June 10 Conditions

Sunday 27th June 2010

Introduction to Rock climbing Course

I was out with Gordon and Ritchie today rock climbing at the Kingussie crags. We had sunshine and a strong wind to keep the midges away. Gordon and Ritchie were booked on a weekend course learning to rock climb for the first time.

Yesterday we enjoyed the sandstone sea cliffs at Cummingston. We got lots done including learning to tie in to belays, how to belay, how to second and take gear out, how to set up a top rope and how to abseil safely. I was working for Glenmore Lodge this weekend.

Friday 25th June 2010

Sea cliff climbing at Redhythe Point

Danny and I headed east along the Moray Firth Coast to check out a sea cliff climbing venue that neither of us had been to.

Redhythe Point is a few minutes walk from the picturesque village of Portsoy. The climbing is mostly in the lower grades and although there aren't a huge amount of routes, it is very pleasant for a day out. The situation is grand with the views North across the Moray Firth.

The day's weather gradually improved giving us sunshine and blue sky by the end.

Danny has put together a video of our day at Redhythe.

Tuesday 15th June 2010

Trad and sport in the north west

Mike and I headed to the north west highlands today. We spent an enjoyable morning on the Aztec Tower just north of Gairloch. This metamorphosed sandstone outcrop has some good easy trad climbs in a great setting. It is exposed to the wind which was good today to keep the midges away.

We then spent the afternoon at the bolted crag Creag nan Luch which is only five minutes drive away near the north west end of Loch Maree. Here the gneiss crag sports a good collection of sport routes from 6b to 7b+.

Although overcast it stayed dry enough for us to climb all day.

Wednesday 9th June 2010

Knight's Peak and Basteir Tooth

Today I was out on Skye with Robert. Robert has completed the Munros and now is moving on to do the Tops.

Munro Tops are subsidiary summits to Munros which although they meet the height criterion for a Munro they are not deemed to be separate Munros. Today we climbed Knight's Peak on Sgurr nan Gillean via Pinnacle Ridge and then traversed Am Basteir to then descend onto the Tooth.

Although it started windy, damp and cloudy it soon cleared up with the cloud rising and the sun soon warming things up.

Friday 4th June 2010

Skye Scrambles

This week I have been working on Skye with Bob and Martin. We had a great week of Skye scrambles.

We traversed Clach Glas and Blaven in hot sunny weather. On Pinnacle Ridge we had the wind and clouds as the only company on the ridge until we topped out into the evening sunshine. We traversed the main Cuillin ridge from Gars Bhein to the TD gap but wild winds and wet weather held us back from getting any further.

Yesterday we had a beautiful day for a round of corrie Lagan culminating in the Inaccessible Pinnacle. Today we finished the week with Bob and Martin leading themselves up the the South West ridge of Sgurr a' Mhadaidh via An dorus.