tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-761345793767946262024-03-05T10:49:42.002+00:00Wear Your BootsBrief reports & selected photo's of my adventures, experiences and ongoing education in the mountain environment. Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-59332321272259804942016-09-16T20:11:00.001+01:002016-09-17T02:29:43.221+01:00On The Dragons Back<b>Tuesday 13th & Wednesday 14th September.</b><br />
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Earlier this week I spent a couple of days with expedition roomie Simon Small looking at some navigation techniques for an upcoming race he has entered.</div>
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I can only assume Simon has taken a bang on the head at some point as he has gained a liking for multi day ultra marathon races, some of these have been in extreme environments such as the Arctic Circle and the Amazon rain forest.</div>
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May 2017 he will be participating in the '<a href="http://www.berghausdragonsbackrace.com/">Dragon Back</a>', a 5 day race covering near on 300km on the mountains of Wales. Beginning in North Wales the route also includes around 16000m of ascent as the competitors head South down the spine of Wales from Snowdonia, into the Cambrian mountains and finishing 5 days later on the Brecon Beacons. </div>
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Madness!</div>
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The two days were a chance for Simon to refresh his existing navigational skills, look at using tick off and back stop features, using contour lines to interpret the landscape and also have brief recce of areas he hadn't previously visited.</div>
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Using tick off features on the route Simon will be able to keep a track of where he is on the course rather than having to take a map and compass out too often and lose precious time. The use of back stop features help as a warning that a change of direction or navigation point may have been missed and the interpretation of contour lines can be invaluable as man made features can change since the map was printed. </div>
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Tuesday we spent on the Moelwyns and the area around Cnicht, the 'Welsh Matterhorn'.<br />
The day started extremely misty which was perfect for practising following a bearing and pacing distance, we also looked at recognising distant features (when the mist had cleared).<br />
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My Mountain Leader Assessment had been held around this area and it is a good venue to practise navigation as the terrain is quite undulating rather than having massive features to navigate from.</div>
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Wednesday and we headed further South in Snowdonia and were fortunate enough to have some exceptional summer weather on Cadair Idris.<br />
With the fine weather making visibility no problem we looked at using back stop features as well as the use of a number of features in the landscape to be able to confirm our position.</div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Summary</i> - that running game isn't for me but I'm more than happy get out with a good mate on the mountains anytime, if I can help Simon in his preparation for this (mad!) event and it doesn't involve me doing any running then the jobs a good 'un!</div>
Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-86128671061750201822016-09-07T17:49:00.001+01:002016-09-07T17:51:44.147+01:00De Javu vu<b>Monday 5th September.</b><div>Earlier this week myself and Danny Bond returned to the Yorkshire Dales as we had some unfinished business with the famous Yorkshire 3 Peaks.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7eyE1hOYG4zGojcEMQHa-naeIy0CKrYn9f-k3s1ObQzzR5RclR6AuxCM1ktrrn254kmHMdT7SIob0gY3JymgyJpnjTXOMuoTWKXHrUnJKMPOBfENfgNhCdPP2Z1D-r_NjRCRciK1TrA/s640/blogger-image-521472758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7eyE1hOYG4zGojcEMQHa-naeIy0CKrYn9f-k3s1ObQzzR5RclR6AuxCM1ktrrn254kmHMdT7SIob0gY3JymgyJpnjTXOMuoTWKXHrUnJKMPOBfENfgNhCdPP2Z1D-r_NjRCRciK1TrA/s640/blogger-image-521472758.jpg"></a></div> Arriving in the Dales at just after 6am Monday we had returned to walk the 24mile route, and this time complete it after I had called a halt to our attempt 2 weeks earlier under monsoon conditions!</div><div><br></div><div> The weather was wet again but much improved on previously.</div><div><br></div><div> Moving quickly, with few breaks and without the flood obstacles we made good time needing only a short burst of jogging to complete the route in a respectable 8hrs 49mins.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Hdi7Fr_AeqdY_f10q3ZfXlKH7VAD7cDyeQVgOgbjLJv8T9fCbbAfkawZRKpxixOVxyDUJ7KGftRaSJqE1Lao6WNpvQA2JJxH7HWXwcKT2mA8Si67HYS1ypTw3if-ztPVUnGe2rjayvc/s640/blogger-image-1661398596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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Monday saw me meet up with long time friend Danny Bond.</div>
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Danny had wanted to complete the Yorkshire 3 Peaks for a while and we had set this date as mutually convenient and definitely not, as it turned out, for the weather!</div>
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This would be my 16th circuit of the 23mile route, taking in Ingleborough, Pen y Ghent and Whernside. It could have been a bit De Javu if it wasn't for the by far the worst conditions I have set off in!</div>
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Leaving from the *'Old Hill Inn' with dark, thick clouds above and rain bouncing down we set off towards Ingleborough to be met by a stream where the footpath should be! This would be the format for the day as we encountered torrents flowing down off the hills and streams having burst their natural courses.<br />
The weather was forcast to lift a little during the afternoon and it was most welcome when it did!<br />
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<b>*<u>N.B</u></b> starting from the 'Old Hill Inn' near Chapel-le-Dale and walking in an anti clockwise direction is my preferred route for a number of reasons -<br />
1, it offers the option of a toilet stop at Horton in Ribblesdale, an important consideration when there are females in the group.<br />
2, a second toilet stop is available at 'The Station Inn' at Ribblehead for a charity donation.<br />
3, if unsupported by a vehicle there is a 'get out' option of not doing Whernside and walking from Ribblehead along the road to the starting point (or waiting at the 'Station Inn' whilst someone else goes for the car!<br />
4, participants on already tired legs seeing the ascent up Ingleborough via the 'Devils Staircase' before them can become somewhat demoralised and a bit 'moany' when done as 3rd peak.<br />
5, generally the majority of participants are surprised to find they suffer more with aches and pains of descent rather than the exertions of ascent so the shorter, sharp shock of descending Whernside with the finish in sight is a lesser evil than the near 7km/4mile drawn out descent of Ingleborough. </div>
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The cloud base had been as low as 300m for most of the day but started to lift as we reached the road section of the route, personally this is the worst and most dangerous part. Worst as walking on the Tarmac takes it out on the feet and joints, dangerous because of the chance of being hit by a vehicle.</div>
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Hats off to Danny for digging in and getting to Ribblehead Viaduct in soaking wet boots. He was in good spirits as we chatted (which can be a giveaway of someone suffering) and physically seemed strong other than the soreness of his feet. I could hear the squelching of his wet boots as we neared the 'Station Inn' and decided it best to call an early finish and return to do the route another day rather than continuing on and risk Danny doing any long term damage to his feet, though the main reason was the annoying squelch, squelch, squelch that would have driven me insane (more so than presently) over a further 3hrs!!</div>
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Date already set!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That'll be the footpath/stream.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August on Pen y Ghent....</td></tr>
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Summary - wet, damn wet!<br />
This was one of those days when I speak to the client about reasons for possibly postponing until another time as I want them to have a good experience and not a day spent suffering. Despite the 'inclement' conditions and my suggestion of postponing Danny was unperturbed and keen to get on with it.<br />
As somebody who spends a lot of time outdoors all year round I would grade this as 'sh*te' conditions so much respect to Danny for not being put off, surely has to be better next time....!?<br />
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Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-2730579436492945952016-08-26T00:20:00.001+01:002016-09-01T00:53:43.258+01:00A Path Less Traveled.<b>Sunday 14th & Monday 15th August.</b><br />
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Sunday 14th and I was out with Gemma and Jonathan on the Howgill Fells as a 'hill walking' taster/introduction trip.</div>
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I had chosen the Howgill Fells as they tend to be less busy than their neighbouring and more famous Lakeland Fells and Yorkshire Dales, but have an interesting landscape and offer great views of their neighbours (on a clear day!).</div>
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We took a circular route from Brunt Sike across Long Rigg, Fell Head, Bush Howe and up on to The Calf before descending down White Fell.</div>
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Monday - After a night spent camping in the small Dales town of Dent we took a route to the summit of Whernside from Dentdale.</div>
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Again this was a route less popular than the sometimes busy route from Ribblehead.</div>
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Following the The Dales Way before joining the The Dales Highway, then heading to the summit on the 'A Penine Journey' footpath we were rewarded by stunning views on all sides under a clear blue sky.</div>
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We descended into Deepdale and followed the footpath through farmland and past cottages back into Dentdale.</div>
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<b>Summary - </b>whilst I love my climbing, ridges, scrambling and mountain routes it was really good to get out and do some hillwalking with Gemma and Jonathan.</div>
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Whilst Jonathan has some previous hillwalking Gemma hadn't since the Duke of Edingburgh Award 'a couple' of years ago, hopefully being out in such stunning surroundings may see them getting out more frequently in the future.</div>
Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0Dent, Sedbergh LA10, UK54.277725399999987 -2.454450500000007254.268454899999988 -2.474620500000007 54.286995899999987 -2.4342805000000074tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-12920058507979873192016-08-02T21:40:00.001+01:002016-08-05T01:53:36.736+01:00Balmy Irish Summer Days!<b>1st & 2nd August 2016.</b><br />
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I have been in Ireland with Wayne and Chris sampling the delights of Connemara and Mayo, and the Irish summer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down from Croagh Patrick and all is good!</td></tr>
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This week I have travelled to Ireland to spend a couple of days introducing Wayne and Chris to the delights of mountain walking as well as taking a look at the mountains of Ireland for future trips.</div>
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We travelled to Connemara on Sunday and took a walk up onto the 'Twelve Bens' circuit on Monday.</div>
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I chose a challenging route up to the circuit proper, this meant I could look at how the boys were moving and coping with the terrain to get an idea of how they may handle the main circuit.<br />
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They were fine and with much determination, banter and plenty of 'craic' got on with the job in hand. Unfortunately the weather wasn't in such good spirits!</div>
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The forecast had been on the doubtful side to start with and only got worse as we gained height so after a leg burning ascent, a recce of the terrain that lay before us and having to be the barer of bad news I took the decision to retrace our steps and descend.<br />
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We would have spent the rest of the day looking at the inside of a cloud which wouldn't have been productive as a way of introducing the lads to mountain walking. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Connemara in high spirits.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the mist they came....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy to be on flat ground despite the weather.</td></tr>
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On Tuesday with a deteriorating weather forecast for mid week we drove up to County Mayo to walk the famous pilgrimage route to the summit of Croagh Patrick.</div>
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An estimated 1 million people make the ascent each year, some in an act of penance climb the steep rocky path barefoot!!😳<br />
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Leaving the car park in full waterproofs we gained a few funny looks as the weather was fairly good, the weather further up the mountain was rather less so and it was ourselves giving the solo barefoot guy and the countless people we saw in jeans, or shorts and T shirts the funny looks.<br />
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I have been fortunate to walk many mountains but I found this an unbelievably busy mountain track considering the only the satisfaction to be gained was that of reaching the summit and seeing the church before heading back down the steep rocky path through the wind, mist & rain.<br />
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Fortunately the wether cleared as we made the descent and we had some stunning views over Clew Bay.<br />
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Wayne and Chris both dug deep on the route and have hopefully paid penance for a couple of previous misdemeanours....?</div>
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With the weather leaving them wetter than the front pocket of an otters dungarees they both showed proper character and determination to reach the top in poor conditions when they could have easily sacked it off.</div>
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Good job boys!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting Croagh Patrick and all is well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Irish summer can be changeable!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If looks could kill I'd probably not be here!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This isn't McDonalds!!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lads done well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZVEha70xAeKu4xZWYUf51ILkryojxr_bY_aX2iTlQGH1R3eKNCY2Z8qXiwjfh4FFt2TBdM3jp7dvQJ56WcQsNwrXWVbeJWrw8FiceMkHGLpTtjaHwc9aF7vdOlrnCVDV-k3yGAwfg7k/s640/blogger-image--1185802546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZVEha70xAeKu4xZWYUf51ILkryojxr_bY_aX2iTlQGH1R3eKNCY2Z8qXiwjfh4FFt2TBdM3jp7dvQJ56WcQsNwrXWVbeJWrw8FiceMkHGLpTtjaHwc9aF7vdOlrnCVDV-k3yGAwfg7k/s640/blogger-image--1185802546.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outstanding beauty of Clew Bay on descent.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5lDqIZH0Mv9Mb6aI208AY9D32o-4tFb2MFspDQPt0SgDrawP1bCzcxh7nSGNE4Up-wtNa-56X05ZX1_gxMvgdLGHnSkYvd20suNed327nIMfnQ3Sqt83kcfZjFGYwXhMrK-C1e-gkUA/s640/blogger-image-471135549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5lDqIZH0Mv9Mb6aI208AY9D32o-4tFb2MFspDQPt0SgDrawP1bCzcxh7nSGNE4Up-wtNa-56X05ZX1_gxMvgdLGHnSkYvd20suNed327nIMfnQ3Sqt83kcfZjFGYwXhMrK-C1e-gkUA/s640/blogger-image-471135549.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Possibly the first smile of the route!</td></tr>
