BMG Winter training course

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Ben Bradford

Just back in Newtonmore after four days on the BMG winter training course. Some mixed weather, including a really wet day in Glencoe when we were looking at some short roping where everything got a soaking. Yesterday was spent looking more »

Posted in Scottish Winter Climbing | Tagged , | Comments Off

The Melting Pot, Sneachda

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Ben Bradford

Dragged myself out of bed this morning to find a lot of fresh snow pilled on top of my van, the new winter tyres proved their worth this morning on the drive back up to Cairngorm. Rocio and I walked more »

Posted in Cairngorms, mixed climbing, Scottish Winter Climbing | Tagged | Comments Off

A return to Glencoe

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Ben Bradford

Matt and I made the drive over to the West coast from Newtonmore again today. We drove past Meggy, The Ben and finally parked in Glencoe opposite Stob Coire Nan Lochain, quite a early start and a long drive. It more »

Posted in Glencoe, mixed climbing, Scottish Winter Climbing | Tagged , | Comments Off

Ben Nevis–Coire Na Ciste Ice climbing

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Ben Bradford

Another fine day on Ben Nevis yesterday. I climbed with Matt and Adam which made for good banter on the belays and a nice light rucksack as everything was shared out a bit more. We headed up into Coire Na more »

Posted in Ben Nevis, Ice Climbing, Scottish Winter Climbing | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Original Summer Route and Pygmy Ridge

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Ben Bradford

Had another blue sky day in Scotland, this time back into Sneachda with Matt to check out a couple of work routes for future reference. There was a surprising amount of rime on the crags meaning a lot of the more »

Posted in Cairngorms, mixed climbing, Scottish Winter Climbing | Tagged , | Comments Off

Ice Climbing on the Ben.

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Ben Bradford

Back in my temporary home of Newtonmore after two good days on the Ben. The conditions after the thaw were interesting, lots of snow has been striped away but what is left has frozen hard into some fine neve meaning more »

Posted in Ben Nevis, Ice Climbing, Scottish Winter Climbing | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Not as warm as expected – Comb Gully and Thompons Route

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Ben Bradford

After another thaw on Sunday night we thought the best venue for some climbing was going to be high up on Ben Nevis rather than the Cairngorms, so the alarm went off a little earlier than usual and we piled more »

Posted in Ben Nevis, Ice Climbing, Scottish Winter Climbing | Tagged , | Comments Off

Windy and thin on Belhaven

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Ben Bradford

Day three in the Gorm’s and after yesterdays thaw (and rain) it was going to be touch and go if anything was climbable today. The Buttress’s were looking dark from the car park but it was worth a look anyway, more »

Posted in Cairngorms, mixed climbing, Scottish Winter Climbing | Tagged , | Comments Off

Rapid thawing on The Genie.

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Ben Bradford

Had a great social day out with Matt and Emma today in Sneachda. We chatted on the way in about routes and what we should do as the forecast was saying that it would get warmer and a lot windier more »

Posted in Cairngorms, mixed climbing, Scottish Winter Climbing | Tagged | Comments Off

Savage Slit – Coire An Lochain

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Ben Bradford

I finally got around to climbing another classic route that I should’ve climbed years ago today. “Savage Slit in Coire An Lochain is the line of the crag and a good thrutch or a brave bridge depending on the fear more »

Posted in Cairngorms, mixed climbing, Scottish Winter Climbing | Comments Off