Spring/Summer/Autumn 2015

A lack of blogging for most of 2015 after the Scottish 2014/15 season, ready in anticipation for this season to start! Here are a few photos of some climbing from 2015. I have mainly been working in North Wales on a combination of multi-activity residential school trips, family holidays and mountain skills courses, navigation, scrambling and rock climbing. We have had a big house project on for most of 2015 so trips away have been limited, but we did manage to get to Picos de Europa in Northern Spain during September and a News Years climbing/skiing trip to Cogne/Aosta valley in Northern Italy.

Cervinia, Skiing, had to go up high for the snow!

Imitator, Gogarth, Main Cliff, North Wales.

Classy belay on Shadow Wall, Carreg Wasted, Llanberis Pass, North Wales.

Climbing quietly on Route 66, Craig y Forwyn, North Wales.

Icarus, Rhoscolyn, Gogarth, North Wales.

Britomartis, Gogarth, North Wales.

Picos de Europa, Spain.

Grassy Alps and pointy limestone peaks in Picos de Europa, Spain.

The Magnificent El Naranja, Picos de Europa, Spain.

Naranja, Picos de Europa, Spain.

Mass of Limestone high ground, Picos de Europa, Spain.

Some highball solo sandstone action in North York Moors.

Ice Climbing, Cogne, Italy.

Monte Bianco, Italy.

Ice in Valle Rhemes, Italy.

Alpine ski resorts in much need of some more snow news year day 2016.

December 2013, Anti Atlas, Morocco - Rock Climbing

After Wadi Rum, we went to Morocco, Anti-Atlas to do some rock climbing on the quartzite crags just north of Tafrout. We used a new guidebook Morocco Rock, which is well written, with great photos and descriptions. There are loads of cliffs and crags, facing in all directions, generally good rock, making for some fine trad climbing in a good climate for Oct-April. The guide gives many starred routes, many 3 star routes we felt weren't worth it, but we did climb some amazing routes. Firesword on Dragon buttress was without doubt the best route of the trip. We stayed in Kasbah Tizourgane, the closest hotel base for climbing in the north. They were very hospitable, serving breakfast and evening Moroccan meals. The building was very interesting, once being a medieval fortified village. I would recommend hiring a large vehicle to cope with some of the dirt roads that take you to some of the climbing areas in the Tamza valley.

Golden Compass pitch 1. A fine 2 pitch E1.

Climbing on Ksar rock.

Firesword, excellent 4 long pitch E1/2 route on perfect rock. Best route of the trip.

Top pitch of Firesword.

More climbing on Ksar rock.

Lower Eagle crag.

Outrageous vandalism of art, caught blue handed!

More evidence.

The Kasbah.

Climbing on the south side, Tafrout.

November 2013, Wadi Rum, Jordan - Rock Climbing

Rock climbing in Wadi Rum, Jordan in November. Some excellent world class adventures on good quality sandstone mountains. We climbed many classics, Pillar of Wisdom, The Beauty and Supercrack of Rum to name a few. Met up with some old friends, thanks Omer for some quality descent knowledge. Aqaba snorkeling and Petra ruins added to the mix. A selection of photos below, more can be found on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.696781337039346.1073741837.131098700274282&type=1

I look forward to some Scottish winter action very soon.

Sunset, Aqaba, Jordan

Supercrack of Rum, Jordan

Satan, Rum village campsite guardian.

The Beauty, Wadi Rum, Jordan

The Beauty pitch 3

Rum Village, Jebel Rum, Jordan

Pillar of Wisdom, Wadi Rum, Jordan

Escape off Jebel Rum plateu.

End of the road, Rum village.

Treasury, Petra, Jordan

Monastry, Petra, Jordan

Summer 2013 - Rock Climbing, Multi-Activity

Lighthouse Arete, Castel Helen, Gogarth.

Here is a movie I have made from 4 days out with Jonathan over his summer holidays.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvKxuALTBp8&feature=c4-overview&list=UU8NE8-ZqLgHMmVgHP30toIw

July 2013 - South West Rock Climbing

Hot, hot hot, probably too hot, but we’re not complaining. Loads of work recently, out cragging / bouldering in evenings. Everything everywhere is chalked and ready! We had last week off, after a day in the shade last weekend on our local crag Llech Ddu, Carnedau, with 4 other teams we drove south. 5 days in South West, was most excellent – Portland, Chairladder, Sennen, Lizard, Dewerstone.

Diocese, traverse second pitch.

Diocese, Chairladder pitch 1.

DWS Portland, Crab Party.

The Lizard.

Dewerstone, Dartmoor.

Climbers Club, Dewerstone.

Climbers Club, pitch 3 - Steep!