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Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-40492724446942256352016-07-01T01:36:00.000+01:002016-07-01T01:36:15.417+01:00Reach For The Stars!<b></b><br />
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<b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Saturday & Sunday 25th & 26th June.</b></b></div>
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Last weekend I returned to the Lake District to climb with Gavin Kellett and tick a couple of classic Lakeland routes off.</div>
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<b>Saturday - </b>there was a time when the first thing I would do after an evening working on the doors of Leeds would be to go annoy door staff at another venue with my drunken behaviour, so to head straight up to Langdale to catch a few hours sleeping in the car before climbing marks a bit of a change of lifestyle!</div>
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After a few hours shut eye in the car park at Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel I woke in time to meet Gavin as he arrived from Scotland. I had met Gavin a couple of years ago on International Mountain Leader training so was looking forward to a catch up as well as a climb or two.</div>
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I have probably been bit guilty of overlooking a lot of quality climbing as I have looked to push my grade up this year and whilst it has been good to improve my climbing grade it's not always the best time to improve the core skills when concentrating on just stating on the rock! We would spend the day at Raven Crag in Langdale as it offered us a number of routes and has a short walk in as rain was forecast.</div>
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As the day panned out their were many climbers at the crag so route choice was a matter of getting on what was free at the time.</div>
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We climbed 'Centipede' (S 4a**), 'The Origional Route' (S 4a***) and 'Evening Wall' (S 4a*). Good climbing on good routes and gave me a chance to concentrate on making good gear placements, building solid belays and slick(ish) rope work!</div>
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<b>Sunday - </b>We had driven around to Borrowdale Saturday evening and after a 'couple' of social drinks catching up and generally putting the world to rights spent the night sleeping in our respective vehicles. Rising at an unheard of 7:30am for myself we made our way to 'Shepherds Crag' and were the first ones on the crag.</div>
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Gavin has a lot of previous climbing experience in the Lakes and recommended 'Little Chamonix' for our first route. What a great route! Graded at VD*** the route offers great climbing and exposure whilst offering good protection, this will be a definite route I will take people up in the future.</div>
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With the crag getting busier we opted to do 'Ardus', with the option of a direct VS 4C finish it would be a little more challenging. A 'thrutchy' corner is how I would describe it and though it meant topping out into undergrowth and scrambling around to find a suitable, solid belay I was happy to get another Lakeland VS4C multi pitch route under my belt.<br />
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<b>Summary</b> - another quality couple of days in the magnificent Lake District. Good climbing, good routes and a chance to catch up with Gavin too. Only 2 routes on the Sunday due to the rain moving in but a great weekend!</div>
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Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-79254033365128164092016-06-25T01:05:00.001+01:002016-06-26T20:57:35.603+01:00Borrowdale - With Andy Swann (& 'The Lads') The past week I spent a couple of days climbing in the magnificent Borrowdale in the Lake District with Andy Swann of <a href="http://www.grittrackandtrail.co.uk/">'Grit, Track & Trail'</a> and 'The Lads'. 'The Lads' being the dreaded midges! 😤<br>
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<b>Tuesday - </b>and I met up with Andy, who holds the <a href="http://www.mountain-training.org/mountaineering/awards/mountaineering-instructor-award">MIA</a> award and has been helping me improve my climbing technique and grade, to drive up to Borrowdale which is found south of Keswick in the Lake District.</div>
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Even though I have the excuse of being a very late starter to climbing, I am still a little embarrassed to admit this was my first climbing trip to the Lakes. With the weather forecast to be fine I was more than looking forward to it.</div>
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Leaving the vehicle in Grange we made our way on foot to 'Black Crag', which is a rhyolite (volcanic rock) crag with a number of multi pitch routes, through the surrounding woodland.</div>
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Unfortunately we were soon joined at the bottom of the crag by 'the lads', midges! Although I can accept that these tiny flying critters have their place in the food chain is there any need for so many of them to be in action at once, swarming over any bare flesh and leaving itchy little bites??? 😤😤 I had applied jungle formula insect spray containing the chemical and I swear I caught one licking it off my the back of my hand!</div>
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I thought the rock was top drawer to climb and the routes we did (The Shroud VS 4c** & Troutdale Pinnacle Super Direct HVS 5a***) outstanding. Climbing alternate pitches gave me chance to practice not only my climbing but gear placements, rope work, building belays, and change over stages while accepting any tips and guidance on where anything could be improved from Andy (who has climbed a bit previously!).<br>
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<b>Wednesday - </b>we made the hour long walk in to 'Sergeant Crag Slabs' from Stonethwaite. The thought was to gain a little more height and be exposed to some stronger breeze which the midges can't handle, the bast@rds were there in force and battling the strong breeze 😤😫.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy taking extreme fashion measures to combat the midges!</td></tr>
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But midges or not this again was a great crag. 'Friendly' rock, good gear placements and great routes.<br>
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I seconded Andy on 'Lakeland Cragsman' (HVS 5a***), 'Terminator 2' (HVS 5a***), 'Between The Lines' (E1 5b**) before going back to 'Lakeland Cragsman' to lead it myself.</div>
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Being keen to improve my grade I was happy to second the routes to gain some confidence. </div>
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<b>Summary - </b>a quality couple of days!<br>
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I'm very aware how quickly I can fall into bad habits so to climb with Andy whilst also be given advice on best practice and pointers as to where I can improve worked well in my 'sort of' training plan.</div>
Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-87045997893120266682016-06-13T20:10:00.001+01:002016-06-13T20:10:06.634+01:00North Wales Climbing & Gardening!<b>Monday 23rd to Thursday 26th May.</b><br />
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A couple of weeks ago (been lazy and neglected my blog 😔) I spent a few days in North Wales climbing and catching up with Rob Gurr of <a href="http://www.summitadventures.co.uk/">Summit Adventures</a>, Stephen Hobdell of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Steve-Hobdell-Mountain-Adventures-1532539963719731/?pnref=lhc">Steve Hobdell Mountain Adventures</a> and John Deakin who chops wood for the Queen!!</div>
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<b>Monday - </b>and after being far too optimistic about the M62 traffic I arrived late (early evening) in the Ogwen Valley to catch up with Rob & Stephen.</div>
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They were climbing on 'Bochlwyd Buttress' which is just a fifteen minute walk in from the car park. It also catches the afternoon sun though is fairly Baltic at all other times it seems!</div>
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It was good to catch up with Stephen who I met a couple of years ago whilst shadowing Rob Johnson on a winter skills course, we had also spent a damp cold day at Stanage last May which felt like another winter day!<br />
Having just sat in traffic for nearly four hours and having had to spend cash at 'Joe Brown's' on another climbing helmet (left mine on the kitchen table!) I was happy enough to second routes whilst Rob & Stephen led.</div>
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<b>Tuesday </b>- myself and Rob had decided to spend the day climbing at Tremadog and met at Eric's cafe. I had spent the night sleeping in the back of the car (it's part of the climbing apprenticeship) and had woken early as Eric came to make sure I was going to pay the £6 fee without driving off!</div>
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Having already climbed here a number of times, leading some lower grades and seconding some higher graded routes, I was keen to get a couple of the well known routes ticked off.</div>
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We spent the day battling with midges whilst climbing 'The Brothers (VS 4c**), 'Shadrach (VS 4c**) and 'One Step In The Clouds (VS 4c***), with the latter route having the added pressure of a small roadside audience during the top pitch!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midge Protection</td></tr>
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<b>Wednesday -</b> and I had the day to myself as I wouldn't be meeting Rob until late afternoon due him having work that day, bit inconsiderate in my opinion!</div>
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We went to Australia Quarry above Llanberis to climb some slate sport routes at 'The Sidings'.</div>
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At this time of writing the blog I do not have the routes we climbed to hand but just to say it was disappointing to be struggling on lower grades routes first climbed by an 11year and 7year old brother and sister! 😔</div>
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The reoccurring comment was 'bloody kids' and we weren't too disappointed when it started to rain.</div>
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More practice on slate is needed!</div>
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<b>Thursday - </b>and myself and Rob met up with John Deakin who had driven up for the day.</div>
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Meeting at Siabod Cafe in Capel Curig we had originally planned to climb in Llanberis pass but the weather was looking doubtful and with John only having the one day we opted for another trip to Tremadog which tends to get less rainfall than the mountain crags.</div>
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We again went to the popular Craig Bwich y Moch at Tramadog, again it was extremely popular with the dreaded midges!</div>
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We first climbed 'Grim Wall' (VS 4c**) and concentrated on our rope work, gear placement, bringing seconds up in parallel and adseiling. This was more a result of us being joined on the crag by a couple of groups who were on their British Mountain Guide assessment and we didn't want to look like amateurs....!</div>
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We (John) decided we would climb 'Clapton's Crack (VS 4c*) after lunch and off on an adventure we went!</div>
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Finding the start of the route through the under growth was a turned into a gardening mission and then there was the scramble to the route base proper whilst carrying ropes and rack.</div>
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To be fair the first pitch of the route was very good with bridging moves whilst going up a corner crack and nearly made up for the under growth scratches and cuts getting up to it!</div>
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The second pitch was covered in undergrowth for the most part but was fairly simple climbing though quite exposed.<br />
I think the route might benefit from being climbed more regularly to keep the shrubbery down and the scramble up to the route less 'green'.</div>
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I know will carry a life long scar on my shin to remember the nature trail to the route by but I wouldn't hold John in any way responsible due his choice of route, it's not as though there are many great routes at Tremadog to choose from...! 😉<br />
After the route John had to leave to make his way back 'down South' (where ever that is!) so Rob and myself went up to Bus Stop Quarry where I led 'Equinox' (VS 4c**) and my first trad route on slate.</div>
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Unfortunately we have no pictures of this as most of the time our attention was on a guy climbing a 7b sport route at the side of us who seemed to be holding on to thin air! Pretty impressive to watch though also slightly depressing given our performance at 'The Sidings' the evening before.</div>
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<b>Summary - </b>a good few days better spent out climbing than wasted doing something like working or alike!</div>
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I was happy to tick some classic routes and felt happy with my climbing.</div>
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It was also good to catch up with Rob, John and Stephen who all share my love of all things mountain!</div>
Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-74601515186812095942016-06-10T02:34:00.000+01:002016-06-10T02:48:17.051+01:00Stunning South Wales Sea Cliffs<b>Tuesday & Wednesday 7/8th June.</b><br />
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With the weather exceptional and a few days to squeeze in some climbing I made my way to South Wales to meet up with South Welsh native Dan Bryan and on to climb on the sea cliffs of Pembrokshire and the Gower.</div>
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Tuesday - and after traveling down to Bosherton in Pembrokshire Monday evening we were up early to get some breakfast and get set up for a good day on the sea cliffs near the village, then there was a change of plan....!</div>
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The area is used by the Ministry Of Defense as a live firing range and today they had put the red flags up, signalling they would be firing and we would be climbing else where.</div>
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With Dan having local knowledge, and more importantly a guide book, we made our way to St David's, the smallest city in Britain, and on to climb at <a href="http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=69">Craig Caerfai</a>. The rock here is of sandstone slab and I found it good to climb on following small cracks and using the friction of the rock, though I found good gear placement spots were a little sparse on a couple of routes.<br />
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I was pleased to clean 'Unknown Sentry' which was my first HVS lead climb before Dan made easy work of 'Armorican' which had been on his tick list.</div>
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Routes we climbed were Mildred Mindwarp(HS 4b*) Nameless(VS 4c*) Unknown Sentry(HVS 5a*), The Bryn(VS 4c*), Caerfai Crack(HS 4b*) White Corner(D*) and Armorican(VS 4c***).</div>
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For the afternoon we made our way to <a href="http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=2791">Initiation Slabs</a> for a couple of routes then demanded an abseil in to the start of the route and building a hanging belay. </div>
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To be totally honest I wouldn't have comprehended being able to do a route like Aries even earlier this year! A poorly protected traverse from a hanging belay over a tidal rocky bay then climb a poorly protected arête, I would just about have looked at the photo! Dan telling me it had a sign of a 'fluttering heart' next to the title in the log book whilst I was mid traverse didn't help my shaky leg but I had enjoyed it when I got to the top (possibly!).</div>
