was a bit nippy in the wind, and then run back to the tent! Around 8.30 ish a group of "Three peakers", arrived at the summit so we spoke to them for a while from the comfort of our tent, before we wished them farewell.   

After dinner (ready mix pasta, hot chocolate and a flapjack), we decided to take a look outside the see if visibility had improved, and to walk off dinner! Sadly, there was still lots of broken cloud, although some stars could be seen. No lights down at the CIC Hut, but Corpach was visible. The wind still came and went and it was hard to tell if it was actually snowing or just spindrift. The after dinner walk, consisted of peering over the edge into Tower Gully and running round the summit shelter a few times - mainly to keep warm!      

After a "cool", but not too uncomfortable night (2 baselayers, 2 pairs of thermal leggings, 2 pairs of socks, down gillet, belay jacket inside the bag with my feet in it, hat and gloves) on my self de-flating mattress, I eventually got up around 7.30 am. The sun had been up since 6, or earlier, but it was a little warmer in my sleeping bag than a few hours prior so I had a lie in. A quick breakfast of flapjacks, chocolate and banana in hot milk, was followed by another jog around the summit shelter to get the blood flowing! 

My early morning view from the tent door. At this point some more 3 peakers arrived, but with a difference. They were cycling between all 3 peaks, and then riding to London in time to do the Marathon on Sunday 22nd! 

So, after breakfast we were up and out to enjoy the morning sun and the stunning views from Britains's highest mountain. It was still a bit nippy, but another couple of laps around the shelter soon got the blood flowing again and it was time for some kodak moments. 

A much better view of Tower Ridge (and a bit of Tower Gully), with the Ledge Route and Carn Dearg to it's right. Pity about my shadow in the picture though. With crampons on we felt much safer wandering around near the edge.

Carn Dearg again, and Tower Ridge in front, all the way down to almost the CIC Hut.

The CMD (Carn Mor Dearg Arete) looking amazing in the spring sunshine and Aonach Mor and the ski area behind.

Ian and myself at the summit trig point getting some warmth from the sun. Despite appearances, there was still a chilly breeze.   

A couple of young "Three Peakers", Dan and Lewis from Peterborough, who appeared and had a chat with us. Well done lads, and I hope you stayed awake for the drive home...

Ian making his way down over the boulder field to the start of the arete. Although most of the rock was covered, there was still a slight crust on the surface of the snow, so even going downhill was energy sapping. It also got a little warmer as we got some shelter from the NE Buttress.  

Another layer off, and it was down to business on the arete. We met one guy on his way up, so no real trench had been formed to speak of, and with heavy packs we had to be carefull about how we place our feet between rock and fresh snow.  

Ian on the arete with Carn Mor Dearg, the highest point, in the distance.

Another slog up the summit of Carn Mor Dearg! We did see a team of two making their way up towards the base of the arete below the abseil posts area. I think there is a climb there, but not sure of the name?   

The arete and summit of the Ben looking  very alpine.

Ian on Carn Mor Dearg.

Myself and "Mac", on Carn Mor Dearg. Just one small subsiduary top to cross and it's all downhill, back to the CIC Hut path, the top carpark and down to the North Face car park.    

One last view straight across to Number 5 Gully in the centre, Ledge Route to it's right, the two Castle Gullies and the Castle itself. 

Mountain bike - Pentland Hills, 8th April 2012.

Myself, Ian and Bruce went for a wee spin in the Pentlands today, starting at Flotterstone and cycling past Glencourse Reservoir and up to the farmhouse and on up the Green Cleugh to Bavelaw Castle. From there it's downhill to Thriepmuir and Harlaw reservoirs, before passing the Rangers Hut and then up to the "hole in the wall" and back down to Glencorse and Flotterstone.    

Ian and Bruce at the hole in the wall.

Myself and Bruce.

Schiehallion, 7th April 2010.

Looking back over Loch Tummel from the path up to Schiehallion. This was to be Lorna's first proper hillwalk apart from the Pentlands since her accident last year in Saas Fee. Ian and Ruth came along too, this being Ruth's second walk since her accident in Tower Gap last year.

Ian topping up Loch Tummel.

Considering (despite the well made path lower down) the rough ground through the boulder field higher up, and the odd patch of spring snow, the girls did really well today!

