Looking threatening

Dan enjoying the dry rock

Great place to climb

Day two for Jonathan and Dan and we thought another mountain 4 star route is on the cards.  Agag's Groove fitted the bill perfectly and the forecast was looking to hold out.  Unfortunately Jonathan was unable to complete the walk in so after much discussion he insisted that Dan and I proceed.  So Dan and I soloed up Curved Ridge to the base of Rannoch Wall and climbed the classic Agag's Groove in several pitches.  It was great to see two other teams on the crag, one on Fracture Route and one following us up Agag's Groove.  Turned out it was Finn, a client I went up Tower Ridge with last year.  A shower caught us on the last pitch and on the walk out but other than that it was a great day.  This weekend I have been working for Abacus Mountain Guides.

One abseil gets us back to the ground

Dan and his prize

Glad to be back here

Jonathan and Dan striking a pose

It was another stunning day in Lochaber and I enjoyed the day with Jonathan and Daniel on Ben Nevis.  Jonathan had done his research and was really keen to climb the uber classic Tower Ridge and was not disappointed.  A helicopter was buzzing in and out of the north face all morning as it was resupplying the CIC hut with gas bottles, not something we see in our mountains everyday in Scotland so it was nice to see them do their work.  We made good progress on the ridge, passing a team who were trying to make a 'new' Eastern Traverse below the Little Tower, not advisable.  The summit again produced hundreds of people, and the summit experience was not one that Jonathan and Daniel will cherish,  we saw the summit and agreed that was close enough!  The day had taken it's toll on Jonathan's boots, the sole was barely attached as we got back to the car.  A quick stop at an outdoor shop for some boots then a celebratory beer.  Great day.

Don't drop them!

Cloud coming and going

A well earned breather

Busy on the descent

Final hurdle

Sue and Steve on Sgurr Alasdair

Sue and Steve had everything.  I'm talking about the weather.  Firstly glorious sunshine, almost too hot, a day of super high winds, a day of constant cloud cover and a day of torrential rain and more high winds.  Their objectives was to gather as many Munro's as possible via the easiest routes as they have very limited experience in the mountains.  They started with 15 Munro's under their belts and no scrambling experience and finished with 23 Munro's after leaving Skye.  A great effort with several long days on the trot.  A well earnt rest for them is required and a tent repairing session for me...it got very windy in the camp site too! :( This work was for Skye Guides.

Sue and Steve weaving pinnacles

Lowering off the In Pinn

Early morning sweat fest

Piggy Bank goes just right of the arete

Today I managed to get up to Neist point and put a few routes to rest which I have wanted to do for a while and which turned out to be really good.  I headed up there with Ian and it was great temps for climbing, a little cool which helped with friction.  We climbed a good haul of routes ranging from E1-E3 with the highlight being Piggy Bank which is a contender for one of the best E3's i've ever done.  The sea cliff were ideal today, despite the mountains being dry, it was cold up there so tucking out the wind was the logical solution.  Cant wit to get back.

Great place to climb

George getting ready for his round

100 things to do before you die - Climb the Cioch

The Coire Lagan Round is one of my favourite single days on Skye, picking off some of the most iconic pieces of rock and some fantastic sections of climbing.  George's aim was to get to grips with some nice scrambling and also summit a few Munro's so the Round of Coire Lagan seemed logical.  We started up the Sgurmain Stone shoot, ascending under the mighty Cioch and bumped into Jamie and his client for a social-able ascent.  We proceeded onto Sgurr Alasdair, the highest peak of the Cuillin, over some fantastic terrain to traverse along Hart's (Collies) Ledge and up onto Sgurr Micchoinnich.  From hwere we proceeded in beautiful weather to the scramble up onto An Stac and finished our day on the Inaccessible Pinnacle.  The Coire Lagan round never disappoints, if you havent done it then you must get it done.  Including the Cioch is even better.

Been there done that, the skyline we just climbed over.

Climbing up An Stac

All done, smiles on the way down

Amazing sandstone with amazing weather

Donald cruising at Bowden Doors

With a little mixed forecast in Scotland, Donald and I decided to nip over the border and find some sunshine at Northumberland.  I have been her before when I was younger and really keen to get back knowing what I know now (and being able to hold on a little longer).  We visited Bowden Doors, Kyloe and Callerheus over the 3 days climbing around 50 routes in various different styles.  Donald brought his big cams so we spent some time climbing very wide cracks, something I am not very good at and demonstrated a complete lack of skill which left Donald crying with laughter.

Donald soloing

Donald on an E4, ger in touch to find out what happened next! ;)

Donald finally got hold of the camera and took a photo of me

Today I was back out with Graham, a client who I was out with last year and wanted to do some climbing on Ben Nevis.  Tower Ridge was the obvious option and was a route Graham has had his eye on for a while.  Fortunately another lovely day and not another soul on the ridge, or on the north side as far as we could see.  I don't know how many times I have done Tower Ridge but I never get bored of it.  Always interesting and exciting all the way to the top and everyone responds to the difficulties in their own way.  On the top was a different story, lots of folk shouting, smoking and falling over.  We thought lets head for Carn Mor Dearg, a Munro Graham hadn't done...and some peace away from the crouds.  Another great day and now for a few days off.  No pictures today.

Mark and Dan ready for action

Dan enjoying summit views

Another two super days work on Skye covering all the Munro's in the Southern end of the Cuillin and up to the In Pinn.  I was out with Mark and Dan and working for Skye guides.  Day one was the nicest so we hit Sgurr Mhiconnic and followed with a peaceful ascent of the In Pinn.  We shared no summit with anyone and passed only a couple of people which was a lovely chance from the masses I sometimes encounter on the Pinn.  Day two was a little overcast and a wee damp so it was ideal for the southern end finishing on Sgurr Alasdair.  It was a great couple of days and get me fit and ready for a weekend of wedding celebrations.  I shall allow myself some beer and champagne.  For these two days I was working for Skye Guides.

In Pinn happiness