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The routes we did were Aries(VS 4c**)and Capricorn(HS 4b*)</div>
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Wednesday and after spending the night in Bosherton, with the sounds of machine gun fire and the blazing sight of military flares in the sky, we drove to the Gower Peninsula and the beautiful Rhosilli where we met up with Andrew to climb on <a href="http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=885">Kings Wall</a>.</div>
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The towering cliffs here are of limestone with 'wobbly' cracks, lose blocks and polished holds to think about whilst climbing. We started doing a couple of climbs from the terrace above the sea, with Andrew leading 'ISIS' which was on his tick list. Whilst we completed these climbs the tide was on its way out and we could then walk over the beach to the lower climbs..<br />
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For some unknown reason I wasn't feeling it today, and it was annoying me that I wasn't feeling it! The weather was excellent, the setting was outstanding, I had been looking forward to the climbing and had led my highest grade to date just the day before but I felt as though I couldn't lift myself. It could possibly have been delayed shock from parting with £10 for a breakfast and a coffee earlier with me being a devout Yorkshireman!<br />
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I seconded both Dan and Andrew before leading Frigg (VS4b) on King Wall and whilst I enjoyed the climbing and felt I was climbing comfortably within myself my mind wasn't there which resulted in me practically soloing the route and poor rope work when I made the occasional gear placement. I wasn't using my own rack which could have played a part but in the end I suppose I can put it down to experience and learn from it in the future.<br />
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Climbs we did were Gethsemane(S 4a**), Isis(HVS 5a***), Ragnorak(HS 4a**), Frigg(VS 4b*).</div>
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<b>Summary - </b>overall an excellent couple of days climbing on tidal sea cliffs. Like anything that holds a risk element, or is out of the normal comfort zone, the more you expose yourself to what's involved the less daunting it gets as you become accustomed to the risks and rationalise them. That's what I think and I'm hoping it's going to work!</div>
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Pembrokeshire and The Gower are stunningly beautiful areas and to be able to enjoy climbing there is straight from the top drawer of my 'best days out' and I will be returning before too long!<br />
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Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-9008536449385050832016-06-02T22:47:00.001+01:002016-06-03T01:36:49.613+01:00The Yorkshire 2 Peaks.... & Pub!<b>Wednesday 1st June </b>and myself, Clare, Sam and Owen decided to do part of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks route.<br />
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Nothing better than a stroll around the route of the Yorkshire Three Peaks to make us Yorkshire folk feel reet proud so I'm always up for a day out in the Yorkshire Dales (Clare is nearly Yorkshire due to her having completed the route twice before, starting to lose the ability of saying 'the' in a sentence and being notoriously shy when it's her round!).<br />
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Sam, Owen and Clare had all completed the route in the past but were up for another trip around the 24 mile route.</div>
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Leaving the 'Old Hill Inn' at 08:30am we made good progress towards Ingleborough and up the dreaded 'Devils Staircase' before being enveloped in low cloud on the summit plateau.</div>
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With gales force winds, low cloud and the constant threat of a shower it was a typical British summer day in the hills as we headed towards Horton In Ribblesdale and on to Pen y Ghent (aptly meaning 'Hill of the Wind'.</div>
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Stopping at Horton for a short break I set the challenge of making to the summit of Pen y Ghent with in 1.5hrs, as it went we made it in 1hr 5mins without a murmer about the steepness of the seemingly never ending ascent, what a team! 😳</div>
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With a bit of a breeze blowing through we didn't hesitate for long on the summit and made our way down and along the route towards Ribblehead.<br />
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It's some 8miles approximately between Pen y Ghent and Whernside and this part can really sap the moral and see the start of aches and pains in the joints.</div>
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As we neared Ribblehead an injury appeared in our merry group and the best solution was thought to stop at the 'Station Inn' and assess the situation.<br />
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As it turned out the ankle I had gone over on at the start of the day decided that the stop was the right time give me a painful reminder that me decision to wear 'approach shoes' rather than walking boots may have been a poor one. After the compulsory 'Station Inn' pork pie and with an eye on the dark clouds over Whernside it was decided the day was to be a training day and we had done enough!</div>
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We WILL be returning to complete the further route later in the year.<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Summary -</i> with approximately 18miles and 2 peaks completed it was a shame not to finish the route on the day but with 20 completions of the route between us and safe in the knowledge we will be back to do it again it didn't take too much debate, the pub may have helped a bit.</div>
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A great outing in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales with good friends can be nothing but good! </div>
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Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-55972490183381669652016-05-20T00:55:00.001+01:002016-05-20T00:55:41.372+01:00Well That Escalated Quickly!Tuesday 17th & Wednesday 18th May and I joined up with Andrew, Dan and Josh for my first trad climbing of the year.<br />
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It soon escalated from modest plans!</div>
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Tuesday and with good weather forcast we met up in North Staffordshire with a view to climbing at 'Hen Cloud' and 'The Roaches'.</div>
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With my personal plans of just getting 'rock mileage' in over the next few months before working on increasing my grade I was happy enough to look at Severe and Hard Severe climbs, just get to the feeling of grit climbing back.</div>
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With lads together, the weather fine and the climbing good it soon escalated and I soon found myself clambering and hauling myself up 'Bachelor's Climb' (VS4c***). I like climbing on grit, I like the friction you can actually get off what look poor holds but I wasn't very keen on this to be honest. Early season nerves or whatever it may of been I don't mind saying that I struggled in a couple of places on this route and was delighted when I dragged myself over the top move and set up the belay!</div>
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Along with Bachelors Climb we also climbed Rainbow Crack, Great Chimney, Left Twin Crack and Right Twin Crack.</div>
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We then made our way over to 'Roaches Lower Tier' to catch up with an old friend 'Valkyrie'. Myself and Dan had had a look at climbing this famous route last year but in a moment of clarity had decided to abseil off after the first pitch, in hindsight it was probably one of the better decisions I've made in life.</div>
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The route has a short down climb with very little in the way of holds before an extremely balancy traverse which is poorly protected, I would have struggled last year and without Andrews input.</div>
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After watching Dan lead it and with Andrews beta of the route I was buzzing to successfully lead it this time with the help of Josh on a tricky belay. If you were to come off on the traverse it be one massive swing into fresh air, hopefully!</div>
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<b>Wednesday</b> and with the weather forecast to be wet in most places we made our way to Anglesey in North Wales.</div>
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Full of confidence after completing what I personally saw as top end of my ability grades myself and Dan teamed up to lead what would be our first sea cliff lead at Gogarth.</div>
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I have climbed on sea cliffs before but only as a second so this would be another step towards improvement.</div>
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Just getting to the start of a sea cliff route can be a challenge and the descent down to the foot of Gogarth Main Cliff with the sea below and cliffs above is both awe inspiring and intimidating.</div>
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We decided to link 'Imitator' and 'Bezel' routes together which would give us 5 pitches at VS5a, leading alternate pitches we would be leading above our previous top grades.</div>
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A bit of a mixed bag for myself. Some of the climbing I really enjoyed and some of not so much, hand jamming at the top of a 5 pitch route over the sea gave me severe 'Elvis leg' at one point and I had a brief moment to myself when I'd topped out and made the belay!</div>
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<b>Summary</b> - overall a top drawer climbing trip in my opinion. Completed Valkyrie, which I wanted, and thought I climbed harder than I had previously on Batchelor's Climb. A first sea cliff lead and higher than any previous grade is all good in my book.</div>
Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-32143578299993866982016-05-17T00:18:00.001+01:002016-05-17T08:05:09.557+01:00In Gods Country Monday 16th of May I made a long overdue return to Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqq624Xuh8R1e-BEKPDwG8AAg02tDCPcyZABs90zfky06Syvk0pBDLYTUVY59w7vr2y8fIWeXOhLWViKv00up_uXD3lxhoEeNux5GsDUEHvBhJZo6EDYEj58RHvqMXr002p9asBrMNnEE/s640/blogger-image-1237920573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqq624Xuh8R1e-BEKPDwG8AAg02tDCPcyZABs90zfky06Syvk0pBDLYTUVY59w7vr2y8fIWeXOhLWViKv00up_uXD3lxhoEeNux5GsDUEHvBhJZo6EDYEj58RHvqMXr002p9asBrMNnEE/s640/blogger-image-1237920573.jpg"></a></div> I have recently started taking friends and work mates out on hill/mountain routes as and when I have been available.</div><div> Firstly it gives me an excuse to get out and do what I love but it also give people who I have known whilst I have been going through various Mountain Training schemes a chance to spend some time doing something they may not have otherwise tried to.</div><div><br></div><div> Ryann had been 'peckering' me to take him out for years and Isabel had mentioned a couple of times that she would like to 'get outdoors', when the opportunity arose they jumped at it.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FXJLxUW56IWefaA7q2ljAPgK2TPU96I18fKShDAdS7ES6YHsB_2krsWF00fYhcdAE0RJS-nl4qmHbwICpZ09th7LdDcEm_OnvRbHtCpK783QyVLmi_nYnpARsQiDAJq4Xdy2Vs0uFro/s640/blogger-image--190930527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_FXJLxUW56IWefaA7q2ljAPgK2TPU96I18fKShDAdS7ES6YHsB_2krsWF00fYhcdAE0RJS-nl4qmHbwICpZ09th7LdDcEm_OnvRbHtCpK783QyVLmi_nYnpARsQiDAJq4Xdy2Vs0uFro/s640/blogger-image--190930527.jpg"></a></div> I chose a route in Wharfedale in the magnificent Yorkshire Dales, we would leave Buckden village and head up to Buckden Pike before descending to Starbotton and making our way back to Buckden alongside the River Wharfe. The route would be manageable for my 'newbie' walkers whilst giving excellent views over the Dales due to the good weather.</div><div> I also personally wanted to be in the Dales as it was here my love of the outdoors and the hills was first born. As I have progressed through training schemes and qualifications time has been spent away in other areas around the UK and foreign mountain ranges but, as I commented to Isabel and Ryann during the day, I was as happy to be walking in the Yorkshire Dales as I was to be walking in Patagonia - it's a 'Gods Own Country' thing!</div><div><br></div><div>They both seemed to be enjoying the day....</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJqT_WdSA5POBYPyzyWdxRnMb7RGfbOJlbg0iZyg_1xK9g5Ev5FIGLKCLlpE8jugMmAaszTipamFhXVwEfOglqDXCTjYmcvqo0bVc0OQlJlMP6PmXHlB078asET7V82XaQsVebb-QPeg/s640/blogger-image-1140825413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJqT_WdSA5POBYPyzyWdxRnMb7RGfbOJlbg0iZyg_1xK9g5Ev5FIGLKCLlpE8jugMmAaszTipamFhXVwEfOglqDXCTjYmcvqo0bVc0OQlJlMP6PmXHlB078asET7V82XaQsVebb-QPeg/s640/blogger-image-1140825413.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EJ-fqU-Jyi6AekoPuvkzHeQpn29mf6fvxTXOTntmIyYq-ie0T0wTXNCbwIQ6Cf13kf0Y4SOkIu4yvst1MslD4iZXiXTHkC8vE4H-Zaj49pfJRYVnmXTbyu4KG-7yNRsipEL6CNzjU78/s640/blogger-image--185503002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZunHhFAgpfQCjHn1eMrbzLTaHZc7Gkub0OjnRVTLzXeLEc7YxrFSPE8PLnEpOtwO4E82m0loT7tUtVyQupuZToZxKwgXatDTg554cCK8E1NtWneT9-xJtQkpAyFvzw7jyL0LMQjBzmc/s640/blogger-image-543511465.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXUdp3MGBUlk1A1T_0bUE3yzNTqlUQB5kdCdwwgECjPvOUQw7jl3y3ILnbX5qWo87qsHP34uuci3Gzjsj_E8j1S-Hb11rfmDsVSl7vSlYyi5WZ_YmF46excHYBd3p57zlH454YWKrxeA/s640/blogger-image-1027817704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXUdp3MGBUlk1A1T_0bUE3yzNTqlUQB5kdCdwwgECjPvOUQw7jl3y3ILnbX5qWo87qsHP34uuci3Gzjsj_E8j1S-Hb11rfmDsVSl7vSlYyi5WZ_YmF46excHYBd3p57zlH454YWKrxeA/s640/blogger-image-1027817704.jpg"></a></div> Enjoying fine weather we made our way to Buckden Pike before climbing the 'broken stile' and passing the Polish War memorial to an aircrew that crashed on the hill in 1943, before heading to Starbotton.</div><div> Isabel and Ryann were great company and having known them both for quite a few years the 'banter' was excellent.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTQNBcLztHK9LKEogeuWkLwG_vsIZPl__YOlECmLxvMxQ8dSDiB2TLk4Xdcv_9n27y5Ohg1kS_aj-d0uno6ucm6LgEGgqBn-3LMrRRSfbFy0gkJ9ZjuRq7kRnrPKObbfikNPs8hHnI0A/s640/blogger-image--170783440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXHDBlpOlPbGjbFusLoEogWvh_odUWPGkE3A9ORkK0LgKzawqDgCTvUY0qbtsxhR6yfFNB9z_UPRdAokjmDIox-JUFiuck_NxmyFdPMuZnRbYnoCsu4kByZzeACs7Zl3fEeq5-Qz7VKM/s640/blogger-image-958971762.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUl_5FfhZBJN-foBYgV3ZXPNPvYhunbLQzw7rI2mEX7aL1J-zWoKL0KlSwKNCIX4t0wuRGL3HL-MA9z7rzDPrVKiKICCE5htKxkwBxK5ewEnqxORShKfApLkFmc_U4COGu3l2gOuuFXA/s640/blogger-image-2027082544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUl_5FfhZBJN-foBYgV3ZXPNPvYhunbLQzw7rI2mEX7aL1J-zWoKL0KlSwKNCIX4t0wuRGL3HL-MA9z7rzDPrVKiKICCE5htKxkwBxK5ewEnqxORShKfApLkFmc_U4COGu3l2gOuuFXA/s640/blogger-image-2027082544.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BBpD8Zj9rj-q-2PWqmWVG7rNwu9Wq6akgikHW1s3daFpyCxEmJeSU6z7EVrqSHyyCPaZmb335v1Rb4SK5lZWNWR5v6NdeZSHWSNq4UCcbh7JFpa7WJD1PEPcy0Ypms7s-2xN8aXqorw/s640/blogger-image-1502452852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BBpD8Zj9rj-q-2PWqmWVG7rNwu9Wq6akgikHW1s3daFpyCxEmJeSU6z7EVrqSHyyCPaZmb335v1Rb4SK5lZWNWR5v6NdeZSHWSNq4UCcbh7JFpa7WJD1PEPcy0Ypms7s-2xN8aXqorw/s640/blogger-image-1502452852.jpg"></a></div> The route took us a little over 5hrs but seemed to go in a flash due in no small part to the excellent scenery, weather and the company!</div><div><br></div><div>Hope to see both Isabel and Ryann out on the hill again soon, thanks for making s great day X</div>Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-51310178722852316952016-04-27T17:32:00.001+01:002016-04-29T19:16:35.748+01:00Limestone Cowboys on the Costa Blanca!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This past week I have returned to Spain to gain more experience sport climbing in the sun.