Another Award!

I think I had a pretty good reason to let Rich down this weekend by not playing:

The first walk into the corrie for the season

As storm A Big Gail did\did not (delete as appropriate) hit the country this weekend, there was only one thing to do.  Three days of Allison trots.

With very nearly half the Allisons ticked and half the Corbetts ticked, Derek asked the question: "What will I do when I have finished them?"

Mmm.  Not quite sure but it did get me asking the question on why on earth I do tick lists.  Simple really, for somebody who organises things for a living and makes the majority of decisions, ticking lists is like somebody else suggesting what to do.  So, if you have many adventures stored in the memory, when you find yourself at a loose end you have the reserve to fall back on.

Today was a perfect example.  Did have a plan but it fell through so a quick phone call to a friend to see what they were doing saw us walk into the corrie of the people for the first time of the season.

Will add quickly at this point, summer hill walking boots were worn and sharpies were left at home.  Anybody who says that things were frozen today in the Northern Corries are telling porkies.  Couldn't find my winter woolies, socks, head torch and despite boiling the kettle 3 times, I successfully left the unfilled flask in the kitchen.  Time to winterise me thinks.

Strathclyde People

Sometimes I forget what I've done.

Ages ago I had a phone interview with a very nice chap from Strathclyde University for their online magazine 'Strathclyde People'.

This was pointed out to me recently:

Needless to say that I can't remember saying any of it :)

South Loch Ness Trail

I had completely buried my head in the sand recently trying to finish this seasons Skimo Scotland brochure.  24 pages later we are finally ready to head to the printers.

It was Nick who mentioned the South Loch Ness Trail, so with a play buddy and some amazing weather, we decided to give it a whirl before the weather breaks.

Lessons to be learnt:

• Perhaps getting the 1115 bus from Inverness was a little bit late
• Bin liners and duck tape do classify as a bag for transporting a bike with Citylink
• Remember to take into account the bike from Fort Augustus to Loch Tarff
• It gets dark at 1645
• Remember bike lights 

Overall, highly recommended mini adventure.

Colby's Camp

When we headed to Ardgour the other day, none of us had really heard about the camp.

Just off the summit of Creach Bheinn there remains the obvious evidence of a camp, so a quick tinterweb check was certainly required.   We discovered that it was constructed by soldiers of the Ordnance Survey early in the 19th century as part of the first triangulation of Scotland.

Who said Corbetts were boring ...

Autumnal days

As much as I love the big mountains I always look forward to returning to my native hills.

Hill #1:

Hill #2:

If you never knew better you would think that they were the same hill.  Unfortunately not and with c.600m drop between the 2, I was grateful for the spectacular views to make up for the sweaty ascents.

I look forward to the ankle wrecking grass tussocks, the knee wrenching peat hags, the up-to-your-armpits-bracken, getting spooked by the mountain hares and hoping that the rutting stags won't look at me as a threat.

Wouldn't swop it for the world.

Climbing in Catalonya

It was never intended to be a climbing holiday but it would have been rude to head to perhaps one of Europe's finest sport climbing area's without lobbing in the rock shoes.

I am ashamed to say that I've been visiting Spain for over 20 years cragging and have never climbed in Catalonya before.  I was blown away by the rock, the scenery and the pure beauty of the area.

It wasn't really a climbing holiday but more of a recharge from India and in preparation for the busy season.  Would I go back?  Oh yeh baby ...