Ending on a high...

I finished my last full 3 peaks of the season last weekend on a spectacularly dry and sunny high as we were rewarded with clear skies and nice weather on all 3 peaks! It was a very rare and pleasant experience not needing to wear the waterproofs at all during the 14 or so hours on the mountains. The group did really well and despite some delays in getting to Snowdon, most of the group managed to complete within the technical 24 hours.

Looking down to Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil 

The top of Tower Ridge shrouded in mist

Top of the Ben about 1930hrs, blue skies and sun!

Top of Scafell Pike 0700hrs

Looking down towards Eskdale

Top of Snowdon looking down on Pyg and Miner's Track

Great views to finish the 3 peaks Challenge

 Tuesday I headed to Glenfinnan with Kev and Johann to have a look at some new routes. Despite a reasonable forecast, the showers kept sweeping in from the West and a tactical retreat was called for.

Kev and Johann trying to look happy despite the weather

A drizzly Glenfinnan

Headed up the Buachaille with Malcolm on Wednesday and had a great time on Satan's Slit (VS 4c) on Rannoch Wall.

Malcolm finishing Satan's Slit

The Buachaille in evening light

 Thursday was set to be the nicest day of the week so the plan was to head up to the Caldera Slabs with Kev and Dave. Low cloud down to about 300m in the morning delayed things but we headed up later in the day to a nice breeze and some sun. I was happy to have shot on top rope and take some pics for the guys as E7 is quite a bit out of my grade range! Dave sent the E7 line with ease, despite the very bold nature of the climbing!

Dave checking out his new route

Dave on lead of Pallor E7 6b

 Glenda and I went over to Skye for a couple of days at the end of the week but seemed to be dodging more showers so didn't get out too far. Had a nice look at some coastal crags near Braes which will be worth coming back to in the future. Not a bad end to the month, here's hoping August will bring us some summer weather....

Nevis the hard way and Buried Treasure

We took Paige and Declan up the Pap of Glencoe last week as well as doing a bit of climbing in Polldubh. Thankfully the midges were tolerable for a short while and the kids managed to progress their rock climbing even further!

Ben Nevis and Sgurr A'Mhaim from the Pap 

I was working for Abacus Mountain Guides at the weekend and took Peter and Joe up the Carn Mor Dearg Arete and onto Ben Nevis. A bit of cloud on Carn Mor Dearg cleared and we were treated to stunning views for the rest of the day.

Don't see many of these guys on the Tourist Track!

The narrow part of the Arete

Looking down to the Steall Falls and the Mamores

Carn Mor Dearg

Today was a great day for me as Glenda and I headed off to Glenfinnan for me to finish off my first new rock climbing route. After a lot of gardening and a quick solo ascent last week, I lead it today with Glenda seconding. The route takes the prominent crack line in the centre of the crag, right of the harder slab routes. I've named it 'Buried Treasure', after the reported buried gold in the area from around the time of the Jacobite Rebellion. Grade wise, it feels around Severe, maybe slightly harder, but I'm open for some more opinions on that!