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIMfqsrdet2K_0VBsUnyDlAIN8QhhnvmEiEeGeXeq_cVNcZ9vAFqtfWGu6VWPaTBFLmb70AxAFIyJeRgbaXRby2RyQXATGcPmNOGxP-1jtiHZCAxgt94wXnZRww2Sz0j2r02TCa9Y6Us/s640/blogger-image-1586645652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIMfqsrdet2K_0VBsUnyDlAIN8QhhnvmEiEeGeXeq_cVNcZ9vAFqtfWGu6VWPaTBFLmb70AxAFIyJeRgbaXRby2RyQXATGcPmNOGxP-1jtiHZCAxgt94wXnZRww2Sz0j2r02TCa9Y6Us/s640/blogger-image-1586645652.jpg"></a></div> Pretty safe to say I have the climbing bug and after my recent trip to El Chorro I returned to Spain to climb on the limestone sport routes around the Costa Brava area.</div><div> With Dan, Josh and Jason I travelled to Calpe on the Mediterranean coast for a bargain priced 6 days climbing, it may still be low season for the holiday makers but the spring weather is perfect for climbing.</div><div><br></div><div>Sunday - flying into Alicante we went straight to the crag at Marin to get a few climbs in before heading to find our apartment.</div><div>Unfortunately Josh soon found out the nature of this limestone when cutting one of his fingers quite badly on the extremely sharp rock. Just 3 climbs in and we could have been man down but Josh had a couple of days rest before getting back to it.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBV4Shougpc7nvJLrIzGLwJ-6U47QnJRDJBjL59E6xe2G4htAaF_iw2zCSwEVyeyEm9JASsFnYnoRkLZrXB_U72GGEED5wXkFKqzsLOioGSogffu6QyQT6TLNXizBteEPmalx8VSgGcc/s640/blogger-image--799978282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBV4Shougpc7nvJLrIzGLwJ-6U47QnJRDJBjL59E6xe2G4htAaF_iw2zCSwEVyeyEm9JASsFnYnoRkLZrXB_U72GGEED5wXkFKqzsLOioGSogffu6QyQT6TLNXizBteEPmalx8VSgGcc/s640/blogger-image--799978282.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJsjZaZomwD5kMV0PNACAdv3_k7K7bLn_XcQMdO-2cn2rtMYPqjSDRQbqlstaOi843KSomhLtIyNo4TeFQWHAcinlhO5zJy6wBJSrCPRegOj9AOdK5CTAtUfZLVr6yaOX4uof5UFMci0/s640/blogger-image--1998269313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJsjZaZomwD5kMV0PNACAdv3_k7K7bLn_XcQMdO-2cn2rtMYPqjSDRQbqlstaOi843KSomhLtIyNo4TeFQWHAcinlhO5zJy6wBJSrCPRegOj9AOdK5CTAtUfZLVr6yaOX4uof5UFMci0/s640/blogger-image--1998269313.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkYDiI0VnYGCCaJTvJDqrs-n_5l-3XWk49TlQIkBi7kn50OANjV33NtzWq37KO2xXcHmyPeorlR7tHONpfm28afdESA1lQ3TdYScx4kO6eI7g5ivW3wVwA0Eoy-j5uvmftj2tAo6o90k/s640/blogger-image--40420891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkYDiI0VnYGCCaJTvJDqrs-n_5l-3XWk49TlQIkBi7kn50OANjV33NtzWq37KO2xXcHmyPeorlR7tHONpfm28afdESA1lQ3TdYScx4kO6eI7g5ivW3wVwA0Eoy-j5uvmftj2tAo6o90k/s640/blogger-image--40420891.jpg"></a></div> </div><div>Monday - we headed out to Sierra de Toix which stands right on the coast and includes some sea cliff climbing. Making our way steadily along the single pitch crag ticking off 4 and 5 graded climbs we finished the day with an enjoyable 6a+ 'Energico'.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviObIZBv4liLVOfpCXFKGjCaIcpyvlgrak9eFNCwArHQYVHTV_Tdc8TA9Ol-k_saQffIsv_W-PXlnEp9dHYETkMtL6OgjIZVMPhaXTgrDT1E7JuSUPGtGRZOZ18CEBSNqj-u11GzJOpU/s640/blogger-image--1493377063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviObIZBv4liLVOfpCXFKGjCaIcpyvlgrak9eFNCwArHQYVHTV_Tdc8TA9Ol-k_saQffIsv_W-PXlnEp9dHYETkMtL6OgjIZVMPhaXTgrDT1E7JuSUPGtGRZOZ18CEBSNqj-u11GzJOpU/s640/blogger-image--1493377063.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDCoOgP3glsufWgKPYOKP9xAzPCAqsIYYJ1ZT1S7fT7G5-OIhWe0ekgsGdxVJFqLlFz8cmdFHcOmwEA7G4qo60l6BFensSb4mjqHH7fP9N5ngF-n4se2zlsjcYnHqu6dVXmfUaJmZ9Io/s640/blogger-image--2065111335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDCoOgP3glsufWgKPYOKP9xAzPCAqsIYYJ1ZT1S7fT7G5-OIhWe0ekgsGdxVJFqLlFz8cmdFHcOmwEA7G4qo60l6BFensSb4mjqHH7fP9N5ngF-n4se2zlsjcYnHqu6dVXmfUaJmZ9Io/s640/blogger-image--2065111335.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjwl2grmLv4lhEbq2mhOr2w8bqPqhbPr0o8QVHdRyYtgpGcUZ2EkEDd2UuHyU3byR0d_iEF4qOxYapj8obnS2M8hYoVn3ElAmTQ6_fUttyOlO8vlPknc6PHtpsmLycSej3TY-GEIjQxs/s640/blogger-image--1015775314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjwl2grmLv4lhEbq2mhOr2w8bqPqhbPr0o8QVHdRyYtgpGcUZ2EkEDd2UuHyU3byR0d_iEF4qOxYapj8obnS2M8hYoVn3ElAmTQ6_fUttyOlO8vlPknc6PHtpsmLycSej3TY-GEIjQxs/s640/blogger-image--1015775314.jpg"></a></div>Tuesday - blue skies and sunshine again and our result of the day was some shelter from the trees at 'Alcalalli'.</div><div>We completed nine routes from 4's and 5's to 6a with the climbing being very good and enjoyable.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxqLBv0l_KZPf8utXhr7zGqjK_fvTYnp6dVq-l-iU2XcvOZUyy4bqOHrm-whCWRI1IRih7gO6F-1Oa0n57Juff9VTgAtiTe5C94D23U8W1pEcv6AndEFf74yI7a7JiPnLURvwAg5zZ5c/s640/blogger-image-1538866554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxqLBv0l_KZPf8utXhr7zGqjK_fvTYnp6dVq-l-iU2XcvOZUyy4bqOHrm-whCWRI1IRih7gO6F-1Oa0n57Juff9VTgAtiTe5C94D23U8W1pEcv6AndEFf74yI7a7JiPnLURvwAg5zZ5c/s640/blogger-image-1538866554.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWGAOfcbY8HeUHz58ewU2nvu0h-A-9KyCWNaXb4aOfI1ttmIRRfqQyGPQaCEtUqsDhn2wNWkfOEJd4ESgPL2bE-ddNcqyFGhDpRM-le7ZbGT4tXo6oJJs5wvv_y8uviBls_bPUgy5UBI/s640/blogger-image--1520123539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWGAOfcbY8HeUHz58ewU2nvu0h-A-9KyCWNaXb4aOfI1ttmIRRfqQyGPQaCEtUqsDhn2wNWkfOEJd4ESgPL2bE-ddNcqyFGhDpRM-le7ZbGT4tXo6oJJs5wvv_y8uviBls_bPUgy5UBI/s640/blogger-image--1520123539.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrjHv5DDfhFH-S3v746IsSgKI2eHs9Yz4PlJE6Sm05ghQ4yncYr9a7GfXKRppqUzAEkKQcdClmemtkFEfK80ic0TPe1_sNqc6m3wsqzn3jOPzEFL5XhvLtmeNbIbGAm_bjEZW1aAu8II/s640/blogger-image--109210907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrjHv5DDfhFH-S3v746IsSgKI2eHs9Yz4PlJE6Sm05ghQ4yncYr9a7GfXKRppqUzAEkKQcdClmemtkFEfK80ic0TPe1_sNqc6m3wsqzn3jOPzEFL5XhvLtmeNbIbGAm_bjEZW1aAu8II/s640/blogger-image--109210907.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3mgEogZn6pMyaZB0-5-xAcsMlG48EZGdwsD1iSANXdHIsRhMjlu_W_TlWE43hzR1OOCQUsMtD839qeVb3HN2g9SJU6dqwANxe9usr7mySNCd9gsXuzuHV90hH6GM8eRAfpT8-6qhMdc/s640/blogger-image--1291153924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3mgEogZn6pMyaZB0-5-xAcsMlG48EZGdwsD1iSANXdHIsRhMjlu_W_TlWE43hzR1OOCQUsMtD839qeVb3HN2g9SJU6dqwANxe9usr7mySNCd9gsXuzuHV90hH6GM8eRAfpT8-6qhMdc/s640/blogger-image--1291153924.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSZO56t5Z7-qO0G4NuusEVuJckXZIZRjsgmcr-Aaa4CnzNHpPiFTP4uVP6RC6RKMXt52l6VBKloWEvOu83zE52bp9A5WG6RMjlGhrUtzL-dweHq44JK2sjdt4oOEwuLR0kkdEgTSTDDw/s640/blogger-image-67803615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSZO56t5Z7-qO0G4NuusEVuJckXZIZRjsgmcr-Aaa4CnzNHpPiFTP4uVP6RC6RKMXt52l6VBKloWEvOu83zE52bp9A5WG6RMjlGhrUtzL-dweHq44JK2sjdt4oOEwuLR0kkdEgTSTDDw/s640/blogger-image-67803615.jpg"></a></div>Wednesday - with the weather forecast to be overcast we went inland to 'Guadalest' and found some very good climbing conditions with just enough cloud cover for it to not become too hot at lunch time.</div><div>All a bit tired after 3 days climbing, and an evening spent in the bars, we ticked off a couple of tricky single pitch routes before getting onto the 30m wall above for some exposed climbing on great rock and an abseil back down.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGN_PzlBFQ7ZYvpoxB3m7xKM3Fa40HZrLXecfiTunnf6lQBcVigtbg_aInOGBN_WNqJmYAh__ESdWuEMjjBOu1zpvSMMPfHYEvGr3vyegORSSjZpq8v_nQxheNYZuAg-oGK80YFnJXOs/s640/blogger-image--1207839074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg73m0S-nyVWFZvmNQSKXjW2YxPoaajXrQgqi9oC4AljqFbW7Ftl4_tAh5oi0ICUQ_373wUWUed_JEuHuvrIhfvnf4P1kEwmoi64V0Nfc7i_FneQKH10s3yxlc1gDf6DLSqQ9Fu9oMuaA/s640/blogger-image--714932994.jpg"></a></div>Thursday - we went to Sella where tDan, Josh and Jason had climbed on a previous trip last year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The area is in a valley where the climbs are on South facing walls on excellent limestone, this was my favourite area of the week so far.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We managed to get 7 routes in before the skies became overcast and we made a good choice to go for some food before the heavens opened and the thunder started.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGCv2V9nF68_sVdaujvfZzQHbHEgWkTU89VErLmvrs3ghWO-BdHg-s2Ny0Y1ZYRVk8lrOTqY3gRZwyOPrHpDCwg8kWYs6nKBCj8dguR_HnJALo0tJwpvYq55DVnqi0j4W_1gn66lUluk/s640/blogger-image-1788237016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2awc90o3fbOWvIR6xRpPthsfekTgqlX-xusR7e4S3ZMvYkBvSEdzjZ6t44U4WMEg4QpaYCbks0e3E6wSnzwDSV1ctEg0pbSMe_SYANOQpAUSXGLJSsSkX8_C5m3XCc4I-gfr9PsXeyE/s640/blogger-image--2112920115.jpg"></a></div>Friday - final day and after 'a bit of a night out' we went back to Sella area where we had climbed Thursday. Overcast with some light rain we picked off a few routes to finish the week with some debate over the grading system. An eventful Grade 6 climb I found really tough whilst a 6a we had started on seemed easier, all subjective I suppose.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFl9UTxYNOCfjA7rjTxCRzAhqpRa1cFas28K8Ai5FxW0PWG3mek1ygaOV3LfeVuF3FCuDxvVC0JupSQ_WcakNZ9KzACgzpjQvfPfDNhkG6PB-C-PqLxJlyeX857oNXxDvz-1f2rWtLohs/s640/blogger-image-1379525532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFl9UTxYNOCfjA7rjTxCRzAhqpRa1cFas28K8Ai5FxW0PWG3mek1ygaOV3LfeVuF3FCuDxvVC0JupSQ_WcakNZ9KzACgzpjQvfPfDNhkG6PB-C-PqLxJlyeX857oNXxDvz-1f2rWtLohs/s640/blogger-image-1379525532.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy-TMUn0izDpqPXfnTn8ej0K7TVyMrZnO3-rbZChGUJlOsutDvlZKqZkjiBF-Qj7lijcPbc8P_gUleInGBe-dqEuELwX4amDf3ejNYFQ4zdocQSQfuGSDLISbCt22uL19icUdVe67wNA/s640/blogger-image-2032281113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy-TMUn0izDpqPXfnTn8ej0K7TVyMrZnO3-rbZChGUJlOsutDvlZKqZkjiBF-Qj7lijcPbc8P_gUleInGBe-dqEuELwX4amDf3ejNYFQ4zdocQSQfuGSDLISbCt22uL19icUdVe67wNA/s640/blogger-image-2032281113.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4G857HoKXIM9vIJflCTeprn7QIEvBAjymSwiylPgT5HPEPBNRM_CHSb_fCtG2Ll-Kw4amvZpbEnLsrTPvt-DmJbVtjoR2K7Fl9JdLFi5fVn3sPCq8Z0hOl0Fwt1xlU4bxYDBa77dU9G8/s640/blogger-image-1376662728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4G857HoKXIM9vIJflCTeprn7QIEvBAjymSwiylPgT5HPEPBNRM_CHSb_fCtG2Ll-Kw4amvZpbEnLsrTPvt-DmJbVtjoR2K7Fl9JdLFi5fVn3sPCq8Z0hOl0Fwt1xlU4bxYDBa77dU9G8/s640/blogger-image-1376662728.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsTSAJ7QbSoKh4H1Bh9u2n5kVhxRd5HpwmaWZR5jEUfSR4t1JODEqEiLwrbyyfV8_a5L5IyyOQwRVtzCpTEJd2qoiq-F8X27Csgu-D9o08FkfMglu3KTCsJJC94YJSy0TOT7ACqrEXvk/s640/blogger-image-1746664517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsTSAJ7QbSoKh4H1Bh9u2n5kVhxRd5HpwmaWZR5jEUfSR4t1JODEqEiLwrbyyfV8_a5L5IyyOQwRVtzCpTEJd2qoiq-F8X27Csgu-D9o08FkfMglu3KTCsJJC94YJSy0TOT7ACqrEXvk/s640/blogger-image-1746664517.jpg"></a></div><b>Summary - </b>another great weeks sport climbing in Spain. Obviously the weather is a big part of making the trip so enjoyable as we were able to climb every day but the Spanish limestone crags are great to climb on.</div><div>With us having a car we decided to cover a few areas but Sella was my personal favourite.</div><div><br></div><div>Having only started sport climbing this year and trad climbing seriously last year I'm happy with the way it is going and looking forward to a summer of climbing in the UK with my recent trips helping to form a solid base to work from.</div><div><br></div><div>We flew to Alicante for approximately £100 each, where we hired a car Sunday to Friday for approximately £50 each and stayed in an apartment in Calpe which we found on Booking.com for £45 each. Well worth the costs for some lovely climbing.</div><div><br></div><div>Many thanks to Dan, Josh and Jason for making a memorable week.</div>Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-46723351986398707862016-04-14T21:52:00.001+01:002016-05-05T02:09:33.826+01:00Building Pyramids in El Chorro! + Bonus Day 🤗 This past week I have been on my first climbing trip to El Chorro in Andalusia of Spain with Instructor Andy and fellow clients Janet, Simon and Ray.<br />
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I had previously made a conscious decision to concentrate on my mountain leadership awards and so had limited my climbing to occasional trips necessary whilst gaining the Single Pitch Award. This may not have been a bad decision as now I am climbing regularly I have become totally enthralled and could have easily of had my attention distracted from the leadership awards to getting out enjoying myself climbing instead!<br />
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Whilst enjoying regular climbing trips over the last summer and winter I managed to improve my grade quite a lot and am now toying with the idea of gaining climbing instructor qualifications.<br />
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As part of this I attended the BMC FUNdamental 1&2 workshops which were being held by Andy Swann. Andy holds the <a href="http://www.mountain-training.org/mountaineering/awards/mountaineering-instructor-award">Mountain Instructor Award</a> , is an experienced climber, outdoor instructor and owner of '<a href="http://www.grittrackandtrail.co.uk/about/">Grit, Track and Trail</a>' based in North Yorkshire. After meeting Andy during the <a href="https://www.thebmc.co.uk/fundamentals-workshops">BMC FUNdamentals</a> I also had a couple of coaching sessions with him in order to improve my technique. Him being a fellow 'Yorkshire lad' we got on well whilst his knowledge and passion for climbing were obvious, with Andy running a trip to sport climb in <a href="http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1540">El Chorro</a> I thought it too good an opportunity to miss!</div>
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Over 5 days we covered climbing technique with attention paid to conserving energy through careful use of feet and movement. Having attended the FUNdamentals courses Andy had ran I was aware and beginning to appreciate his big emphasis on good foot work with small precise foot placing and triangular body positioning to improve technique and climb efficiently.<br />
I may have mentioned something about needing to ensure a solid base on which to build a solid pyramid once or twice.</div>
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As well as the general aspects of climbing we specifically looked at the demands and skills of Sport Climbing such as belaying a lead climber, clipping sport quick draws, tieing in to the belay, rethreading leader rope and lowering.</div>
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The El Chorro area is a well developed sport climbing area of limestone crags North of Malaga.<br />
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Crags we visited were Desplomilandia (Buena Sombre, La Vida Misma), Frontalis-Sector Austria, Escalera-Araba (also known as the Arab steps).</div>
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Throughout the week we <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">have had mixed weather which meant at some points we had crags to ourselves as everyone else 'scuttle' off as we carried on in a British climber way!</span><br />
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The weather improved as the week continued with the final day being of glorious sunshine but this made it difficult for me and my Northern European skin!</div>
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We have been staying at the '<a href="http://www.olivebranchelchorro.co.uk/">The Olive Branch</a>' which stands on the hill above El Chorro town and is a honeypot to climbers and walkers. This is a great guesthouse, bunkhouse and campsite that is extremely sociable and relaxed. As a base for climbing you couldn't ask for much more as the Las Encantadas crag is just 200 metres from the bunkhouse and Frontales and Escalara Arabe can be walked to in around 30 minutes (an ideal warm up!).<span style="font-family: "open sans" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #818894;"> </span>The food is good, the staff all very friendly and extremely helpful and then to crown it all the 'honesty box' operated beverage fridge was very well priced!</span></span><br />
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Late in the week we met Roy Thomas who was staying at the 'Olive Branch', a bit of a legend and a real character who had spent more time climbing than I had spent on the planet.<br />
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One of the reasons I have fallen so in love with climbing is the social aspect as so many people from different back grounds have one common interest in life.</div>
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<b>Summary - </b>I would struggle to look up enough words in the dictionary to explain how good this trip has been!<br />
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If you climb you need to come here, I will be back without doubt.</div>