Ruth and Lorna enjoying a well earned cream egg at the top of Schiehallion.

Soll - Ski Welt, March 18th-24th 2012.

Another sunny day on top of the Hohe Salve. Myself, Martin, Eddie, Brian, Katie, Mick and Steph, had a top week in Soll. Very warm in the afternoons, with the home run getting choppy sometimes but all ski-able.   

Avalanche debris on the lower slopes of the Hohe Salve. We weren't sure if it was natural or man made? We did hear various blasts during the week so maybe the Ski Welt people thought with the mild weather it was safer to release some of the snow higher up. 

Somewhere below the avalanche site, on the way back to Soll near the Siller lift.

Oops!

Mick and Steph, showing off their new skills in the main bowl by the Stockalm, Hexen6er, Rinner and Salvenmoos lifts.

Empty slopes below the Hohe Salve chairs.

Nice view over to Westendorf from the Hohe Salve again.

Snow angels or exhaustion?

The small church at the top of the Itter gondola. I'm ashamed to say that this is the first time I've bothered to go over to it in the six years or so that we've been coming here!

Martin, Steph, Mick, Katie, Brian and Eddie, on the eight man automatic chair at Scheffau.

Martin, Katie and Eddie, out with the huskies at the Igloos and Ice Bar at Brixen im Thale.

"Which one is the toilet?"

Katie and Brian enjoy a non existent drink in the ice bar! (bit pricey). 

It's nice inside, but everyone was outside in the sun.

Mick and Steph in one of the ice bar's "booths". Note the skins on the seats.

The "instructors", haha.

High on one of the Alm hut roofs over in Westerndorf.

This late in the season you have to expect some varied piste conditions.

Thankfully it was just ski-able across to Westerndorf.

Westerndorf summit cross with ski tracks along the arete!

Threading the Needle, 11th March 2012.

With the prospect of little in the way of winter climbing (at our level !), myself and Ian decided on some easy-ish scrambling in the Lakes. The forecast was also a bit better further south and so we headed for Seathwaite with The Climbers Traverse, a "threading of the needle" and Sphinx Ridge. The walk via the alternative path alongside Taylorforth Gill was pleasant but sweaty in the unusually warm weather, and the Climbers Traverse was equally enjoyable. The low cloud came and went as we approached Napes Needle and we finally got a view of our route between the needle and the crag behind. The way up between the Needle and the main crag needs some squirming and grunting to get up before a brief rest on some blocks before the tricky (in the wet) downclimb.    

As it turned out, it was damp in the shaded side of the needle and together with the very polished rocks we didn't fancy trusting our boots on the greasy rock. We had put harnesses on in case of this so all we had to do was get out the 30m roped, place it round one of the blocks and abseil down.  

Ian abbing down through the gloom on the other side of the needle. We then made our way around the face of the crag to the Dress Circle for a well earned cuppa!  

Sadly there were no views of the Scafell's to be had through the cloud and there was only just a view of Napes Needle itself.

  Somehow I managed to draw blood, either on the way up through the needle or on the abseil down! 

 Sphinx Rock through the cloud and Sphinx Ridge behind it. There are various descriptions for getting onto the ridge, but in the past, in good weather I have tackled it direct from behind the Sphinx. Most guides have it as a grade 2 scramble, however today it proved really awkward and needed a bit of a cheat by pulling on some gear as we climbed up to the right of the slab into a notch in the first tower!? I can only guess I went left up the more exposed slab to the left the last time I did it? Obviously the more direct route is harder ,maybe Diff or V-Diff? 

 We did see a (very small!) brocken spectre further up the ridge though.

After the enjoyable scramble up Westmorland Crags, we were rewarded with a cloud inversion over Styhead and Wasdale, with the Scafell's in the distance.

Looking over to Langdale with Harrison Stickle and Pike of Stickle and Windermere behind.

Some of the locals down in Seathwaite.

They Say Anyone Can Play Guitar: Finlayson D-1G - My Brand New Guitar

 Check out this new blog from a friend of mine who's just starting his journey to rock'n'roll stardom, including a dodgy video of me trying to play his new acoustic in the shop, (jeez).  

They Say Anyone Can Play Guitar: Finlayson D-1G - My Brand New Guitar: Armed with plectrums in our pockets my friend and I went shopping today - and I got my first guitar . It's a standard dreadnought style acou...