Ben Rinnes Third Time
Ben Rinnes 841m (c)
I was going to stay home and sort things out after being away and my first day back -yesterday I went to the climbing wall! I was easily persuaded to go up Ben Rinnes with Alice Christine and Liz as well as Anne Marie. Always good to repeat a hill to prove I am not a bagger ha ha
Beautiful views and stayed dry and sunny. Early start I was home in time to cut the back grass before the rain came on.
Return to Langdale
Stickle Ghyll scramble grade 1***
After a week with Kai Blair and the girls I was pretty knackered! Joe had been working long hours over the weekend due to it being Appleby fair. So our planned 3 scramble day turned into a one scramble, and a bit of a shop in Ambleside. I started my cam collection with the smallest totem. Yay. We then went back to Kendal to drop the car and get the delayed train home. Got a partial return.
Home the next day so it was a nice last day.
Reiff. Day two.
Reiff ~ An Stiuir
Guttersnipe D second
Reiff ~ Roinn a’ Mhill
Auld Nick S * Lead
The Grooves S 4a seconded
Another excellent day. I had a major rope issue with drag on my route which was brilliant though a wide crack which I do find tricky and wonderful traverse. This was our last day climbing of the weekend as the rain came in next day. but we did have a birthday BBQ for Dianna.
Sheigra explore….and beyond!
We arrived Thursday night and the weather looked good and ok for the weekend but as has been happening such a lot lately it changed! Dianna and Janet were camping in the grass at the shore and Jeannie and I were in a lay-by further along the road. Morning came and it was drizzle and low clouds.
We went down to catch up with the others and had a bit of explore of the area. None of us had been to Sheigra before.
We decided to leave Sheigra. The forecast looked better south so Reiff it was! Dianna and Janet when ahead and picked the campsite. We followed on. A nice one at that. And one in which when my gas ran out they had a full one I could buy. After sorting our selves out we headed to the nearest climbing. After some epic car parking and manovering we were at the crag. Everyone else had been before and I felt a bit stressed until I had chance to get my bearings. The fact that it had started to drizzle did not help. Jeannie had strong words with the weather gods and it cleared up. Jeanie and I climbed two routes.
Reiff – Roinn a’Mhill
Midreiff S seconded
Slanting Corner S Lead
Very enjoyable
Day Three Climbing at Ronan.
Loch Tollaidh Crags
Raven’s Edge VD ** seconded
After Eight S lead
The weekend keeps on giving and my legs are getting very tired. I decided I wouldn’t push it today. I did two routes before getting rained off. I lead one a severe. As it was they were the last routes of the weekend as we were properly rained off on the Monday and I was properly knackered. Today I am at the Big Sands campsite in Gairloch recovering!
Day Two at Ronan Climbing
Raven Crag
Jutting blocks VD*
Aztec Tower
Cortes MVS or VS * 4b
We had an early start after a late finish. Bit too early for me! So was a bit knackered when we got to Raven Crag. It is a crag with multi pitch routes and a lower wall round the corner that was dryer.
Jeannie and I did a single pitch route. It was good. A little damp but after that we decided to go down to Gairloch for lunch at the gale centre and have a re think of our plans. We decided to go to Aztec Tower. Everywhere is new to me so I was happy. I really like the rock at Aztec tower and decided to be bold and lead a VS 4b. Which I did and I was so chuffed with myself. I am back!
Ronnan First Day
Opinan Slabs
Opinan Corner D Lead
Poor Second D seconded
Two Shakes S seconded
Precision Decision HS * 4b Lead
It was only 24 hours after getting home from the bothy trip. I had a very quick van turn round and then headed north. Emma and Alice were also going up to Ronnan early and so instead of staying at the campsite with Jeannie I went there. I was feeling a bit tired still.
At first we went to jetty butress but it looked very midgy and also quite a few people there all with midge nets on. We thought a coastal crag might get more breeze so we headed to Opinan slabs. A good choice.
Jeannie set up an abseil, the tide was lucking 1 1/2 hours off low tide so we were able to get to the shelf at the bottom of the climbs. It took a little figuring out but in the end we were happy with our figuring. Jeannie and I started with a Diff each to get used to the rock. I then felt like giving my self a little push and decided to lead a HS 4b which I did and very much enjoyed.
My plan is to climb harder grades this year and push myself to lead more……at least half the time.
I want to be comfortable leading vs 4c by the end of the year. In preparation for the harder climbing in Greece and to re visit the classic lakes vs’s
Kinbreak bothy and a couple of hills
Sgurr Mor 1003m (m) Sgurr an Fhuarain 901m (c)
This trip had been planned for a while. The Munro is one of my ‘bottom five’ and so the first bottom five I have been up. After a very nice ladies meet at the Glenfinnan sleeping car, Anne Marie and I spent a night in an idyllic park up by the river. Of course I had to have a dip. After a slow start we drove round to end of loch Argaig and set off at about 4.30 for kinbreak bothy. A fairly hard walk in after the efforts of the last few days but we made it! And there we no one else there. I pleasantly night in the bothy and we woke to an amazing day. Mist in the valley and then a blue bird day. Not too hot as a nice breeze which also kept the midges away. We walked up over the Corbett and then left our sacs in the bealach while we went up Sgurr Mor. Fantastic views. The decent from the Col was very steep and grassy. Then a trudge up to the pass and back down to the track….that was hard work……then a bit of a track walk back to the vans. G&T and food and sleep. A most excellent day. We even got back before it rained
Walking in the mist!
Sgurr na Glaise 874m (c) Rois-Bheinn 822m (c) An Stac 814m (c)
It was supposed to clear the mist and cloud but it didn’t. Well it did but only very very briefly……a long day wandering about in the mist. A three Corbett day.
Rock climbing season starts
Glenfinnan Crags
Dome Buttress
Evening star S 4a * lead
Eventide VD 3c * lead
Phosphorous VD * second
Wave rock
Tidal wave VD * second
Splintered Rock
Crystal Cascade S 4a * second
Hobnailer Wall VS 4B TR
A new crag with a few buttresses was the location for my second outing of the year. Felt good leading. A good start.
Mountain Days and Photo Nights 