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Big up to Andy for organising the trip and his coaching, not the shit banter ;-) </div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bonus Day! </i>- After the rest of the team had left for home and I had spent a couple of days on and around Gibraltar with my good friend Anna, I returned to the Olive Branch to meet up with Roy Thomas again for a cheeky extra day at the craggs.</div>
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With the weather overcast and rain in the air we headed to Frontalas Medias where we could gain a little shelter. As it worked out the rain soon halted and the limestone rock soon dried out.</div>
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Climbing with Roy was an absolute bonus, not only because he's a 'bit of a legend' but also as I had relied on Andy Swann to provide the rope and guidebook the previous week. Roy had his own 60m rope and the guidebook was stored safely in his head.</div>
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After a few routes on Medias Medias suggested going around to Frontalas <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> Bajas where there were a couple of long and well known routes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> Wether he knew the grades exactly or not Roy had me finish on Yailhouse Rock which was a lovely long climb and as I found out later at 6b* was the highest grade I have climbed so far, and to be be honest I was fairly comfortable on it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Although it was myself that did the climbing, my success on the route was in no small part due the previous weeks coaching from Andy and the pressure of having Roy belaying me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> Time spent being coached by, watching and climbing with experienced good climbers is as valuable as time spent climbing as far as I'm concerned.</span></div>
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Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-71700448316280948752016-03-17T21:55:00.001+00:002016-03-17T21:55:49.474+00:00Quick Change! With the long spell of fine late Winter/early Spring weather continuing we took the chance to get some early climbing routes under our belt.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxH0_HsQmeNOCeIdhgVRamVwgV0ixCyXxgGHXVvm1R8SK8e39qJje-GinHg0t0KOLuCBoT2lWmW9Dt0iCZf84Mw1gsQGTd-rsh4ffTwfw-NAHo0szZl1itDfwmeqbdMSZSKfU-2qSqdhQ/s640/blogger-image--435061996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxH0_HsQmeNOCeIdhgVRamVwgV0ixCyXxgGHXVvm1R8SK8e39qJje-GinHg0t0KOLuCBoT2lWmW9Dt0iCZf84Mw1gsQGTd-rsh4ffTwfw-NAHo0szZl1itDfwmeqbdMSZSKfU-2qSqdhQ/s640/blogger-image--435061996.jpg"></a></div>Tuesday and myself, Dan, Josh and Rob went to the slate quarries that tower over Llanberis in North Wales and into Australia quarry for my first sport climbing on slate.</div><div>Starting off steadily on a couple of grade 5's, we soon got a little more involved and made our way successfully (though tentatively in my case!) up</div><div>a couple of more challenging 6a & 6a+ routes, before finishing on a couple of VS4C routes.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcq6T5XwYEpvBygb8fnPDiCSBZCe-Q2Z4pT-c18FKlWEg2lXBnBjjGf-GdvuH1whtMZ3DFncmm_lksDH3SAA7t06rYjIdusAFsb2ks3FAS34ZI2qKidzYuS9cr2g8qdDs5b4WwbBatiqk/s640/blogger-image--274045367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcq6T5XwYEpvBygb8fnPDiCSBZCe-Q2Z4pT-c18FKlWEg2lXBnBjjGf-GdvuH1whtMZ3DFncmm_lksDH3SAA7t06rYjIdusAFsb2ks3FAS34ZI2qKidzYuS9cr2g8qdDs5b4WwbBatiqk/s640/blogger-image--274045367.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUvfE2AoHKPKe-dTH-8BVyr9mfnXz9FaoWGWbXsd4V7DDrXLgkExwcxNxkbsJjoXihuTyHQ2LKJjoLqkXd3hqrieYlXhtSZbQAeDnkvd7ngUyvjQ4kMlroeami8UDNSgGHyhN34wbobM/s640/blogger-image-239903770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUvfE2AoHKPKe-dTH-8BVyr9mfnXz9FaoWGWbXsd4V7DDrXLgkExwcxNxkbsJjoXihuTyHQ2LKJjoLqkXd3hqrieYlXhtSZbQAeDnkvd7ngUyvjQ4kMlroeami8UDNSgGHyhN34wbobM/s640/blogger-image-239903770.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjjAI-gLk1mEo39P5bUUlD6dbRVQXGG6sGUW0wnXFJHwcXFNiykkjks8pIEpDGrn5Mv0bi6K2qKZ9GCCZKnJ-S7m3cFIMcCzL-N4JB6xddr9c9By6yt1tTAxRGqzsc1i7hvzBJ7HCx0Y/s640/blogger-image-572645181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjjAI-gLk1mEo39P5bUUlD6dbRVQXGG6sGUW0wnXFJHwcXFNiykkjks8pIEpDGrn5Mv0bi6K2qKZ9GCCZKnJ-S7m3cFIMcCzL-N4JB6xddr9c9By6yt1tTAxRGqzsc1i7hvzBJ7HCx0Y/s640/blogger-image-572645181.jpg"></a></div> Wednesday and the weather was fine again. We decided on an afternoon of Trad climbing and went to Clogwn Cyrau above Betws Y Coed, a real sun trap.</div><div> Again my purpose was entirely to get climbs under the belt with intention of pushing my grade later in the summer (finger crossed!).</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODThOMJQ2Rdchag2bSzpg4Nc66FSfT0jVQ0SIFxKrHX36A4_cRra5LxMAdcJYmUVki1TXcgcaFmvXrl-7mMaTGbgBNut9QiylCFjl5YjH8bS1wTm-Z0mFNScDYuEih3z-4Bbd1Gyxobk/s640/blogger-image--1086910740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODThOMJQ2Rdchag2bSzpg4Nc66FSfT0jVQ0SIFxKrHX36A4_cRra5LxMAdcJYmUVki1TXcgcaFmvXrl-7mMaTGbgBNut9QiylCFjl5YjH8bS1wTm-Z0mFNScDYuEih3z-4Bbd1Gyxobk/s640/blogger-image--1086910740.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5B-s0Cnh7_kifqSE9N4-WUoNQA66K5_hFEhM23vctQe_c9nWHH82_rHZwPF7M3_6UsFclSUIHZ_mpZOP0z6Zog1gJ3dYvhmEcIvSue98_Q7XlCRP1CM5vcBxZnKlOsgAz-KyIoHfCZ0Y/s640/blogger-image-1859755799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5B-s0Cnh7_kifqSE9N4-WUoNQA66K5_hFEhM23vctQe_c9nWHH82_rHZwPF7M3_6UsFclSUIHZ_mpZOP0z6Zog1gJ3dYvhmEcIvSue98_Q7XlCRP1CM5vcBxZnKlOsgAz-KyIoHfCZ0Y/s640/blogger-image-1859755799.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDF8VRbAm7LCsIFT9yBWaYQD7C7k9HSXZv238v2QZrwYcGZTadqbk0Nl2sW87U2mC6zJYL4CL4JOCKGTRloJXHz4FOs3m-HA1hj4KIik2OqPvFq7rvWEWf8Ee6mt6PS9H_qEB40xDAYY/s640/blogger-image-1121289714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDF8VRbAm7LCsIFT9yBWaYQD7C7k9HSXZv238v2QZrwYcGZTadqbk0Nl2sW87U2mC6zJYL4CL4JOCKGTRloJXHz4FOs3m-HA1hj4KIik2OqPvFq7rvWEWf8Ee6mt6PS9H_qEB40xDAYY/s640/blogger-image-1121289714.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-69429229220870458962016-03-14T21:12:00.001+00:002016-03-14T22:29:25.071+00:00I Am The Passenger! Last week I made my last trip of the winter season to Scotland to meet up with Rob and John, as I recently gained the Winter Mountain Leader Award I was purely along as a passenger.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGzZN3kCjMJ_dpYiBJb3dot0o67I-5w9OdRQ18yzg0zp61LNz1-5QZ5HHAegdo4QwnmuRoP_L6R2SZoqlfZoQ8xEU6dfmIYmmj2bwJfBFWNOrQJHfU54OMiw0St6Rvmaeu6IDPLR1Sl0/s640/blogger-image--506985327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGzZN3kCjMJ_dpYiBJb3dot0o67I-5w9OdRQ18yzg0zp61LNz1-5QZ5HHAegdo4QwnmuRoP_L6R2SZoqlfZoQ8xEU6dfmIYmmj2bwJfBFWNOrQJHfU54OMiw0St6Rvmaeu6IDPLR1Sl0/s640/blogger-image--506985327.jpg"></a></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Tuesday I met up with Rob and John who are on the Winter Mountain Leader Training Scheme.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I joined them on a route they had chosen which would take us up the Western flank of Aonach Mor, across the summit to Aonach Beag and down into Glen Nevis.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6t1t00YTbtrXH5t0fGeth1wDWxYDXo5IdbANT_M4neUjxM3KBn70gFSyITP8FBt5ztA_im7APt-Crp51EwfFRsWtTjWoYS4TcE5AjPxrOG6-EJgwfMA56LVI3V69rziUeG4XcsgH3hDM/s640/blogger-image--1174120094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6t1t00YTbtrXH5t0fGeth1wDWxYDXo5IdbANT_M4neUjxM3KBn70gFSyITP8FBt5ztA_im7APt-Crp51EwfFRsWtTjWoYS4TcE5AjPxrOG6-EJgwfMA56LVI3V69rziUeG4XcsgH3hDM/s640/blogger-image--1174120094.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzujkPd73-ggss_7sAVyqpPHZZeWSHf7_yp8bvN1GD4SMASHfpv8cvNGpRiWnfj0_O1zTL3OOi8W5BqTz68NnUOGkvrWQ1J2AuetsNFF4e9MTnmedbUoc8hZmw5wcGmd9OpRcg1jVCMQ/s640/blogger-image-590479577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzujkPd73-ggss_7sAVyqpPHZZeWSHf7_yp8bvN1GD4SMASHfpv8cvNGpRiWnfj0_O1zTL3OOi8W5BqTz68NnUOGkvrWQ1J2AuetsNFF4e9MTnmedbUoc8hZmw5wcGmd9OpRcg1jVCMQ/s640/blogger-image-590479577.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8zTXca0eKtV67XBFGeGefPlD1iW4nukfSA7ltdGvIaeRDsn1O5cbtyUyQMjihPTpMWCLu8gAkhL76qar80yucW5rxwO0v1bqr0AnEE0Yoam7TC6uqWbxtSoU5qy8PeRyTq8FYpIlqqk/s640/blogger-image--392243778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8zTXca0eKtV67XBFGeGefPlD1iW4nukfSA7ltdGvIaeRDsn1O5cbtyUyQMjihPTpMWCLu8gAkhL76qar80yucW5rxwO0v1bqr0AnEE0Yoam7TC6uqWbxtSoU5qy8PeRyTq8FYpIlqqk/s640/blogger-image--392243778.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8W06_ytCFEqTlTfh3cjqzk44Wi_bAUIDhJqpNmceFIu8u6Kcut-qSywSQMvX76J4-zB4NVGdVAfgHVfSCM5w0hc0lbnZMUMhBQ4lBowLnjqOMey16Po23WH_SmVl0ttNQ2UuCiD6REc/s640/blogger-image-87800997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8W06_ytCFEqTlTfh3cjqzk44Wi_bAUIDhJqpNmceFIu8u6Kcut-qSywSQMvX76J4-zB4NVGdVAfgHVfSCM5w0hc0lbnZMUMhBQ4lBowLnjqOMey16Po23WH_SmVl0ttNQ2UuCiD6REc/s640/blogger-image-87800997.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywaiukmhoS3yN9lcoO-UK8qCWMSuElm21HucuxFJ5onokHB8WSAZvflG-1V-KPoGuzWMgHs1GWSuJESVF2axFz5aXB5iKgd-z5bnb9Bz5tJjTDy5WLzOa0mtxCH8bsYQSCQI0Bg76YCY/s640/blogger-image--2048720803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywaiukmhoS3yN9lcoO-UK8qCWMSuElm21HucuxFJ5onokHB8WSAZvflG-1V-KPoGuzWMgHs1GWSuJESVF2axFz5aXB5iKgd-z5bnb9Bz5tJjTDy5WLzOa0mtxCH8bsYQSCQI0Bg76YCY/s640/blogger-image--2048720803.jpg"></a></div> With a strong wind, low cloud and spindrift the crossing of Aonach Mor summit was entertaining and it was good to leave the winds behind when heading up Aonach Beag. We then made our way into Glen Nevis in somewhat 'moist' conditions.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Wednesday and the forecast was excellent so we headed North from Fort William and for Glen Shiel and the Forcan Ridge.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7G5KUT2QMbPQ1aESZEwXbd1huZ5Gaf_SwcIqKUKHuX1W4f-Gdo4UJs9YBiSNY15at65A5M0Z1tXnslbY7TxavE6PT5Ao_9S8ME3Ugbhj8SpgVubjAo0_5Mkh3LZrlzpfepb3C6BDRcfg/s640/blogger-image--1217542946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7G5KUT2QMbPQ1aESZEwXbd1huZ5Gaf_SwcIqKUKHuX1W4f-Gdo4UJs9YBiSNY15at65A5M0Z1tXnslbY7TxavE6PT5Ao_9S8ME3Ugbhj8SpgVubjAo0_5Mkh3LZrlzpfepb3C6BDRcfg/s640/blogger-image--1217542946.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbV0Ye_7dYZNEnNbryOvaRS-1X3hZLYfq9wx_MG3vBS0aBd2MAc0SK62akR0N4LNMBlO6Mq1ixT6Xz6eVrZprDHdWCkLbQjPm2Kur621aNYcBaPNjUvb5gksUQQCU9DMHGDGH0OlnFnY/s640/blogger-image-81136293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemcihu0Ez09z3r9Vr9NVs33rOIgZwGvFghp0g9-Ak_k2fPld-HFUOt81wxwdjZVshnArnIGm8TYpFoSmYcmPXC64OBENIk_t71eBinfeylyhm2aov74sAQ85In2tsggJWfv9PlleHEE8/s640/blogger-image--380161362.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqIiqfs7o0Fw2r9iw_Dq54wx3E6jTik9awwtj19enQc6Nb0_V8ShNdbzopT_hX1e8_OW5WTl7F2J4RB1pTaQulvMEeeFNGdAcgMPpMSeJpKGoIIKmYnVEceRR7K-nsqCCoKymMqA-hEs/s640/blogger-image--1247253029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqIiqfs7o0Fw2r9iw_Dq54wx3E6jTik9awwtj19enQc6Nb0_V8ShNdbzopT_hX1e8_OW5WTl7F2J4RB1pTaQulvMEeeFNGdAcgMPpMSeJpKGoIIKmYnVEceRR7K-nsqCCoKymMqA-hEs/s640/blogger-image--1247253029.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQylgsros8V5odkSva2Qo6DJoHxvKG08s_YOjCBo4A6eM-iVqN_eHohmFzQeZxNMjaHv5Ox-tKUBo0v0ZtqBO2br-gkuOxgvB0f3lmi1jMZGzohFRRaBTHja3-ZtWFJB2L-l5QRZcV40/s640/blogger-image--1207956127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQylgsros8V5odkSva2Qo6DJoHxvKG08s_YOjCBo4A6eM-iVqN_eHohmFzQeZxNMjaHv5Ox-tKUBo0v0ZtqBO2br-gkuOxgvB0f3lmi1jMZGzohFRRaBTHja3-ZtWFJB2L-l5QRZcV40/s640/blogger-image--1207956127.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rI8OWWry2SzonbeSx3Y2DAN3UBjDzsVsY_a6nNmO1gG4qITBMBbQWGlekXO5_A-q_oD6Od1YWpL2q4scDbvTnoesZqBJNd3w8e6LAgOHkH5d9Xn1fTu7oGyobGzihQShet-BP7dJ2gw/s640/blogger-image--485821256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rI8OWWry2SzonbeSx3Y2DAN3UBjDzsVsY_a6nNmO1gG4qITBMBbQWGlekXO5_A-q_oD6Od1YWpL2q4scDbvTnoesZqBJNd3w8e6LAgOHkH5d9Xn1fTu7oGyobGzihQShet-BP7dJ2gw/s640/blogger-image--485821256.jpg"></a></div> I think the photos say enough - a stunning Scottish winter day!</span></div>Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-59044867638075023522016-02-19T00:39:00.000+00:002016-02-19T11:40:36.683+00:00Scottish Finale! Wednesday this week was the final day of my trip North of the Great Glen and should be the final days out with the purpose of gathering <a href="http://www.mountain-training.org/walking/skills-and-awards/winter-mountain-leader/mlw-qmds">Quality Mountain Days</a> and finally gaining the <a href="http://www.mountain-training.org/walking/skills-and-awards/winter-mountain-leader">Winter Mountain Leader award.</a><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWFIhOpClIH3aeeSXaqI2mHKCy1iUgFyHzrA0aXx3mt2wG0cGPqChQjLJ5upaldzJgPHWzLkEJYcDo24WUMzce6qj0vxCaLqH231EGXg4cN2C6DqpEMYsPcdjThY4L8Dr2BVOKZkqGLQ/s640/blogger-image-629583585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWFIhOpClIH3aeeSXaqI2mHKCy1iUgFyHzrA0aXx3mt2wG0cGPqChQjLJ5upaldzJgPHWzLkEJYcDo24WUMzce6qj0vxCaLqH231EGXg4cN2C6DqpEMYsPcdjThY4L8Dr2BVOKZkqGLQ/s640/blogger-image-629583585.jpg"></a></div>
After a night of howling winds and some of my clothes still slightly damp from Tuesday's battle up Fionn Bhienn I set out for a day up and around Moruisg, this would give me a Munro and enable me to hide from some of the winds that were forecast.</div>
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I left the car park at Craig and followed the track through the forest in falling snow right down to valley floor.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow down to Glen floor<br></td></tr>
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Walking with a bit of a stride on as I knew I had a 8hr drive back home after the route I made good pace as I followed the track South and then East.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look closely!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8n647Gbb0uX2wx0K31AkIfwTlIQs6opX1FQD4OGF2X7zXiKEtiVkp50lcHp6gDKYk6JFcY2PRjfKTx5zHdsMX9-7hsczEUbbwfoqiRe2l4nFyKDO4pIWKTmev_B9P-9RX4rDobYR0jw/s640/blogger-image-672581247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8n647Gbb0uX2wx0K31AkIfwTlIQs6opX1FQD4OGF2X7zXiKEtiVkp50lcHp6gDKYk6JFcY2PRjfKTx5zHdsMX9-7hsczEUbbwfoqiRe2l4nFyKDO4pIWKTmev_B9P-9RX4rDobYR0jw/s640/blogger-image-672581247.jpg"></a></div>
I had chosen to make my way up the hill from the South using the shelter of the Glen as cover from the gusting wind and making use of less steep ground.</div>
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The weather was holding and looking good until I gained height when low cloud descended, snow began to fall and the wind began to gust - changeably Scottish.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnssI9BRBF2Vu-9pRz1qJsc8KZJ6SmSsgoNKP7bH3b0319i8g1QN5FbFqOGlXSc4F2-jzQqCqp6s_9pVusNb6Ldqc7rEVpPBllGGTcPj_FyN72inPr4DhK01-O-jeBUDI1HsaMa2PX2w/s640/blogger-image-1804662246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnssI9BRBF2Vu-9pRz1qJsc8KZJ6SmSsgoNKP7bH3b0319i8g1QN5FbFqOGlXSc4F2-jzQqCqp6s_9pVusNb6Ldqc7rEVpPBllGGTcPj_FyN72inPr4DhK01-O-jeBUDI1HsaMa2PX2w/s640/blogger-image-1804662246.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thats more like a Scottish view!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3x2qQIwAM0KCaBTPFdThV4M1eAsDjlo08yeXUFs__qBMAlWQSTxA0MvJ9Gc9IcNqCzLTOG4ExfTZNE1ra3-xKyf0tRu6gQLBA2hh78KoHfjQuCFPhE3yF4cOJk1s9bLrKEhxVqZHf6w/s640/blogger-image--24332567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3x2qQIwAM0KCaBTPFdThV4M1eAsDjlo08yeXUFs__qBMAlWQSTxA0MvJ9Gc9IcNqCzLTOG4ExfTZNE1ra3-xKyf0tRu6gQLBA2hh78KoHfjQuCFPhE3yF4cOJk1s9bLrKEhxVqZHf6w/s640/blogger-image--24332567.jpg"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not even close to white out, just Scottish.</td></tr>
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After navigating to the summit I decided on a route that would take me back into Coire Toll Nam Bian then allow me to drop down and make a couple of smaller stream/burn crossings rather than bigger river crossings lower down, Scottish mountain water tends to be a tad on the chilly side!</div>
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As made my way onto lower ground I had the option of joining the road and walking a couple of kilometres back to the car but I opted to go through the forest track, which turned into a bit of s big and branch thrash but still better than Tarmac.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moon & mountain.</td></tr>
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<b>Summary - </b>overall a good enjoyable day that was probably more enjoyable through the changeable weather and low vision meaning I could practice my navigation and compass skills.</div>
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The route took me approximately 8hrs which was because of the slow going at low level and through the forest.</div>
