Between Alta and Tromso

Johnny, Aldo and I were setting setting resin anchors into steep rock near Alta yesterday ready for porteledge scene which will be filmed soon...then an all night drive under the most outstanding Northern Lights back to Tromso last night, well actually an early this morning arrival back in Tromso to meet up with the rest of the crew!
Ace and busy here!

Reisa national park

We are staying in the town of Sorkjosen tonight and for the past couple of days have been fixing challenges for the show. Nordreisa is the district and its totally beautiful. The National Park was established in 1986 where the flora and fauna are unique to this latitude, although we cannot see a great deal of it right now as its blanketed in snow. The landscape is characterized by narrow valleys and deep ravines that cut themselves into the land like great canyons into the mountain plateau. The Reisa river runs through the park and out to the sea. There are huge waterfalls including Mollisfossen which is 269 metres high. For 140 of those meters the water is in free fall! More info on http://www.reisa-natjonalpark.no/

We carried out a dummy run on our cliff tops today, it worked well and promises to provide some exciting TV moments!

Reisafjord, Norway

Excellent views today in the cold clear air. Arrived here late last night after three plus hour drive from Tromso. Amazing Northern lights as we travelled northward.Wonderful snow shoe country but hard work with heavy rucksacks full of rigging gear, hilti drills and lots of rope, drill bits and anchors!

Reisa from my window around 4.30 pm.

Snow pack stability.

OR should it be instability? Carrying out a tap test today.

Creag an Dubh Loch

Took a wander into the Dubh Loch today, visibility was poor but there is some ice about!
Saving some energy, I got a lift from some friendly folks!

Ski touring across the loch.

Dinner Time Buttress, Glencoe

Will and Julian of the Christian ramblers club on the climb.

Starting out on the buttress, east face of Aonach Dubh, Glencoe.

Aonach Mor

Roger,Mary, George and Will of the Christian Ramblers club

Will and Mary climbing Tunnel Vision on the East face of Aonach Mor.

Glen Sheil

An ace place to be!

East Ridge of Stob Ban 999m

With Mary, Will and Anthony of the CRC we climbed this ridge and bagged the Munro !

Christian Ramblers Club winter meet

Will, Anthony and Mary of the CRC

I have been based over at Spean Bridge this last week and now have the chance to post some photos...

Hidden Chimnet and a dau avalanches/

There were two large avalanches that I saw myself today, one on the Goat Track in Coire an t Sneachda and the other on the Fiacaill a Choire Chais. They were both rather impressive. Climbing was good on the buttresses, but a lot of cleaning was required and getting over the unstable rims and gully exits was quite exciting. There were several climbing teams on the Mess of Pottage. Sandy Reid in Hidden Chimney.

Nice day in the Cairngorms

With Tom we did a couple of routes today, Tom led two pitches in Goat Track gully then we climbed Hidden Chimney. We also spent some time on various snow belays skills and abseiled down Jacobs Ladder. It was an almost windless day with some sunshine this afternoon.

Mixed climbing and high tea

We climbed Fingers Ridge today, it was quite ace although I suppose it was thawing a bit!

Tom climbing one of the great pitches.

I thought it was just the Brits who liked tea, but Dutch people love it too!

You may be wondering what happened to brother Kevin? A very sore big toe which he arrived on the course with had become infected to he had to visit the local Doctor in Kingussie today and antibiotics have been taken!

Learning to Lead

Yesterday Tom and Kevin lead their first winter climb. It was an interesting day transfering your indoor climbing wall experience to lead climbing in winter out of doors! A great day was had by all in good weather by Scottish standards!

Climbing, Northern Cairngorm

Wonderful conditions for climbing in the Northern Corries today.

Chris and Moira

Good day in the Gorms!

We had a surprisingly nice day in the Cairngoms today.Yes, of course it was windy and wet as per the met office forecast but the climbing in the gullies was OK.Chris in the Runnel, a nice grade 11.

Introductory skills: a day of contrasts

Chris reading the map in blizzard conditions this afternoon.

Chris climbing Aladdin's Couloir, his first climb, in windy but OK weather earlier in the day!