Today was day two with Erik and Fabian.  The weather was clearing from the north-west so we opted for Neist Point, the most westerly point on Skye.  We arrived to blue skies and an empty crag.  Most of the routes were dry after yesterdays rain and we set up and abseil and went into the Financial Sector, quite fitting as Fabian works in this sector in Switzerland.  We started off on Shocks and Stares (HS 4b) which the guys learnt how to fist jam, something they have never had to do on bolted sport routes in their country.  Fortunately they were quick learners.  After topping out we all abseiled back in and I led them up Midas Touch (VS 4c) which goes up to a wee roof and follows a curving overhang to its end and then pulls through on good holds, a fantastic route.  We were all psyched for the route to the right which shared the same start but took another overhang and followed a groove come crack.  Hand-jamming-tastic!  The guys both did very well on this route too.

We then went down to Destitution Point which is directly above the water so we had to abseil into a belay and climb back out.  We firstly climbed Man of Straw (VS 4c) and then went back in and made a quick ascent of Come Around To My Way of Thinking (E1 5b).  A great place to spend a day, in fact a great place to spend lots of days, so much to climb!

Well day one with Erik and Fabian from Switzerland was almost put on hold due to the horrendous weather that was sitting on Skye.  After a delayed start (to allow the weather to pass, which it never really did), we headed up to Kilt Rock at 4pm to get a couple of routes done.  Unfortunately there was still a bit of drizzle and the routes were all still very wet but we managed to climb 2 routes.  We headed down North Gully but were met by a garrison of midgies so retreated to the top of the crag and I got the guys to lower each other into Stomper (Severe) and Pied Piper (E1 5b).  After both of these we looked at setting up for abseiling at sea cliffs and chatted through considerations the sea cliff climbers need to think about to make a safe and enjoyable day.

Another great day cragging with Kenny.  We headed up to the Great Wall and Kenny led up Over The Hill (E3 5c), a fantastic steep jug pull with spaced gear and a little tricky section at the top.  A brilliant route.  We then went over to Waterfall Wall and I led up Wet Dreams (E2 5c) which was also a wicked route.  After this Kenny had a shot on Bratach Uaine (E4 6a) but wasn't able to keep the pump away.  He lowered off and I tied in and got up the route before the pump set in.  A great route which requires a steady touch in the upper sections.  Another great day and a good 9 E points.  Off too Skye now for 3 days, hope we have some good weather.

Today Kenny and I headed East in search of dry rock as the West coast was surprisingly damp.  It turned out to be fantastic over at Dunkeld and we headed straight up to Upper Cave Crag.  On arrival we realised we left our wires in the car so all we had was a set of cams.  Neither of us fancied heading back down so we just got on Death's Head (E1 5b) and then onto Marjorie Razorblade (E3 6a).  Both worked perfectly with only a rack of cams.  We then went and climbed Tombstone (E2 5c) before heading onto the sport routes.  I hadn't tried the sports routes and we got onto Hamish Teddy's Excellent Adventure (7b+) which was awesome, great climbing up the steep was which is really sustained and interesting throughout.  I think a few more goes and I'll have it in the bag.  After a few goes on it we were totally boxed and had to retreat from the  crag.  Psyched to go back!

Finally back in Scotland, from what feels like 3 months away (was only 2), and what a great way to get back in the swing of things.  I was out with Mick who has expressed an interest in doing the Cuillin Ridge traverse, so today I took Mick up Tower Ridge and then down Ledge Route.  I left my watch at home and on the summit when I checked my phone it was 12.30, pretty good going as we left the car at 9am.  Coming down Ledge Route was also just as fast as coming down the tourist route but much more interesting.  So after a good day out with Mick, I think he should go for a Skye Ridge attempt, he has a wee action plan to make life easier for him but he has the capability to succeed.  A great day and I'm so glad to be back in Scotland.

Yesterday I arrived in the Lakes to see the family and today I met up with John for a few routes on bolted limestone.  Everything felt pretty hard here.  Ended up getting super pumped on route which usually feel ok at the grade and tried a couple and got nowhere due to the fact that my forearms were going to explode.  I cant remember which routes we did but it was great fun!

My final week at Plas y Brenin didn't go quite as planned, I was meant to be working on a Private Rock course but unfortunately my clients didn't turn, apparently they were stranded in Australia... Lucky them.  So instead I was moved on to an Mountain Leader Training course.  On Tuesday I took a group out locally from the centre and covered all aspects of using a rope in a emergency situations, looking at how to select suitable anchors, attach to them, safe guard groups as well as looking at confidence roping and all aspects of descending   On the Wednesday and Thursday I took the group on a mini expedition around Snowdon.  We were hit with pretty foul weather throughout, the thunder and lightening storms were very exciting and fortunately didn't strike any of my team down.  The foul weather continued into the night and made our night navigation exercise great fun and very realistic.  With a pretty wet week I only managed to get to the Beacon Climbing Centre for a session and went and climbed Cockblock (E5 6a) with Murdoch on the Tuesday after work.  Tomorrow I'll be heading back up North.

This week I have been direction a Getting Started rock climbing course for Plas y Brenin. Again we had some mixed weather but managed to avoid overusing the climbing wall. We visited Fach Wen, Rhoscolyn, Tremadog, Clogwyn yr Oen (Moelwyns) and the Slate quarries. It was a great week with a great bunch of people. I was climbing with Jenny and Beeshman who both did put everything they had into the week which meant we got lots of climbing done and had a great laugh. Hopefully see them both again soon! Unfortunately I didn't get any photos with my camera as Beeshman wanted photos on his camera. After work I managed to get out to the Cromlech boulders a couple of times with Kenny and Donald, hit the Slate quarries and climbed Goose Creatures (E3 5c) and then Swan Hunter (E4 6b) and had a training session in the bouldering wall and had an evening in the Pass on SS Special (E2 5c), Brant Direct (HVS 5a) and a top rope on Cockblock (E5 6a). A good week, just could do with a good spell of weather now!