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The main draw back of the day was knowing I had a 7.5hr drive home afterwards!</div>
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Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-26356525087821496842016-02-16T08:35:00.001+00:002016-02-16T13:14:19.594+00:00400 (& 8) Miles On Fields Of Fire!.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Monday and I started what should be my last few days out solely with the purpose of gaining log book days by sleeping in!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8TU1Y39KqT3-3ueTckg4Sbe1ePY1_hqH-h5u8SsKm6wrEjflI9Pfa_3tvCNuwvAyaMnhLZ5eQmOYLV-gfOFcF5lTv1GotrTkSte0GIpn52y4Q9LN0pUGnerZWTBiKQqCSrwuGQ9qPVE/s640/blogger-image-108124143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8TU1Y39KqT3-3ueTckg4Sbe1ePY1_hqH-h5u8SsKm6wrEjflI9Pfa_3tvCNuwvAyaMnhLZ5eQmOYLV-gfOFcF5lTv1GotrTkSte0GIpn52y4Q9LN0pUGnerZWTBiKQqCSrwuGQ9qPVE/s640/blogger-image-108124143.jpg"></a></div><div> With good weather forecast for Monday I set out later than expected at 03:15am for the approximately 7hr drive North of the Gteat Glen to claim another Munro in Ben Wyvis.</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWurtdpBAhuuQ4ZOVumxJ0MZIJL0O2ndMIHqDpnIlYrI-AO-CaZQMrDyoLNflsE5yvhQGnfUII6awFTfaNUnUJMsWfcisuC9mRvAOvWHvkc18bWfEPTfRmfc_GQzGgArF3iTFAD2Eno4/s640/blogger-image--366206821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWurtdpBAhuuQ4ZOVumxJ0MZIJL0O2ndMIHqDpnIlYrI-AO-CaZQMrDyoLNflsE5yvhQGnfUII6awFTfaNUnUJMsWfcisuC9mRvAOvWHvkc18bWfEPTfRmfc_GQzGgArF3iTFAD2Eno4/s640/blogger-image--366206821.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> It turned into a bit of a nightmare journey due to being tired and the road conditions through the Cairngorms as snow had fallen over night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> However it gave me chance to blast out the old tunes to keep me awake with Scottish band 'Big Country' being the main suppliers of tunes. I did make a tenuous enquiry to George McEwan at the Mountaineering Council of Scotland if still knowing the all the words to 'Fields Of Fire' would grant me a bonus QMD but this was denied :-(</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> Arriving at the car at below Strathgarth Forest still full of coffee and Red Bull I was out of the car and and setting off up the hill like a Duracell bunny!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBK07Sj8m5GWv-WOmyQ_csN8Ugf5Uz9ODlFEkzbVFVRITrpYAxKz7wb66aeItcrejmDcRrD5beyhwnvFr3m_xefEiigp-v0brO63ssqto5ir9jBP-wTJ8jVsg7gvtdt-sGZi-pnL7aGU/s640/blogger-image--1848823057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBK07Sj8m5GWv-WOmyQ_csN8Ugf5Uz9ODlFEkzbVFVRITrpYAxKz7wb66aeItcrejmDcRrD5beyhwnvFr3m_xefEiigp-v0brO63ssqto5ir9jBP-wTJ8jVsg7gvtdt-sGZi-pnL7aGU/s640/blogger-image--1848823057.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh99LzqiZxZScZ0g4nDESjlQqx98Y5z8DikPC1lFdYbMIBD5QeF8ZC8-Wa9qj8Jz93126q92DR_gh47SIUQveHP9wL1temw7S5DFEGRVp-bsZrxY6uJ0Zd8JYWTr49e0hKnIXMZzEQcC4/s640/blogger-image--613578553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh99LzqiZxZScZ0g4nDESjlQqx98Y5z8DikPC1lFdYbMIBD5QeF8ZC8-Wa9qj8Jz93126q92DR_gh47SIUQveHP9wL1temw7S5DFEGRVp-bsZrxY6uJ0Zd8JYWTr49e0hKnIXMZzEQcC4/s640/blogger-image--613578553.jpg"></a></div> Making my way below Tom na Callich I then crossed the 'burn' and made my way up the steeply rising slope which took me to An Caber. Here I met an elderly chap who lived locally and remarked he did the route maybe 5 or six times a year! He began to point out distant summits as the lay out in the distance, including the bulk of Ben Nevis which could be just made out on the far horizon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KUzzBgjrEpCfxl_PUeyeVkayp_DjltzjDIFgrfyZOpXrGgqbcdCv_e5t3JfbL5lBxFGiI0NhTguvfB_7gdcamT6zAXS2F1tXywfoFleC4SzyFPmy8SWr9V3b-RNi5xan96xGPA1xR38/s640/blogger-image-948696948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KUzzBgjrEpCfxl_PUeyeVkayp_DjltzjDIFgrfyZOpXrGgqbcdCv_e5t3JfbL5lBxFGiI0NhTguvfB_7gdcamT6zAXS2F1tXywfoFleC4SzyFPmy8SWr9V3b-RNi5xan96xGPA1xR38/s640/blogger-image-948696948.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsbFYMKMm__qI3i-ry_Fa7Q_gS4Ql34LqSmaKslSzIYNp1tBjU0zwfK-XD5-waZHVBUH9gu2JxecGz1z3sYYxAiS-ZMMtqeZfANZMffvJMODJwVeTy9SOBcSYiUdm_auJZlzI4VQgIL0/s640/blogger-image-1756098666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsbFYMKMm__qI3i-ry_Fa7Q_gS4Ql34LqSmaKslSzIYNp1tBjU0zwfK-XD5-waZHVBUH9gu2JxecGz1z3sYYxAiS-ZMMtqeZfANZMffvJMODJwVeTy9SOBcSYiUdm_auJZlzI4VQgIL0/s640/blogger-image-1756098666.jpg"></a></div> As I approached the summit a ski tourer joined me and we chatted a while and swapped phones for a chance to have summit photos taken.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaON2pTSGHhqZnoEf-Iobsikky7zglGYBNChfTTQKFLRLTtbMR8OZeMwTv8UwdST4nmpFwQXPkB2V7u_Oq756kA83IRrEEsHwCrGHdK-HeBaYHZmI_o1uwovhGZY_gNnVRlcBEDfBrIc/s640/blogger-image-787463426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaON2pTSGHhqZnoEf-Iobsikky7zglGYBNChfTTQKFLRLTtbMR8OZeMwTv8UwdST4nmpFwQXPkB2V7u_Oq756kA83IRrEEsHwCrGHdK-HeBaYHZmI_o1uwovhGZY_gNnVRlcBEDfBrIc/s640/blogger-image-787463426.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFDcbiJ4BN8TT5aL6y8l3m4pKtBWG2JGwm5JAF1pXPEIBavTmrb6U9fZd3OtKCDTNaHzQZWY1uIuZ3W-beCi7BkrcmL4P4B8m7-0FlSoBA5KFu3ioW9AFmVuYsqXALOngyjhO-V4g4jo/s640/blogger-image--873602164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFDcbiJ4BN8TT5aL6y8l3m4pKtBWG2JGwm5JAF1pXPEIBavTmrb6U9fZd3OtKCDTNaHzQZWY1uIuZ3W-beCi7BkrcmL4P4B8m7-0FlSoBA5KFu3ioW9AFmVuYsqXALOngyjhO-V4g4jo/s640/blogger-image--873602164.jpg"></a></div> After a brief bite to eat and some water I left the summit and began the walk back to the car which would take me down the Corie due South of the summit and left me wondering why the ski tourer hadn't come the same way as the skiing would have been great!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNF9f17MFlei7UffMj3t4Z2TBqtb9h7idl95Hg3rmpWLfXUanZr9Fju9ty1aJSyDgIkZa0t5RyKlEemDCdf8xG3TH2fx7gcZ3tl6DwGicJKAsWPT32tR64JLWhIMigU81QZJ_D8-q6ZRs/s640/blogger-image-1066488781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNF9f17MFlei7UffMj3t4Z2TBqtb9h7idl95Hg3rmpWLfXUanZr9Fju9ty1aJSyDgIkZa0t5RyKlEemDCdf8xG3TH2fx7gcZ3tl6DwGicJKAsWPT32tR64JLWhIMigU81QZJ_D8-q6ZRs/s640/blogger-image-1066488781.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLRxptEQCram5zVk43wduczIzeEtpUEaxJInn0Dumugrdq3d8kfb9n9GeLcloIqh7efSf93OlFqp7kUrLf_pvoLFZhlXWWkvigtVQ1blIcCDAi6Uxtxh9yT6RfqHRjAIhOiTcM_hh6bk/s640/blogger-image-1563004274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLRxptEQCram5zVk43wduczIzeEtpUEaxJInn0Dumugrdq3d8kfb9n9GeLcloIqh7efSf93OlFqp7kUrLf_pvoLFZhlXWWkvigtVQ1blIcCDAi6Uxtxh9yT6RfqHRjAIhOiTcM_hh6bk/s640/blogger-image-1563004274.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3C_CtD7Pb6PbeEseDthXptodYVgJUNL4QEW-Ic_TNAWTDCNoFPzPIExiYI5MJqkvWLwAZPD-y2NlS6DQJy67epW0k2lyxunnTm-2UwB9m6llUTqLz8kHXkclteduqd8xCM8y2IE9xTU/s640/blogger-image-172921569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3C_CtD7Pb6PbeEseDthXptodYVgJUNL4QEW-Ic_TNAWTDCNoFPzPIExiYI5MJqkvWLwAZPD-y2NlS6DQJy67epW0k2lyxunnTm-2UwB9m6llUTqLz8kHXkclteduqd8xCM8y2IE9xTU/s640/blogger-image-172921569.jpg"></a></div> As I reached the Corie floor and crossed the burn again I thought it may have been a mistake not to park in the car park higher up and nearer the hill but it was too late now and I continued over Little Wyvis before dropping down to the car park and then on to find somewhere to sleep for the night!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSIo_3VCCYYpRUZiqEP_w99QbxCajH-U5qaloVTOlOzrfpXrHbyGz9e-ohuMNOYQgYyb2D7_ujAfQB3lug_H8xAaf-Y1DeyUDdYzVHfBGfh1uqY5RLhvaf0LRZffhIelQ6tl0gtWz3Dc/s640/blogger-image--1398788303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSIo_3VCCYYpRUZiqEP_w99QbxCajH-U5qaloVTOlOzrfpXrHbyGz9e-ohuMNOYQgYyb2D7_ujAfQB3lug_H8xAaf-Y1DeyUDdYzVHfBGfh1uqY5RLhvaf0LRZffhIelQ6tl0gtWz3Dc/s640/blogger-image--1398788303.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiem5fddDX__pKvqbFMaVNLJkY5pGkMAjI9LR7zSPU7bwr12MwOuZJPrPjUKHB8m-9PT8gExaSJqtFJSi6i7RqNzBEVLyd1edikb5WYwoRXaPGZqQ138uouGQvDE07nssCT8HsHsrTOgNc/s640/blogger-image-192478322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiem5fddDX__pKvqbFMaVNLJkY5pGkMAjI9LR7zSPU7bwr12MwOuZJPrPjUKHB8m-9PT8gExaSJqtFJSi6i7RqNzBEVLyd1edikb5WYwoRXaPGZqQ138uouGQvDE07nssCT8HsHsrTOgNc/s640/blogger-image-192478322.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eGq20hNozd9RjrZFd2krWy1VbCx0Yx0WO9fbHXhSMMVin7tvOwEDwopy-1UfKehW-rIuRwj3Omzh81FYERyAftpjtBopUS6xnAdN9cVlUArcverobeq9j_XXoKRBH-Z_hbibD023grc/s640/blogger-image-1860226293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eGq20hNozd9RjrZFd2krWy1VbCx0Yx0WO9fbHXhSMMVin7tvOwEDwopy-1UfKehW-rIuRwj3Omzh81FYERyAftpjtBopUS6xnAdN9cVlUArcverobeq9j_XXoKRBH-Z_hbibD023grc/s640/blogger-image-1860226293.jpg"></a></div> <b>Summary - </b>all in all a stunning Scottish winter day, more of a challenge through lack of sleep and fatigue than anything else but another Munro in the bag and more importantly a QMD!</div><br></div><br></div>Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-36879764617314008652016-02-11T21:17:00.001+00:002016-02-12T00:21:54.242+00:00Saving The Legs.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Wednesday saw me travel from the Cairngorms over to the West Highlands and to the hills alongside Loch Lochy.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking Back Along Cam Bealach</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> I chose these hills as they I hadn't been in this area before and would be new ground and practise of some Winter Mountain Leader skills, more importantly I could put them in my log book towards finally getting the award signed off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> I set out along the forest track and was soon heading up Cam Bealach and into the snow line.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> I chose to walk up to the summit of Meall Dubh (837m) which may, as it turned out, have been a little over ambitious. Ascending fairly steeply and in knee deep snow at times my legs were soon calling for a break. I think the recent routine of driving up overnight before doing a route then sleeping somewhere before a route the next day then driving home is taking its toll and I am basically tired from the hundreds of miles I'm driving and from missing nights sleeping.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Not far to go now though.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quite Steep Walking up Meall Dubh!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> As I descended and looked at Meall ma Teagna I decided I didn't have the hunger for it that day, I still had Sron a Choire Ghairbh and the long walk off to do followed by the 7hr drive home! I have also started some climbing coaching sessions to get ready for the summer which didn't want to spoil by being burnt out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> I instead opted to to head up Sron a Choire Ghairbh and start in a homeward direction, I wasn't even half way but to know I was going in the direction towards the finish was a big moral boost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> After reaching the summit I turned and handrails the corniced edge towards the ridge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> The ridge was easing and not really a challenge as it was fairly wide though there was heavy cornicing to be aware of.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View through the Great Glen and onto Loch Ness</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch Lochy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> The circular route took me just under 7hours, which was just less than it took me to drive home and narrowly avoid being taken out by a HGV in Glencoe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> A good day all in all, had some navigation to do as the weather closed in occasionally and ticked a few boxes for me.</span></div>
Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-16981963133848504582016-02-09T17:59:00.001+00:002016-02-11T03:15:37.478+00:00Wrong Side 'O Hills!<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">After a busy weekend at work and an indoor climbing session to fit in Monday I set off aiming to bag the Loch Lochy Munro's, it wasn't to be!</span></div>
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Setting off from home late evening I planned to make the 6.5hoir journey to Loch Lochy and have a few hours sleep before setting off out on the hills.</div>
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Unfortunately the Highways Agency had other plans with a detour that added an hour to the trip, with this in mind and growing tired at the wheel I decided to stay East and head up the A9 to pick a few Munro's off on the West side of the <i>'Pass Of Drumochter'.</i></div>
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<i> </i>After managing a couple of hours sleep in a lay by I drove to 'Dalnaspidal Lodge' where I would leave my car for the day.</div>
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Setting off in fine sunny weather it made a world of difference from last weeks slog in storm force winds!</div>
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Soon moving into the snow line I actually wished I'd brought my snowshoes which would have reduced the amount of times I 'post holed' through the snow and made the going easier.</div>
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As I gained height the views disappeared in low cloud meaning I had to have the compass out and do some navigation at times! All good practice.</div>
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Munro summits the circular route covered were 'Sgairneach Mhor' 991m, 'Beinn Udlamain' 1011m and 'A' Mharconaich' 975m.</div>
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After completing the final summit I dropped down into Coure Dhomhain and completed the circuit in around 6.5hrs.</div>
Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-51122880972688935302016-02-06T15:56:00.000+00:002016-02-11T03:18:07.033+00:00Into The Eye Of The Storm (nearly) For QMD's.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Tuesday and Wednesday of this past week I managed to tactically work </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">in a trip to Scotland to claim two more valuable Quality Mountain Days.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqBr0t4ycV7V5yG8gXWVm-emYnyhNKBY1fnTTpRLv_uFG2SaMGJS-YcSaH7fvvyp8jV9Ia4AUJxfpIl8zvtGx677IRkOIPOd-H36MU5_Tmdw23lpmj0nKctKspbrG6XIBL_W3w1WVcZc/s640/blogger-image-736531123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqBr0t4ycV7V5yG8gXWVm-emYnyhNKBY1fnTTpRLv_uFG2SaMGJS-YcSaH7fvvyp8jV9Ia4AUJxfpIl8zvtGx677IRkOIPOd-H36MU5_Tmdw23lpmj0nKctKspbrG6XIBL_W3w1WVcZc/s640/blogger-image-736531123.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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With Storm 'Henry' causing chaos and my regular working hours being during the night I spent a couple of days keeping up with weather reports and looking at possible routes all over Scotland before deciding to head to Bridge Of Orchy in the Highlands for a 2 day route that would take me across two <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munro">Munro's</a>, spend a night in a mountain <a href="http://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/whatisabothy.asp">bothy</a> and put my feet into more snow covered <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burn_(landform)">burns</a> than I care to recall!<br />
The 'QMD's' or <a href="http://www.mountain-training.org/walking/skills-and-awards/winter-mountain-leader/mlw-qmds">'Quality Mountain Days'</a> I refer to are days spent on the mountain that fulfil a list of certain conditions to be included as experience days towards earning the <a href="http://www.mountain-training.org/walking/skills-and-awards/winter-mountain-leader">'Winter Mountain Leader Award'</a> which I have been working towards.</div>
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Leaving Bridge Of Orchy at 10am would see me walking in the back end of the storm and involve a couple of hours night navigation (all good practice) to find the bothy. With winds forecast to be 60mph+ with gusts up to 80mph I thought the late start would be beneficial by spending less time battling the weather at the cost of losing daylight, it did have me thinking how much I do support the reintroduction of Wolves to Scotland however!</div>
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The route took me up and over into Coire a' Ghabhalach which was a struggle to reach as the wind blew me all over through the col.</div>
