Clashrodney: first evening trad outside

Here in Aberdeen the weather was undecided whether to stay wintry or to allow spring to proceed. Finally the tide seem to have shifted and it got warm. Brian, Jackie and I were heading to Clashrodney for some trad mileage. First Stiletto, a HS on the red slab.

 Then Capitol wall VS 4b followed by Birthday treat E1 5a, which was my first E1. A good, sustained climb with a rest ledge in the middle.

 We then went over to the Johnny's Dangler area past the waterfall...

 ... where Brian climbed 'Schoolboy Alcoholic VS 4c instead of the E2 he wanted to climb.

 Went taking the previous photo I saw a seal which was ill, tired and coughing. I took a photo with the zoom and left quickly.

HW

Finally sun & Ben Vrackie

Finally the Sun arrived in the North East of Scotland and at the same time Declan Lunny, the Irishman in Singapore. We decided on a quick hillwalk, Ben Vrackie, near Pitlochry. Perthshire landscapes to start with.

Here the team, Irwin, Dec and myself. Bob and the ladies are not shown.

Halfway up is poachers loch if you know what I mean.

A straight forward, non boggy walk. Early or late would have been good for photos but this is not too bad. The view up the Tay.

There was still good snow cover in the Cairngorms in the distance.

Irwin and the iphone team shot.

And the team with better views to the East.

The straight forward descent towards Pitlochry...

... where we went to the Moulin Inn, a Scottish favourite. I went on to Aberdeen to catch the sunset over the Montrose basin.

HW

Fannaichs and the Grampian Alps

Aberdeen is currently grey, grey, grey. It seems as if the North East does not reward its people for enduring the long winter with its short, dark days. A colleague of mine, Kuno, was here for science and Munros and a local colleague of mine, Christian joined in for some outdoor action. The forecast was wintry and so it was a pleasant surprise when we woke up under blue skies in the Aultguish Inn, one of the unique Highland Inns. The others are the Cluanie Inn and the Crask Inn plus and then of course Young Roddie's place, the Cluanie Inn plus the Kingshouse in Glen Coe. The Aultguish is run by an Italian chef and his Scottish wife. It is far away from anyway apart from Munros. The food is excellent and I remember some oustanding Oxtail cooked up by the chef himself. The only downside is that the kitchen closes at 8 pm (ish) as the owners have to serve the thirsty hillwalkers waiting for a pint. Here is Kuno in front of the Aultguish on Saturday morning/

Plan A was to scramble over An Teallach and then to stay in Shenavall bothy. I am hesitant to use any bad word against the Mountain Bothy Association which do a fantastic job in maintaining bothies but closing Shenavall on the May bank holiday weekend is less than ideal. Having said that these guys also need to find some free time to do their much appreciated work. So we changed plan and walked up to do some hills in the Fannaichs. Here are Kuno and Christian walking up the glen under blue skies...

 ... crossing rivers ...

 ... and then ascending the hillside under not so blue skies.

We reached the summit of Sgurr nan Clach Geala and then walked around the corrie to ascend Sgurr Mor. On our way we managed to have a good luck at the buttresses on Sgurr nan Clach Geala which host oustanding winter climbs including Skyscraper buttress and several great looking gullies.

 The clouds lifted for a while and snow and spring go well together.

 Here is Kuno approaching Sgurr Mor.

 Again a period of fog, snow and hail on the descent. We managed to drift off the wrong side but soon corrected our course to reach the bealach. A long way down over another hill. Here are Christian and Kuno leaving the snowzone.

 Day two was supposed to be worse and for that reason Christian had left the night before. So Kuno and decided to follow the coast and then head towards Aviemore. We had a good view of our plan A, An Teallach, which did not materialise the day before. A lot of snow had fallen over night.

 Onwards to Gairloch and its beach...

 ... via Slioch not in the best light for photography.

We drove to Aviemore where we stopped in the Old Bridge Inn for some food. I had a grilled sea bream with potatoes and a salad for £15. Great quality cooked with the odd wee twist, good service and not too expensive. Suitably fed we walked up to Corrie an Sneachda for Kuno's first winter climb. We chose Jacobs ladder.

The neve was solid all the way and the cornice was almost non existent. Brilliant condition. I had one rope and sling which are shown in the next photo with Kuno sitting in a comfortable bucket seat below.

