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Just back from another worldy trip to Skye and my first time in the Cuillins. It was hot, it was foggy at times making route finding tricky so we didn't get as much done as we wanted. But did do the InPin, saw a total inversion and ticked off two munros.
@jimmy - you didn't bump into a group(s) from Heriot Watt Uni up there did you? Eldest was on the ridge most of the week, camping at Glen Brittle....
@matt_outandabout we were camped right next to them, chatted to a few. Some of them had been very productive on the ridge!
Just back from a three day intro to mountaineering course with the mountaineering company. Went up a day early and had a scorching hot solo over Tryfan north ridge and back to the campsite at the base of Tryfan Bach.
can highly recommend the course. Sam carefully guided, explained and taught us about the why and the how of choices and decisions he was making. Day 1 on Tryfan Bach and Barstow Buttress and Day 2 on Idwal slabs finishing up the epic Cniefon Arete. Weather crapped out for day 3 but learnt loads inside at the Indy wall
@jimmy - couple with the large awning as a meeting tent, a mop of hair, and gold Fabia estate was my lad and his partner.
I think we tortoise and hare'd them up into the foggy Corrie on Saturday. We both got a bit off track, then they disappeared ahead and we saw them later on the top between the two munros (dub more and nan eag?).
Magnificent day on Ladhar Bheinn last Saturday, got a boat in from Arnisdale for a cheeky shortcut. I've done the hill before but it goes straight to number one as my favourite hill ever.
A couple from the last few weeks. Chalamain Gap and Beinn Eighe.
Anyone else been following Bill Bailey on the Cape Wrath way?
(Sorry it's Facebook)
Mates of mine saw him in the campsite at Kinlochewe.
Sorry, Beinn Eighe. I was support runner for a friend doing the Celtman triathlon.
I'd guess Beinn Eighe and Loch Coire Mhic Fhearcair for the first photo. Big old cliffs in 2 & 3, those. They just need some good belays at the top
Far East Wall Coire Mhic Fheachair, one of the top ten mountain crags in Scotland. I don't remember poor belays at the top but do remember the metre deep moss up there which can drain water down the crag even when it's been dry for ages.
They just need some good belays at the top
It's not the smooth grass slope it looks like in the photo, there's plenty to belay on at the top.
An Casteil and Beinn a'Chroin to pay respects to a friend and complete the route in his memory. Had a moment on the bad step and understand now what must have happened. Not the first apparently. Good to be out in the hills again, but won't be doing that one again.
Anyone done Brandon Mountain, Ireland, particularly by the Faha Ridge?
I am finding little good information, UKHillwalking has some information, but there is a real divide between 'death on a stick grade 3' and 'some steep scrambling' in the various online guides or blogs I can find...
https://www.ukhillwalking.com/articles/destinations/brandon_-_irelands_finest_mountain-13043
have you read these trip reports?
https://www.mountainsofscotland.co.uk/TripReports/20140824.htm
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=87064
Looks fab in the good weather
Yep - most follow the main path, not the ridge itself...And it is the ridge which appeals.
Creise and Meall a'Bhùiridh yesterday.
---happy emoji---
Coomloughra Horseshoe, including Corrán Tuathail/Carrantoughnhill, Binn Chaorach and Caher, the only mountains over 1000m in Ireland. Great views over Mackgilcuddys Reeks and Kerry, even over the Dingle peninsula and boggy inland.
Stunning and strenuous day out, it really felt like some of the Torridon hills in some ways. I would not want to do it in the wet - boggy start & end and slippery rock in the damp we had. A lot more up and down than some of these guides claim - my phone told me just shy of 1400m...one guide claims 800m!
The touristy routes looked universally awful, and a couple of them looked really dangerous...glad we took the bigger challenge and avoided the crowds.
Slieve Donard on a cracking day
Length of Dursey island - Knockaree hill, Foilcunnis hill, signal tower hill with the Eire sign and Tilickatinna hill. With a cable car over the Atlantic to get to the island and a pop up cafe in a residents garden.