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Descending slightly to take easier ground lower than occasional Avalanche debris I made steady progress until I turned North and contoured around the hill so as to not lose too much height.</div>
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My target was the summit of <a href="http://www.climbthemunros.co.uk/beinn_mhanach.php">Beinn Mhanach</a> and I chose to head for the saddle below the summit from a North Westerly direction. This enabled me to make steadily gain height, though saw me at the mercy of the wind which had me down on my knees to save me being blown over as I saw a cloud of wind driven snow approaching. This wasn't the nice, pretty patterned snow flakes being blown along on the breeze but snow that had been battered by the wind and formed into hard icy pellets that hit me as though fired from an air gun, very exfoliating on exposed skin and very painful.<br />
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As I increased in height the surface became increasily icy under foot so it was on with the crampons, remembered them for once!</div>
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Having made the summit I was rewarded by taking some satisfaction that my timing and interpretation of the weather forecasts had been fairly accurate as the weather cleared and I had occasional views of Loch Lyon beyond.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch Lyon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch Lyon just minutes later in the constantly changing conditions </td></tr>
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From the summit it was quite a pleasant walk down slightly sheltered from the wind as the light began to fade and the night navigation to the bothy began, it wasn't too a difficult navigation as there wasn't anything to fall off just the regular 'burns' to fall in and peat bog to negotiate!<br />
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On reaching <a href="http://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/bothy-details.asp?bothy_id=44">Gorton Bothy</a> I quickly unpacked and took off my wet water proofs before getting a fire going and a boil in the bag meal on the stove.</div>
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I think next time it may not be worth carrying the fire wood in as most of the heat just went up the chimney though it was a morale booster having the flames going, may just take a picture of a fire to save carrying the weight!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Priorities - Wood chopped and fire going!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overdue refreshment and a 'selfie'.</td></tr>
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After an interrupted nights sleep due to the cold I was up before sunrise to put on another boil in the bag meal before setting off on the route I had chosen back to Bridge Of Orchy.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning Red Deer surprised to see me.</td></tr>
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Wednesday's route would take m up to the summit of <a href="http://www.climbthemunros.co.uk/beinn_a_chreachain.php">Beinn a Chreachain</a>, a Munro of 1081m.</div>
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Overnight snow had covered the landscape down to the glen floor and as far as the eye could see which was nice, walking in the soft drifts that had accumulated as I gained height was anything but nice. Areas of knee deep drifts that required wading through soon saw my energy levels drop along with my enthusiasm for the day ahead.</div>
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Reaching the summit was to be the highlight of the day, as I descended the walk became a wade through the fresh snow with a small drop into a buried burn every so often entailing a moment of panic to get my out before my boots filled up with icy Scottish water.<br />
To be quite honest this was probably one of the lowest days I've experienced whilst on the mountains and as I grew increasingly tired due to the conditions I questioned myself as to wether I would have been committed enough to continue on the Winter mountain leader training scheme if I had many days like this at the start of the process. I have spent days in worse weather conditions and on routes demanding more attention to navigation and use of skills but this was an energy sapping, morale draining slog of a day. Deep thoughts that were definitely influenced by a massive calorie deficit through what eventually was approximately 20 hours of walking in full on Scottish winter conditions with an overnight in a cold bothy as the only respite. Deep as these thoughts momentarily were my heart soon overruled my tired brain and they became irrelevant as I have already completed the Winter ML 'hard skills' assessment week and just need to complete a few more winter mountain days to have the award ticked off (having being deferred for lack of QMD's!). Also, as is usually the case, as soon as I was out of the weather and I had a good meal inside me the slog of the day was not so much forgotten about but smiled at in a "I just did that" way. I think a touch of masochism helps for Scottish winter days!<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">Summary</u> - I was hugely disappointed to have been deferred on Winter ML assessment on log book days last year, I was even more disappointed to be deferred a second time after completing a further 12 days and told only 3 had counted! I firmly believe that I have a case for having more of the required days than having been credited towards the award, and that may be something I may look into later. Having passed all the hard skills during assessment I could easily sit at home and read weather conditions and basically 'fudge' my log book to gain the award as I don't have to be reassessed or have anyone out on the hill checking my latest log book days.<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">However!</span> - Being passed on assessment pending these additional log book days has given me a confidence in my skill level and in the knowledge I have absorbed throughout my training which I didn't have before, or during assessment.<br />
Would I have attempted this trip before assessment? Would I have been happy to go with the added stress of being solo so nobody but myself to make decisions and to discuss with? I may have looked at the conditions and not had the belief that my judgement was correct, basically it could 'get a bit spicy' if something went 'a bit wrong' on a solo, two day Scottish winter trip in a remote location, no dog walkers passing by around these parts!<br />
Pi*sed off to have been deferred on assessment - yes.<br />
Happy because I'm now confident in my own knowledge and skills to be able to consider conditions, find a route, make a judgement of risk and decide 'yes, I can work within my limits and still enjoy a trip out when some may put off'.<br />
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All that considered and much more importantly - 'I love this sh*t' as my mate Smally would say, pity he wasn't there to break trail!<br />
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Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-3029669434362365182016-01-27T21:10:00.000+00:002016-02-07T05:15:49.575+00:00What a Difference A Week Can Make! The weekend before last was saw me squeezing the schedule so I could get some more winter miles before the thaw.<br />
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Leaving work at 1am in Leeds I packed my kit and set off on the 2.5 hour drive to the Ogwen Valley in Snowdonia.</div>
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After around 2hrs sleep in the car I was awoken by my mate Alan tapping on the window. Alan and I had met on a trip to the High Atlas in Morocco during 2014. Alan would be joining Rob Johnson in Scotland in a few weeks and wanted to sample a lo grade winter climb as a idea as to what he was in for.</div>
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We made our way through ever deeper snow to the foot of the chimney that would take us up to Bristly Ridge and on to the summit of Glyder Fach. It was at the foot of the route I found I'd left my crampons in the car, again!! I blame it on the sleep depravation. I should make it clear that if the temperature had been lower and the snow firmer I wouldn't have carried on but I felt confident I could make the climb of the chimney in my boots and then the 'mushy' snow would be passable with a little extra care.</div>
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After negotiating the chimney we found ourselves in deep snow before getting on to the ridge proper where it was obvious there had been a number of people crossing the ridge over the weekend.</div>
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We then made our way past the 'Cantilever Stone' before finding our way through the murk towards the Gribben Ridge which we would descend.</div>
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A good accessible route for a winter day though I would recommend crampons!</div>
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Well done to Alan for what was his first winter mountaineering route and maybe just a little insight into what he can look forward to in Scotland.</div>
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<b><u>Monday</u></b> morning I met up with my mate and occasional climbing partner Rob Gurr of <a href="http://www.summitadventures.co.uk/">Summit Adventures</a>. Rob is also on the Winter Mountain Leader Scheme so was eager to get out and get a few miles under his belt.</div>
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We decided we would head up to the summit of Snowdon via Crib Goch. Crib Goch is arguably the most famous ridge in the British mountains, possibly due to its accessibility from Pen y Pass car park.</div>
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We made our way up to the ascent into the ridge where we put on crampons (remembered them for a change!) as the snow became firmer as the temperature dropped.</div>
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Visibility was low as we crossed the ridge and made our way up to the summit of Snowdon.<br />
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At Snowdon summit we decided to continue on and completed the 'Snowdon Horseshoe' rather than walk back down by the Miners or Pyg track.<br />
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Covering the summits of Crib Goch, Crib y Ddysgl, Snowdon and Llywedd Bach the route is just under 12km long with just under 1000m of ascent and it took us a respectable 6.5hrs I. Winter conditions.</div>
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A good day and especially good to catch up with Rob to spend the day setting the world to rights.....</div>
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What a difference a week can make as the thaw set in and saw heavy rain clear most of the snow 😕</div>
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These pictures show the entrance to the summit cafe on Snowdon, around 6ft of snow cleared within a week due to a warm front and heavy rain.<br />
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Also after finding that I was definitely getting winter stronger and fitter I managed injure my back doing absolutely nothing adventurous, not the best week!!</div>
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Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-19739854103080417262016-01-13T15:24:00.002+00:002016-01-13T15:24:58.813+00:00Big Bad Bob's Brecon Beacons Birthday Boot Bashing.<br />
Earlier this week it was my good friend Bob's birthday which gave us an excuse to meet up for a couple of days in the <a href="http://www.breconbeacons.org/">Brecon Beacons</a>.<br />
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I met Bob just over a year ago on a trip to the High Atlas of Morocco and was also lucky enough to meet up with him again last October to share a memorable trip to Patagonia.</div>
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'Lord Bob of Putney', to give him his proper title, originally hails from the dark satanic smog filled streets of Salford (on t'wrong side o'ills) but moved to London some years ago to be close to his beloved Arsenal Football Club. Bob gained the title Lord for his heroics in the Napoleonic wars, helping to defeat the diminutive power mad Frenchie at Waterloo. For Bob's role in this famous victory he was given vast swathes of London where he built a family home on stilts so he could watch the Zebra, gazelle and wilder beast graze majestically on his lawns when he was not 'down the Arsenal'.</div>
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Being a life long 'Gunner' Bob was the obvious choice to take command of the big guns during the North Africa campaign of the Second World War where his input was decisive and helped Field Marshal Montgomery turn the tide of the war. Being a modest man and already having a 'Lordship' Bob shunned the lime light and let 'Monty' take the credit for getting 'zee krauts on zee hop', though his famous catch phrase does live on in the memory of many North Africans where the mention of his name will have waitresses scampering down to the medina in Marrakech will the call of 'nuts please, some nuts for the table!'.</div>
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(Lord) Bob is also credited as being the inventor of the pencil with an eraser at one end incorporated in the design for which countless children were admitted to hospital to have the rubber removed from their ear. He was the inspiration for The Beatles 'Sergeant Pepper' album after describing the vivid dreams he experienced when guiding countless teams to summit Everest (i've seen the ice axe he used!) to an overawed Elvis Presley and, it turns out, John Lennon who was 'ear wigging' whilst waiting in line to get an autograph from (Lord) Bob. Recent years have seen (Lord) Bob select his projects carefully so he can spend more time with his beloved Arsenal where he is head coach.</div>
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Meeting (Lord) Bob in Brecon on the Sunday evening we looked at maps and weather reports before hatching a plan to walk up the famous Pen Y Fan before heading East to take in Cribyn, and Fan y Big before dropping down to pick the vehicle up in the village of Pencilli.</div>
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Setting off after our kit 'faff' we made our way South along 'Cefn Cwm Llwch and were soon making our way to the summit of Pen y Fan, meeting the snow line and bitingly chilly winds at around 700m.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Face Of Pen Y Fan with steep drops covered in snow, nice!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Lord) Bob makes for the summit.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltptfZGYA1SEpdZaQfXLEltNKGqHx4d7Pe0AydN2qnwzzPJvHImLIrPGZkD9QYCplzAnSWOUENcnKmTP3fUjFVgOW70DGjPZJZrkt67E3KieZkp588shl2TFFw4GRpj7WPvc0uDk1-_8/s1600/IMG_8578.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltptfZGYA1SEpdZaQfXLEltNKGqHx4d7Pe0AydN2qnwzzPJvHImLIrPGZkD9QYCplzAnSWOUENcnKmTP3fUjFVgOW70DGjPZJZrkt67E3KieZkp588shl2TFFw4GRpj7WPvc0uDk1-_8/s400/IMG_8578.JPG" width="400" /></a><img height="16" id="p9i3gfuzaduz" src="data:image/gif;base64,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" width="16" /><br />
Myself and (Lord) on Pen Y Fan<br />
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After the compulsory summit 'selfie' (Lord) Bob kindly checked my bearing and we set off through the low cloud to descend then rise steeply up to 'Gribbin' then onto 'Fan y Big' meeting a school group on the way. We didn't get the opportunity to go on mountain trips whilst at school, I suppose it would have been a long way in the horse drawn carriages....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qxsmSKrs5He8LXqJh00iKImH5fOt8e-CoET4q_GptS45hDH0LWgd6pYv7nCxM8_ObOmBCHrExP-CchSX2wviGUyrHO0tpmmog5A-wTVYYGrmsxu0tVH8Zf6NDviNEmtHFq8iKXxR2Io/s1600/IMG_8585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qxsmSKrs5He8LXqJh00iKImH5fOt8e-CoET4q_GptS45hDH0LWgd6pYv7nCxM8_ObOmBCHrExP-CchSX2wviGUyrHO0tpmmog5A-wTVYYGrmsxu0tVH8Zf6NDviNEmtHFq8iKXxR2Io/s320/IMG_8585.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's not camera shy isn't (Lord) Bob!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihn6PbpBPfFTkcM830f2fTqaU6k3HLFWsXfMLJ-zu-rIzuKemvG_9dPl2IJAH55_ws6-4IghHej8lxg1cf034oCSshXB4Cd6NM1oewux7XzHNmn5egpWLABbJS5ZCLiVpgGET9-FKLCbs/s1600/IMG_8583.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihn6PbpBPfFTkcM830f2fTqaU6k3HLFWsXfMLJ-zu-rIzuKemvG_9dPl2IJAH55_ws6-4IghHej8lxg1cf034oCSshXB4Cd6NM1oewux7XzHNmn5egpWLABbJS5ZCLiVpgGET9-FKLCbs/s320/IMG_8583.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No complaints as to the weather.</td></tr>
