The team en-route to Pabbay

I've just returned from 10 days in the Outer Hebrides, climbing on two uninhabited islands.  Our team of 10 departed from Oban in spectacular weather. It seemed a shame to lose such a nice day to travelling.  Fortunately the high pressure dominated for several days.  Pabbay was our first destination. My climbing partner bailed at the last minute so I was climbing with Nona, which was great as neither of us had climbed on the island, so we could do whatever we wanted.  Day one was on the Poop Deck.  I climbed 8 routes leading up to E3 before seconding Murdoch up The Raven, a steep E5.  Unfortunately I had to weight the rope to get a stuck nut out and to let my forearms de-pump!

Nick hanging out on some E2

Nick and Gaz on an ace E3

Donald seconding on Endolphine Rush

Airy pitch on Endolphine Rush

The next day we went to Banded Walls and climbed two mega multi-pitch classics; Spring Squall (E1 5b) and Endolphine Rush (E3 5c).  Day 3 we went to Hoofers Geo and climbed 4 routes with  Hoofers Route (E1/2) and Fracture Clinic (E1/2) being the highlights.

Donald starting up Spring Squall (E1 5b)

Tim on a cool looking E1

Nona loving the arete action

The weather then turned, so Donald, Tony and I spent a day exploring and sea level traversing.  The seas were moody.  On several occasions we were all almost swimming but managed to keep a foot on land.

Fun on a wet day

Im sure I heard something rip...?!

Wet slab climbing in sandals

Happy as can be!

The 5th day we had a couple of hours so Nona and I went to a small crag close to the camp site and climbed 7 routes before jumping on the ferry to Mingulay.  Although the weather was hit and miss again, we managed to get a route on the mighty cliffs of Dun Mingulay.  We climbed the 4 star classic of Sula...absolutely amazing!  Unfortunately that was the only route I climbed on Mingulay due to the weather and picking up a wee injury so I just went swimming in the sea for a day!  Yes it was very cold!

Nona seconding up Sula (E2 5b)

Ian getting lost

A super trip and can't wait to get back out there next year!

Great to be back in the UK

From polished limestone to grit stone.....  Results were mixed!  We went to Stanage for two days with the intention of climbing loads of routes, especially some of the classics.  We ticked off many classics - Left and Right Unconquerable, Flying Buttress Direct, Inverted V, Mississippi Buttress Direct, The Link, Congo Corner, Centre Stage, Queersville plus many more up to E1.  I think about 20 routes over the two days!

Left and Right Unconquerable

Mike loving the jugs

Kirby dispatching Right Unconquerable

What a route

One day!

So our destination was chosen after 4 days of dodging showers and heavy rain.  We checked out Gorges de Loup, Avon Gorge, and eventually Monaco.  We stayed just outside Monaco for the last week or so as there was some great climbing, beaches and an amazing bivi spot for the van.  We climbed pretty much every day but also had a look around Monaco to see if we could chip together and buy a yacht.  Turns out we couldn't even afford a mooring rope at this luxurious venue.  On arrival at Monaco, we found that the F1 was on at the weekend, so we stayed to watch that!

Mike loving the 9 pitch 6c

Best view of the F1

Crag with a view

Sweet 7a (we think - it wasn't covered in our guide.)

A view of the track from the crag

Porche super cars

Topping out on the multi-pitch route at St Jeanette

Today we headed down from Chamonix to a friends house in Bonneville.  After coffee and croissants we packed light bags and went to a brilliant sport climbing crag called Malsaire.  It was a beautiful day for cragging but the mountains were still looking forbidding with dark fast-moving clouds.  We climbed heaps of routes, which was a nice change to the past few weeks of hard work!  The day just got better and better.  We returned back to Paul's place where he had fired up the hot tub and soaked in it, drinking Martinis.  Then his wife made us a massive dinner.  Rock and roll lifestyle!

After our very successful tour in Switzerland the four of us all headed back to the climbing and skiing mecca of Chamonix - home of Mont Blanc, which was Mike's objective on skis.  Paul, John and I, just wanted to climb!  We left our skis at the van and made two attempts to climb Supercouloir (ED2).  Unfortunately our first attempt failed at the lift station; due to technical problems the lift didn't leave until 9.30am.  This was not quite enough time for us to complete our objective.  So we waited and then decided to head up and bivi on the mountain.  This meant a 3am start, giving us plenty of time to climb the route.  On arrival, we opted for the Gervasutti start (ED1) which is a few pitches of rock climbing.  After one and a half pitches, none of us had any feeling in our fingers. The winds were strong, spindrift and mini avalanches were pouring down our intended route....It wasn't looking good! After lots of humming and hawing, we decided to call it a day and head back to the bivi hut, where we found Mike who had also bailed off his Mont Blanc summit attempt.  Another time hopefully!

The Eiger was our starting point - not the summit but the car park below the North Face.  This was by far the best ski tour of the trip with several 4000m peaks, some quite technical.  Amazing powder to ski down, amazing weather (almost), great company and great food but very very expensive water!  A really fun few days in the mountains!

Looking to the Eiger from Jungfrau

Me, John and Paul on top of |Jungfrau

Our descent.  You can just make out the boys coming down the powder

Living the dream!

Absolutely knackered after our second 4000m peak of the day

On top of our fourth 4000m peak of the tour.  We did the one behind too.

Bad vis on our final descent!

We got a tip-off that there was a bouldering festival in a place called Mello Blocco.  So we went.  We bouldered.  We got stickers.  We got freebies.  We met celebrities.  We ate.  We drank.  We partied till the early hours!

More rain

BBQ and beers!

John crushing

Me crushing

The weather was very poor in the mountains so we decided to head south for a spot of sport climbing.  We went to the justifiably popular Finale beautifully situated on the Mediterranean coast.  We met up with John and Paul again who had finished their Grand Paridiso tour.  We climbed for five days at different venues, mainly getting lots of mileage and onsighting routes up to 6c+.  I've lost lot of strength over the winter! :(