It's a couple of weekends ago now, but I headed up Carnedd Moel Siabod with my two brothers the other day. One of them isn't in the greatest health now, so long days carrying a lot of kit are a bit of a no-no for him, hence we took the opportunity to do a night's camp by the small llyn on the east side, then scramble the classic rocky east ridge the morning after.
Dad introduced us at an early age to the delights of N Wales, often camping at Dol-gam in the valley near the Tyn-y-Coed/Cobdens pubs - he rather liked a beer or two, did my old man. And sometimes camping out up in the hills, so this was a nod to his ideas.
1) Amongst the ruins of the lower slate quarries:-
2) Three no-longer-so-young brothers at a wild campsite in the cwm below the east ridge
3) The same cwm in the morning sun
4) High on said east ridge, looking down to Llyn-y Foel 1000ft below
All agreed it was a success, even if middle brother was well bolloxed by the end of the walk back to the cars.
couple of days spare in norway from work and a local contact took us a couple of hours south somewhere I can't spell in trollheimen national park. 1400m straight up from the fjord. my knees hurt now.
Sgurr Mòr in Knoydart is bottom of the Walk Highlands list of most climbed munros. It is famous for the miles of bog, annoying descent and reascent, the eleven miles of single-track road that takes an hour to drive to the start... basically the shear effort required for one solitary hill.
It was mine and my other half's second last munro and a day of blustery showers and amazing light in the sunny spells. The views west from the SW ridge up the peak to the west are stunning, Sgurr na Ciche looking like the Matterhorn from there. We did it as a group of three and it was a long hard day indeed. Stunner of a hill mind.
Kaiserstuhl Germany
Snowdon horseshoe this morning. Left the car in the lay-bys below pen-y-pass at 6am. Back at the car for midday. Apart from at the summit saw barely anyone else. No wind across crib goch but it was a bit damp and greasy. First time across there and it’s definitely a bit airy…
First time across there and it’s definitely a bit airy…
Great, innit? Crib Goch is a nice balance of scary but doable.
Glyders today with the boys. Totally lucked out with the conditions in North Wales this week.
the boys wanted to tick off snowdon so we did south ridge up and pyg down. proper windy on the ridge and the summit, I didn't envy the queue I could see over crib goch...
Has anyone used Kahtoola exo spikes, these are the intermediate spike that can be fitted to hiking boots and running shoes. They are not as aggressive as a full on spike, more of a stud. I’ve been caught out in ice twice this year in the lakes and dolomites and these look good, and are very packable but would appreciate opinions
Kahtoola exo spikes
No, but we use Nortec Alp's.
They are not a replacement for a crampon or for poor route choice.
But, they grip on ice really well, they are more comfortable and you're less likely to trip, they fit on anything, easy / light to carry 'just in case'. I'm a real fan.
Ideal for paths like this
looks interesting but a bit more of a spike than I was originally thinking of, what are they like when you come off the ice onto rock and gravel? ( where I think the slightly shorter stud could be better ) Or are you constantly taking them on and off depending on the conditions?
Cracking day round Coire Lair on Friday.
Wow!!
looks interesting but a bit more of a spike than I was originally thinking of, what are they like when you come off the ice onto rock and gravel? ( where I think the slightly shorter stud could be better ) Or are you constantly taking them on and off depending on the conditions?
Fine, we walk on them just fine between ice and snow. I suspect they will wear out quickly that way, but I would rather that and stay on my feet well...
Chilly local wander around the Ochils today - Glentye Hill up to Meikle Corum and back.
Great to be out stretching legs again, but a change from yesterday's shorts weather on the bike to gloves and warm hat on today...
Has anyone used Kahtoola exo spikes, these are the intermediate spike that can be fitted to hiking boots and running shoes. They are not as aggressive as a full on spike, more of a stud. I’ve been caught out in ice twice this year in the lakes and dolomites and these look good, and are very packable but would appreciate opinions
IME the Eco spikes would be fine for ice on a relatively smooth path, but once you get into mixed ice and snow, softer or uneven ground you really need something with more 'bite'. I carry some Grivel Explorers which work with both trail running shoes and boots - been up plenty of hills in all conditions.