May 2014, North Wales, South Wales, Devon and Cornwall - Rock Climbing

Niche Wall, Carn Barra, West Penwith, Cornwall.

 May has been a great month, a mix of work and play, with some fine weather. I have worked on some multi activity outdoor courses with some ace young people from Brighton and Shropshire, and some Rock Climbing courses with adults, wishing to learn and gain skills in Rock Climbing. I have managed some cragging in the evenings in Snowdonia and some 2/3 day trips away to Wye Valley and the South-West - definitely the highlight. The Culm Coast of Devon wasn't super classic but the Cornish Granite sea cliffs of West Penwith were ace.  Thanks Garry for the photos.

Bosigran Sunset, West Penwith.

Pel, Castell Helen, Gogarth, North Wales.

Light House Arete, Castell Helen, Gogarth, North Wales.

Stormy sea at Castel Helen, Gogarth, North Wales.

Vicarage Cliff, Culm Coast, Devon.

Vicarage Cliff, Culm Coast, Devon.

Vicarage Cliff, Culm Coast, Devon.

Vicarage Cliff, Culm Coast, Devon

Little Brown Jug, Bosigran, West Penwith.

Cornish Coastline.

Carn Barra, West Penwith

Jumping across the Fox's Promontory, Carn Barra, West Penwith.

April 2014, Adamello, Val di Mello, Chaivenna, Arco, Italy - Ski Touring and Rock Climbing

 We have had a great 3 weeks in Italy enjoying some Ski Touring and Sports Climbing. Started off with a 4 day tour in the Adamello range, managing 3 peaks over 3000m over the 4 days. The snow wasn't classic but it was good fun. A week in Arco enjoying some dry(ish) rock, coffee and pizza! It was busy this time of year, plenty of Germans and Italians, plenty of crags and lots of impressive big cliffs in the Sarcha valley. Managed to get a couple of days climbing in the Val di Mello - awesome granite climbing, many bolted lines on the giant boulders near the road plus plenty of multi pitch epics to be had. We also did some climbing at Chiavenna and Lecco before the drive from hell back to sunny North Wales for the summer.

Refuge Caduti dell'Adamello.

Val di Mello.

Val di Mello.

Val di Mello.

Classy Arco view.

Arco Salamander.

30-03-14, Coire an t-Sneachda - Winter Climbing

It has started to warm up again. 2 days winter climbing in the Cairngorms this weekend. Yesterday the freezing level was 700m and the Fiaciall Buttress was lightly rimed, the freezing level rose through out the day to above the summits and it was plus 3 degrees on the summit today. Not many climbing teams out, some ski tourers walking with skis on the plateau! We climbed on the Mess of Pottage today, the rock was very dry, Yukon Jack start good icy snow for the crampons and dry cracks in the wall for torques and gear, Hidden Chimney not so hidden at the moment, but the snow is quite slushy!

28-03-14, Neist Point, Skye - Scottish Rock Climbing

'Tourist Attraction', Bay 3.

 The past couple of days I have been rock climbing with Mehmet at Neist Point, westerly tip of Skye. As always Neist was fantastic, good value, long, quality single pitch dolerite routes, where the 1 * routes are actually very good! The easterly winds didn't affect us and the sun was out, fine climbing, fine surroundings.

'Side Step', Bay 3.

'The Old Warden', Cumhann Geodha.

'Bridging Interest', Financial Sector.

24-03-14, North West Highlands

Alternative view into the back of Beinn Eighe, Liathach, Beinn Dearg, Beinn Alligin.

Beinn Dearg and Sgurr Mor.

Sgurr Mor - 'The Resurrection'

Watch the road! An Teallach.

An Teallach.

An Teallach.

Gruinard Bay.

Beinn Eighe, Triple Buttresses, straight line view into 'Morrison's Gully' on the right.