Day two in the bag! 125 miles in 8 1/2 riding hours. Great weather and great views cycling up Glen Coe. I made a school boy error and had boxers under my shorts.... why didn't anyone tell me this is a bad idea? Im going to have a sore arse now for the rest of the week!

Paddle Pedal Hobble - Day 1

Following many months of training and preparation we have finally started our challenge - Paddle Pedal Hobble.

At 19:15 29th July 2012 we started paddling from Neptunes Staircase in Fort William. The old canoe will do us proud I'm sure.


The weather looks okay - just a few showers (and midges to contend with)!

Pictures to follow tomorrow.

Winter Skills Course 25th-26th Feb 2012

 On the 25th February we started the Winter Skills course heading for Aonach Beag. The weather wasn't very kind to us and gave the group some tough conditions to deal with in the form of strong wind and rain.

Despite that the whole team got stuck in and learned lots of new skills for moving around on the snow.

Si demonstrating how to cut a bucket seat

 With a dodgy looking weather forecast we decided to head for Stob Coire Nan Lochan to look at some more movement skills, rope-work, and ice axe arrest.

Si and Chris demonstrating belaying technique

Kim grabbing her ice axe before breaking!

Ruth thinking of her next moves to carry out an ice axe arrest

I would like to thank everyone who attended the course, we had tough conditions but everyone was very enthusiastic and always had smiles on their faces. Great company and a pleasure to work with.

The Green Man VI 7

Here it is, footage of the new route. Unfortunately my camera stopped working so haven't got all the footage for the second pitch.

Moonshadow

Just a couple of pics from a route in SCNL which I did with my friend Christian in January. The route was Moonshadow and takes a diagonal line from Twisting Gully area and has a great mixed pitch at the top. After a unexpected slide in the snow Christian soon found his winter feet again.

Christian approaching the belay on pitch 2.

Christian grateful to be topping out after having his fast blasted with spindrift in a strong updraft.

New Route In Dovestone Quarry

Headed up to Dovestone Quarry on on the morning of Sunday 5th February with good friend and climbing partner Ian Heg to find mint conditions, bomber turf and plenty of snow. Anyway as result the route below was climbed. Hopefully I will have some video footage soon on the blog. Unfortunately conditions have gone as quick as they arrived!

The Green Man VI 7 ***
A super line which climbs a technical groove and wall left of Initiation Groove.

P1 6 18m Follow the groove P1 of Mikes Meander, technical climbing with a section of insecure hooks. Belay in the groove.

P2 7 40m Climb up diagonally right from the belay on turf blobs and insecure hooks until a rest on a small ledge in the centre of the wall. Continue up the centre of the wall until moves left lead to a ledge on the left arete. Follow the wimberry terrace right and finish up the first cheeky corner!

FA Chris Guest, Ian Heginbotham - Climbed in memory of the late Neville Guest & Rodney Heginbotham 05/06/2012

The quarry lurking in the distance!

Ian getting stuck into pitch 1

Chris setting off onto new ground pitch 2

Touching the cake hole

Something to wet your appetite! This great little film is from a euro ice road trip. This film shows some fantastic ice climbing footage. Is this something you want to do? A Winter Skills Course with Skylark Mountain Adventures is the first step towards safe enjoyable winter mountaineering/climbing adventures!