Thursday, October 9, 2008

Winter is coming part 1

It's about this time of year that climbers like myself develop a manic gleam in the eye, start fidgeting with ice axes and files, and dust off our SMC guides. Yes winter is on its way. In fact Ive heard that some have already got their first routes in. Unfortunately I won't be able to head up for at least another month or two but to help us all getting psyched here's a few pics. I'll make this a bit of a series this month to get us in the mood.
What a great climb Savage Slit V,6 in the Northern Corries is. It's popular to dismiss the area just because its popular with novices but it's one of my favourites with some of the best technical climbing about. This shot shows Jon Winter "having a meltdown" in heavily rimmed conditions.Andy Benson on Central Buttress VII,8 at Stob Coire Nan Lochan in Glen Coe. Again a fantastic collection of technical test-pieces across the grades. Really hoping to head back here a few times this season. We did this particular route with Garth's direct start called Starting Blocks which made a particularly sustained route defining the upper limits of grade VII.
What could be better? The end of another stellar day on the Ben. Fingers crossed we'll have lots like this, this winter.

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