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From Fan y Big we hand railed along the path following the rim of 'Craig Cwareli' before descending 'Gist Wen' and into muddy farmland before reaching Pencelli.<br />
Overall we completed the slightly over 16km route in just under six hours, including snack stops and photograph opportunities. Neither of us had been to the Brecon Beacons before and we both stated how much we had enjoyed the route and the landscape, (Lord) Bob also stating the area would fit rather well into his property portfolio!<br />
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday</u> - and unfortunately I awoke to find my constitution in a somewhat delicate state. With this in mind I studied the weather forecasts and put forward the idea it would be a bit of a struggle attempting anything more than a low level stroll. We were to meet up with our friend and local lad Dan Bryan so decided to make use of his local knowledge. </div>
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I had also met Dan on the same Morocco trip where I had met (Lord) Bob. He is a qualified <a href="http://www.mountain-training.org/walking/skills-and-awards/mountain-leader">Mountain Leader</a> and is also a member of the local <a href="http://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/">Mountain Rescue team</a>, we had met up many times during the summer as I am teaching him to climb.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team orange 'Tango'</td></tr>
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With the rain unrelenting, strong winds and a forecasted -15C wind chill on the tops Dan suggested a low level walk to the <a href="http://www.breconbeacons.org/waterfall-country-walking-trails">Sgwd-yr-Eira (the Snow Waterfalls)</a>, I happily agreed.<br />
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Leaving Penderyn, fully waterproofed against the constant rain, Dan led us along the sodden track until we reached the descent towards the waterfall. I have to admit, even as a native of Yorkshire (God's own country), this was an impressive waterfall and on top of that it was possible to walk behind the falling water.</div>
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Suitably impressed, and with waterproofs tested to the maximum, we retuned walking back behind the waterfall and retraced out tracks to Penderyn.</div>
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">Summary</u> - it was good to meet up with (Lord) Bob again and for us both to enjoy our first visit to the Brecon Beacons, the National Park may not have the height and ruggedness of some of the other National Parks but is a very interesting and beautiful landscape which is easily accessible to many people.</div>
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Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-51837476428259190552016-01-09T18:15:00.000+00:002016-01-09T18:15:47.114+00:00It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Winter!Earlier in the week I was fortunate enough to be climbing as a 'mock client' in the Cairngorms just as winter seems to have eventually arrived!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQFRl2QuT-5TyCtNTduEAlVxJfzw2MSVvb6PbU1e93tRjdtJADAmBhuW1U7_Mf3iZ7rh0DHbzeYqhd8czMVckgZh87el4mrpVWo_eMQD6QDRCcP5pwBC48P3VrKbc-kFZy38iIttZL9c/s1600/IMG_8549.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQFRl2QuT-5TyCtNTduEAlVxJfzw2MSVvb6PbU1e93tRjdtJADAmBhuW1U7_Mf3iZ7rh0DHbzeYqhd8czMVckgZh87el4mrpVWo_eMQD6QDRCcP5pwBC48P3VrKbc-kFZy38iIttZL9c/s640/IMG_8549.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
I joined <a href="https://crookclimbing.wordpress.com/">John Crook</a> who is currently an aspirant <a href="http://www.bmg.org.uk/">British Mountain Guide</a> preparing to take the winter climbing assessment section of the extensive training and assessment process and is therefore keen to get out and prepare as fully as possible with a range of ability 'mock clients', even those with less ability like me!<br />
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Sunday evening had seen a drop in temperature and snow fall which was perfect for us, though the 40-50mph winds were less perfect. Monday morning we walked into <a href="http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/cairngorms/coire-an-t-sneachda.shtml">Coire an t-Sneachda</a> in the Cairngorms which is a mecca for winter climbing due to its towering Northerly facing crags and relatively short walk in.<br />
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John had selected a climb from the Fiacaill Couloir up onto the Fiacaill Ridge, <a href="http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/c.php?i=2367">Invernookie</a> climbs 120m and is graded at Scottish III 4** to start our few days and to judge if I had any ability at all!<br />
Despite 'blowing out of my arse' (Yorkshire term for breathing heavily due to exercise) as John led us up to the base of the climb I was keen to get on and get winter started.<br />
It's <span style="font-family: 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">fair to say John was climbing well within his undoubted ability and it was a case of me belaying for a short while before following his route up the crag removing gear placements, and this how the few days would be. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John at top of the route</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter views</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John at the belay stance.</td></tr>
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Its fair to say it was a touch on the chilly side and we had spin drift for company on most of the climb too, before topping out on the ridge where we had gale force winds too - Scottish winter!<br />
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Tuesday John chose <a href="http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/c.php?i=2361">Fingers Ridge</a> for our climb which at Scottish Grade IV 4*** was a grade harder than the previous days Invernookie.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving winter!</td></tr>
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Its was good climbing with a few technical moves that I actually thought about though the 'beached walrus' technique that i used to get over the final wall drew some ridicule from , obviously I hadn't been there when he went up the route so who's to say he hadn't done the same.....? ;-)<br />
Topping out we then made our way to the 'Goat Track' and descended in to the coire.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another group looking tiny in the Coire an t-Sneachda<br />
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Wednesday and we were joined by Josh for the first day of his week of winter climbing, with Josh having plenty of previous Alpine and climbing experience I would have to hide my tears whilst stood at the belay!<br />
John had decided progression was the way to go and so chose a route which was technically more difficult than the either of the previous climbs but would hopefully be within my limits where he wouldn't have to start rigging hoists to haul me up the crag!<br />
The climb for the day would be <a href="http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/c.php?i=2341">The Message</a> which has is graded at Scottish IV 6***,the 6 for how technical the climb was had me a little worried.<br />
Again John would lead making gear placements trailing two ropes so Josh and myself could climb in parallel. I made an error right at the start of the climbing by not pulling the hood of my waterproof up properly and this filled with snow and spindrift, failing to remove all the snow before managing to get my hood up over my helmet it soon melted and ran down my collar with gravity helping it find an exit route out of my waterproofs from the crutch area = cold!<br />
It was soon obvious to me that this climb was a step or two (or three!) more technical than anything I had climbed before and really had to fight to get up in a couple of places. Given that the more I climb, learn about climbing and watch good climbers I see elegant, seemingly effortless movement and precise body positioning I would have impressed no one with my scratching around for ice axe placements, sparking crampons and blowing like an old steam train. Fortunately visibility was terrible and the wind drown my heavy breathing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A progression John assured me....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiBgzK8ziN4_epqWB-wUu_XZ8YOlwT6nBPAUA89mQlV6oEFalATHMPEYR3Db4ywekNZ5T7QBrzb8_sP2zfW3oBiIKs5nVuGDDkniYQnm7IABiPSdPVnskS7bTEGaK7FuoMxpdTKXxbjI/s1600/IMG_8552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiBgzK8ziN4_epqWB-wUu_XZ8YOlwT6nBPAUA89mQlV6oEFalATHMPEYR3Db4ywekNZ5T7QBrzb8_sP2zfW3oBiIKs5nVuGDDkniYQnm7IABiPSdPVnskS7bTEGaK7FuoMxpdTKXxbjI/s320/IMG_8552.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josh climbs through the spin drift<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John getting battered by the wind at the final belay</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frozen eyebrows!</td></tr>
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Topping out into skin numbingly cold winds and little visibility we quickly packed up the ropes and John navigated us back to the ski centre.<br />
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<u>Summary</u> - It's almost impossible to explain what makes winter so special for people that enjoy the mountains to anyone other than people that enjoy the mountains in winter. As somebody who loves the winter I would have been happy just to get out, add winter climbing and a bit of progression to the equation and it was a top quality few days for me. A couple of bouts of 'hot aches', putting a crampon hole through my salopettes and the occasional comment regarding my 'beached walrus' technique couldn't put a dent in my enjoyment.<br />
I have of course to thank John for taking me out, I hope I was a worthwhile 'mock client' and he should give himself a pat on the back for leading me on routes more technical than I had done before. I always felt confident that I was in safe hands and his judgement and selection of routes was correct for the conditions and my ability.Charlie Leedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13023775775608525316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76134579376794626.post-39890433077769291502015-01-04T19:41:00.001+00:002015-01-08T20:45:55.215+00:00Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time Scotland Style!<div>
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For the second year running I spent Christmas in Scotland and out on the Scottish mountains, unlike last year Santa brought myself, Simon, Cat & Rich some excellent winter weather!<br>
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Tuesday - After a 'bit of an epic' getting to Scotland due to the M74 being closed we met up at the Fort William Back Packers Hostel where we would be based during our stay. Tuesday morning we travelled over to the Cairngorms where I had arranged to meet Mick of <a href="http://www.mickhunter.com/">mickhunter.com</a> who is a qualified <a href="https://www.thebmc.co.uk/winter-mountain-leader-award-everything-you-need-to-know">Winter Mountain Leader</a> and had generously offered to spend some of his time helping me prepare for the WML assessment, it was also a good opportunity for Simon, Cat & Rich to refresh their skills too.</div>
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We headed into Coire an t-sneachda we spent time looking at movement in snow, cutting steps, movement on crampons whilst Mick also gave me advice on coaching techniques. All the time I can spend preparing for the Winter Mountain Leader assessment is extremely valuable and I appreciate Mick giving his time to assist me, good man!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fitting Crampons to boots</td></tr>
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Wednesday - Christmas Eve and with strong winds forecast we looked for a route which would offer us some shelter for most of the day. We opted to head into Glen Nevis and take a route up to Stob Ban which is in the Mamores range as the surrounding peaks would keep the worst of the wind out of our faces until we reached the final stages of the ascent.</div>
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Rain fell steadily at lower levels until we reached the snow line at around 600m where signs of the strong winds above also became apparent in the form of wind transporting loose snow around. The last section of the ascent to Stob Ban from this direction rises fairly steeply on a short ridge line so we stopped to put on helmets and crampons and to carry our ice axes, it was at this point that skies suddenly became obviously darker and a flash of lightening crossed the sky. Being on the hills during a lightening storm can obviously be problematic and to add to that we were carrying metal axes and wearing metal crampons on our feet so we made a somewhat hasty retreat and descended quickly! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich, Simon & Cat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We used the day to introduce Rich to some navigation skills.</td></tr>
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Thursday - Christmas Day and after exchanging mountain themed presents at breakfast and with an excellent weather forecast we made plans to head up Ben Nevis, unfortunately the avalanche forecast wasn't as favourable as the weather so we would be avoiding the bully's on the 'back' of the Ben and using the 'Pony Track' for our ascent. </div>
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As the track passes Lochan Meall an t-Suihe we climbed into a patch of low cloud and for a short while there were thoughts that we may not get summit views but these were allayed as we climbed the 'zig zags'and through the cloud to be greeted with stunning views of the surrounding peaks.</div>
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Friday - My final day on the Scottish mountains for this trip and with another favourable weather forcasts plus an avalanche forcast predicting stable conditions myself and Rich set off on the route of the 'Ring Of Steall' in the Mamores. The route begins and ends in Glen Nevis with a river crossing over a wire bridge which is a good way to check you are switched on for the day ahead! </div>
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At around 16km with 1676m of ascent and traversing four <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munro">Munros</a> along narrow and rocky ridges this would be an extended day, especially under winter conditions. Climbing out of the Glen to get on the ridge is an effort in its self due to the steep gradient of the terrain though the views that greeted us distracted from the suffering a little. Crossing snow line at around 600m we continued on until the ground started to rise steeply as we started the ascent of Sgurr a' Mhaim, at this point we stopped to fit crampons and take out our ice axes to assist over the terrain. The ridges of the route were corniced so care had to be taken with foot placement and there were sections of scrambling as we followed the route in an anti clockwise direction over the Devils Ridge, Am Bodach, Stob Coire a' Chairn and An Gearanach. Darkness fell at around 16:15hrs which meant us ascending the last Munro of An Gearanach using our head torches to light the way, before descending back down into Glen Nevis to make our way back to cross the wire bridge in the opposite direction and head out of Glen Nevis and for a much welcome meal!</div>
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The route took us approximately 11hrs of which 3 were spent in the dark. Rich declared that he had been out of his comfort zone since we had left the car that morning but concidering he had little experience of using crampons or ice axe on this sort of terrain, ridge walking, scrambling, the extra elements of extended winter routes or being out on the hills in the darkness he did excellently. His movement over the terrain and his confidence grew over the day as he pushed beyond the boundaries of his previous experience which great to see, though it meant I had carried the unused rope in my rucksack all day!!</div>
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