Our first night in the Alps

Not a terrible place to be holidaying

I haven't had many trips to the Alps but when I have they have generally been very fulfilling and crammed with steep cliffs, granite spires, icy couloirs and plenty of snow.  Usually my 10 day's/2 weeks are crammed with maximum hill time, some say not much of a holiday as I usually come home a little tired.

The brutal skin, beautiful though.

Chopper bringing in the grub, I love a good chopper performance!

I stood on top of that....na na nan na naaa!

Crab crawling, much fun!

This past trip involved most thing I enjoy in the alps however my vision did not flourish.  The success to my previous trips has been down to many factors, some which I didn't account for on this trip.

Shuffle and slide

However, I had a great little ski tour with Lou on the Verbier high level tour with some great summits and nice ski descents.  I probably experienced some of the warmest skinning I have ever endured... definitely didn't have enough water on one particular day.

After a wee ski tour it was North Face time.  Lou and I met up with Kenny, Chadders and Miles and we set off from our bivi at 2am in the morning with the intention of climbing the North Face of the Charmoz.  A fine looking face that doesn't come into condition all the time. Let's just say I have unfinished business up there.

North Face of the Charmoz

Mmm rock climbing in the sun

Feeling a little deflated I spent the next 3 days cragging in the sun, partying with friends then making the journey back to the UK to spend some unexpected quality time with my family.  Scotland tomorrow and I have a good chunk of time off still before I start work so I'm heading up to the Elphin hut for 4 days rock climbing and catching up with some friends.

Next stop ... the pavement!

Down we go!

Ok I will hold my hands up.  My enthusiasm got the better of us.  Day 4 and I had another plan up my sleeve. A 9 pitch HVS up the most striking feature on the Costa Blanca.  Diedro UBSA on the South Face of Penon de Ifach.  Unfortunately I didn't take into consideration that John has been maxing out for the last 3 days so we should have opted for a rest day straight away.  Anyway the 2 pitches and 2 abseils we did were great, we got dive bombed by sea guls, looked around another marina and topped up on more vitamin D, not a total wasted day.

The Bernia Ridge

We did get worried as the white stuff came in from the left..

Our 5th day we went for the mighty Bernia Ridge, another opportunity to keep the weight on our legs and rest the arms.  So, fantastic scrambling on bone dry limestone, in blue sky weather with a sea breeze...what's not to like?  John enjoyed the crux so much he threw a quick draw back down so he could be lowered and climb it again..!  We had the ridge to ourselves until the final summit of 1126m.  It was shorter than the Cuillin but nicely sustained.

It was very windy here...when I said 'smile' I didn't mean let go!

All good fun!

Today, we went for it, I wanted to tick the whole of the Costa Blanca guidebook, however we settled for the brilliant Puig Campana (1406m).  We had a view of this giant from our apartment and knew we had to climb it.  The classic Espolon Central, 13 pitches, early start...no problem!  "Ahh John.....slight problem" "What" "didn't pack my climbing shoes".  John response..."Oh"  Maybe I'm too stubborn or just too lazy but I didn't want to walk back down without climbing this route so we pressed on and I led the 13 pitches in my trainers which turned out to be far more comfortable than I could have imagined!

Pitch....12 I think

After a interesting beach/dinner experience in Benidorm we headed back to the ranch and John was happy to finish on a high so we are having a relaxed day tomorrow then catching a flight in the afternoon.  The drams are flowing and it's been a fantastic 6 days climbing...despite being constantly dehydrated!  This is a must for winter sun and spring time rock climbing strength!

The view didn' change much, it was nice!

John rehydrating whilst observing the weather take a turn for the worse

Well after 3 days of fantastic climbing I thought I would settle down with some duty free whiskey and make a wee note of what we have been up to.  John is really wanting to push his grade this year so when I suggested we go to Spain for 7 days climbing he jumped at the chance.  I have made an itinerary for the whole week, it took me a while to do as there is so much amazing rock to climb.  The first two days were single pitch climbing, to see what John can and cant climb.  As were staying at Sella, the local crag was ideal.  5 minute drive, 28 second walk in, 9 routes later we were done for the day.  Day two we went into Vall de Guadar and found a fantastic newly developed crag which wasn't polished which gave us another 9 routes in the perfect temps.  In the distance we could see a storm brewing..

Entering the final pitch on the Toix Ridge

Top of the climbing..now time for scrambling

Today our forecast was confirmed and it rained all night and up until about 9am.  This was fine as we knew it was to clear and this allowed time to explore to local marina and drink some lovely coffee.  After a relaxing morning we climbed the Toix Ridge.  It was bloody brilliant.  5 pitches of nice climbing to a fantastic airy ridge that required a wee bit of rope work, especially with the high winds we had.

I know Spain is meant to be warm but it was very windy!

Top of the climbing, scrambing to come

Doesnt look bad but it was super windy!

Thumbs up, start climbing!

After this our day wasn't over.  We hurried down to the sea cliffs to climb the fantastic Magical Mystery Tour.  5 fantastic pitches above the sea given sport grade 5 and felt like a nice HVS 5a.  We made two abseils in, full committed ourselves as we only had 1 60m rope, either a climb out or a swim out would be suffice but fortunately all went to plan.  So all in all a great contrasting day, 5 pitches to a summit ridge followed by two abseils and a fantastic multi-pitch sea cliff climb!

