Saturday 26 January 2013

what a welcome


I got into trouble for taking a photo today at Aberdeen International arrivals.

Bugger - it was worth it.

Friday 25 January 2013

and that was rjukan

A 60 meter climbing rope can seem a fairly lonely place when you are tied into the end of it.


Being the last day and all that, it had to be Vemork Bridge.


If we weren't going home tomorrow, it would have to be a rest day.

Thursday 24 January 2013

steep ice

Today, the team wanted steep ice, so they got it.


Had the entire crag to ourselves which meant that we could climb wherever we wanted to.


Needless to say, that they are all knackered this evening.


Only -11 today which meant that I never had to actually wear my primaloft pants - bonus.

Wednesday 23 January 2013

still cold but manageable


We survived the day today without getting hypothermia.


It was still cold.


Caroline has managed to source some toe warmers for tomorrow so we are all going to have warm toe envy.


How many people to coil a rope?

Tuesday 22 January 2013

how many layers?

Bottom: thermal long johns soft shell trousers and a pair of primaloft overtrousers.


Top: thermal layer, mid fleece, toasty warm fleece, down gillet, soft shell jacket and down jacket.


Hands: toasty warm gloves with hand warmers and primaloft over mitts.


Now, I have without doubt the best clothes on the market but today I was cold.

In short, between us we were wearing enough clothes to open a shop.

so fat it is obese

A ridiculously busy self inflicted week :)


Skimo Scotland on Saturday at Glenshee and then out to Rjukan on Sunday.


The ice?  It is so fat, it is just obese.


Tuesday 15 January 2013

searching out the sun

It was rather chilly in the corrie today with the cheery chaps on the Jonathan Conville course.



And instead of spending all day in the shade, we opted for the sun.  Not that there was any heat in the sun but psychologically if feels nice.


Tuesday 8 January 2013

back to basics



The Jonathan Conville Memorial Trusts aim is simple:

"to encourage and assist young people to train for and pursue their love of the outdoors in the spirit of adventure ...  As long as there are mountains ... there will be a place for the Trust"

Perhaps more known for the providing subsidised training in Alpine mountaineering courses in Chamonix and Alpine preparation weekend courses at Plas y Brennin.  But, did you know that they also provide subsided training in Scottish winter mountaineering courses?

Want to know more? Click on Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust.

Friday 4 January 2013

dribbles of snow & dribbles of snot


Melissa done her best today to give me her cold - even walked upwind of me on the walk out so that I was in the line of fire for constant snot dribble.

The biggest hazard today was falling rocks and other people - enough said.

Thursday 3 January 2013

east ridge of beinn a chaorainn

Strangely enough we had the ridge to ourselves today.


Never quite took the ice axe and crampons for a walk - there was some very slippy snow and at least 4 ice dribbles.

Can't change the weather ...