Les Piolets Jeunes, Chamonix, Mont Blanc

 Last weekend  I was lucky to be involved  in mountain guiding and instructing for Les Piolets Jeunes... had an ace time!,

Ice climbing on the Mer de Glace

With our combined French and Scottish -English we manged to communicate well enough!

Zermatt skiiing

Have enjoyed couple of days skiing Zermatt with my brother!

Breithorn

Spring time on Scottish Rock - Creag Dubh - Lower central wall

Steve  Perry climbing; The first ascent was by A Ewing and I A McEheran in May 1965 - imaginatively named Phellatio!

 Creag Dubh: one of Scotland's largest road side crags with over 100 routes, all so close to my house!

 This is great route at HVS 5a, in perfect sunshine today. Then I came home to find a wonderful surprise.

Thanks to Michelle at DMM  International Ltd. for sending me this delightful box of goodies!

Arete Des Cosmiques, Chamonix, France

Gabi on the Arete des Cosmiques

Nice winter conditions

Great view of  Mont Blanc du Tacul, Maudit and Mont Blanc

and a ski back to Montenvers via the Vallee Blanche

A great day with Richard Mchardy

http://www.echoesofadream.co.uk/

Today with Richard Mcahardy we climbed Spiral Gully in the Cairngorms. Richard is 74 years of age... how cool is that? Obviously Richard is still a very active climber. Among many of his amazing climbs Richard made the first all British ascent of Salathe Wall in 1973 with Paul Ross and George Humer. Although Doug Scott (UK) and Peter Habler, (Austria) did it before them as did Pete Minx (UK) and Rick White (Austrlia). Richard has written a book named 'A CRAGS RATS TALE'  and it can be bought on Amazon  or www.echoesofadream.co.uk

 Richard Mchardy

Richard nears the top

http://www.echoesofadream.co.uk

Easter Sunday - Cairngorm National Park

Pip Dodson pulling over the cornice on the Runnel today.

Goat Track gully was good but admittedly a bit thin.

For a beginner Pip made easy work of the tricky ice fee crux pitch.

Mountain Equipment clothing  works!

Cairngorm: a bit misty and wet.

Pip at a belay stance
Spiral Gully grade 2: Pips first ever roped climbing

Poor visibility higher up the crag

A perfect day in Glencoe.

Andy approaching the climbing venue, We initially though that traverse under the crags would be on unstable snow and we discussed our route choice a lot! It was fine,but definitely worth spreading out and not overloading the slope!

The climbing superb

The summit: rather nice about 1 meter short of being a Munro!