Summit shot

On the sea cliffs...baking temperatures now!

This traverse was by far the psychological crux...don't fall here!

Mmmm bliss

Mmmmm bliss

Plenty of snow for us..

Did make skiing difficult sometimes...

I have just returned from a great wee trip out in Switzerland with John Orr and Blair Fyffe (aka Dr Snow).  The aim of the trip was to do 5 days in the mountains going from mountain hut to mountain hut, staying high and enjoy some great summits and skiing.

Some skinning was easy...

Getting ready for some descents

Unfortunately it didn't quite go to plan.  Our arrival journey was diverted due to an avalanche that had buried the train track and this was from vest amounts of snow the fell the day we travelled out.  Lots of snow + skiing = perfect?!  Not exactly...the avalanche hazard was high on all aspects so our only options was to stick to slopes less then 30+ degrees.

Myself and John ascending Pic Kesch

John and I on the summit with cool hats on!

We did two day single day tours, one near St Moritz and one from the Julier Pass which involved some pretty nice skinning (mainly because there were tracks in) and some very difficult skiing.  And I don't mean steep gullies...I mean easy angled slopes with snow up to out waists...not easy to ski at all.  The skinning uphill was by far much easier.

Extream side slipping, felt gnarly!  John and Blair watching as I 'check it out'

So after day two the snow settled and were hit the mountains for 3.5 days staying in some really nice huts such as the Kesch Hut and the d'Es-cha Hut.  We did some fantastic summits with Pic Kesch (3147m PD) being the highlight.  The weather gods were on our side for our 3 day tour so currently dealing with a bit of sun burn.

Quiet time on top of the world!  (Well not exactly Everest but felt very tranquil)

The end brought some fantastic gress skiing!

Blair enjoying the powder

John and Blair both taking a rest ;)

Blair needing a rest after some down hill skinning!

Hi ho hi ho its offf to the mountains we go!

Skinning through an amazing settlement which is abandoned through the winter

Extreme side slipping, John and Blair agree if I can do it then so can they!

John loving the turns!

An Teallach

A quick solo saw me on the tops whilst my clients chilled at camp

My North West highlands winter working season has came to an end yesterday as I finished off a Winter Mountaineering course for Moran Mountain, based from Lochcarron.  I'm pretty confident to say that we endured the finest weather seen this winter with 3.5 days of glorious sunshine.  Skills at Fuar Tholl were followed by a traverse of Beinn Eighe's Black Carls in strong sunlight which lead on to the highlight of the week, a two day expedition camping below An Teallach followed by an alpine style traverse of the pinnacles and the Munro's.  We donned our crampons at 4.40am and climbed Cockstone Gully with head torches which allowed us to witness sunrise across Scotland's clear skies.  A breath taking experience and one that will stay with me forever.  What followed can only be described as 'the best day at work I have ever done' and in the top two of my favourite mountaineering days in Scotland!

Sam and Katya ready for their torch lit climb

Near the top of Chockstone Gully

Sam leading Katya and I along the ridge

Looking back across the skyline we just climbed

On holiday and at work

Our objective

Over the last two day's I have been up in the North West finishing off the last two days of a 5 day mountaineering day for Moran Mountain.  The original was to spend a night in a snow hole however the conditions didnt allow.  Yesterday we did some low level navigation and then back to the clients lodge for some rope work.  Today we went and made an ascent of the Forcan RIdge in Glen Shiel.  We had suitable weather for most of the day and were high enough that when it snowed we didnt get wet.  Naturally we got very damp on the walk down but that is pretty standard this season.  Next week is looking nicer, high pressure moving in which will be welcomed with open arms.

All or nothing!

Today was something new for me.  With amazing snow conditions we left the climbing gear and took out the ski's for a slide around the Cairngorm's.  Unfortunately I dont have skin's at the moment so we were limited to the ski centre hwever we decided to go for a walk and we ended up at the top of Aladdin's Couloir.  A grade I gully, something I would climb up, not ski down.  We today was different!  First time I have ski'd a graded gully and it was really fun,  We wet a team at the top who had just climbed it in 4 hours, I felt a little smug when I ski'd it in 2 minutes!  A brilliant day!

Day one

 I have been out in Aurland, Norway working on a Technical Ice climbing course for Moran Mountain.  We climbed lots of steep ice in a place that makes Rjukan look like Kingussie crag!  A truly stunning place with hundred's of ice falls which have never had axes swung into.  Anything from roadside to over 1 hour walk ins if you wish.  Single pitch to huge 8-10 pitch routes.

Day 2 Kitty seconding our First Ascent '2 Bangs and a slap' WI4

Suzanne getting stuck into '2 bangs and a slap'

Scottish conditions followed me to Norway

Suzanne and Kitty happy with our new first ascent

Another abseil down a brilliant 5 pitch WI4

Hanging out

Brilliant WI5 'scottish stylee' gully

More steep ice!

Cool features