 On the way to the car we saw one of the Cairngorms reindeers which patiently endured me taking a photo.

A good outing but the cold can now really go please... unless it brings Skyscraper buttress in condition on a day when I have time to climb it!
HW

Upside down in Loch Faskally

Ana and I decided to start a new hobby which is sea kayaking. The only problem with that hobby is that the sports instrument is over 5 m long and does not fit inside our flat. In the Brookbank catalogue I noted a Trak T1600 folding kayak for a rather steep £2600 and soon after a T1600 appeared on Ebay. Without much thinking I put a maximal bid in and by Sunday I was the proud owner of a nearly new T1600 for a very good price. It arrived on a Wednesday in a large roller bag weighing 29 kg. Here is how it is assembled: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS37AK2fISY. I practiced it once in Ana's corridor (not recommended) and put it together in less than 15 min on the shores of Loch Faskally. Surprisingly slick. Especially the hydraulic jacks that tension the hull are great engineering. A Brompton for the water. Here it is...

 ... and here are Giulio and Ana sharing the other paddle in the inflatable Costa Dundonia. I came up with that tasteless name after too much wine at a dinner party.

Here I am paddling the Trak. I can not compare it to other Kayaks other than the Costa Dundonia but it seems fast and seems serious. After paddling upstream to see the bungee jumping and down the Loch I practised edging up to the point where I found myself upside down in the waters of Loch Faskallie, staring a perplexed trout right in the eye.

As I had not practised any Eskimo manoeuvres I got out of the kayak and managed to get in relatively quickly helped by Ana and Giulio. The bilge pump, purchased just hours previously, did a good job and soon I was paddling back looking somewhat sheepish. We packed it all up - again no problem - and went for a soup and apple pie to the Moulin Hotel, one of the best places in Scotland to have food and a pint after the great outdoors.

HW

Scotland in the twilight

Scotland is a dark place in winter. But a full moon or red skies at dawn and dusk give some reprieve from the drabness. Here the full moon...

...in action lighting the region from the Mither tap to the North sea coast. On the horizon the lights of Aberdeen and the North sea.

South of Aberdeen is Dunnotar castle. Its shilouette contrasts the reflections on the North sea.

Here the full moon again.

Further down is St. Cyrus Nature reserve, one of my favourite viewpoints. A full moon and a lonely ship anchored on a calm night.

A bright night with views towards Montrose in the distance.

Same spot but another night.

Night gives way to dawn with red skies just before sunset. Near Broughty Ferry.

Even more red in the skies here at St. Cyrus.

In Dundee the best viewpoint is Dundee law here at dusk with a view towards Broughty Ferry. Only two of the high rise buildings are still standing and the oil rig is in the North sea now.

Later with a view towards the West. An opening in the sky allows some light to shine through.

Earlier in the evening swans on the Tay...

... and here Broughty Ferry castle a wee bit later with the moon above.

Finally the river Esk near the stones of solitude.

Dedicated to DL who loves the Scottish full moon than few others.

HW

Limekilns, Elie chain walk & spring!

Spring arrived in Scotland last week with temperatures above 20 degrees. At the weekend it started to drop but still looked fine and so Robbie and I decided to visit a place where I have never been before: Limekilns. It is essentially two large, presumably quarried limestone blocks. Here a photo of the Western side in the shade with good VSs and HVSs. This photo was taken with the EUMC out in force.

 Here is Robbie earlier on climbing DTs. 

 After cruising two HVSs I felt good enough to try Elgin's Crack E2 5c. The start is bouldery and the foot holds are polished so whilst I got to the first break I realised that it was too much for the first trad outing of the season.

After that a lunch in the Elgin hotel and onwards to Elie with Scotlands only (?) via ferrata. Here is Robbie tackling one of those stainless steel chains.

Quite exciting for via ferrata newcomers in places. Back on a path with good views over Elie and the golf course...

 ... shown here...

 ... and with the daffodils already out.

 On the way to Dundee and in Broughty Ferry I also took a few photos to document the first foray of spring. Two trees on a ploughed field near Fettercairn...

 ... swans in Broughty Ferry ...

 ..., Broughty Ferry harbour...

 ..., and the castle on the banks of the bonnie Tay.

It all makes the sudden end of winter with all its adventures more bearable. And all of a sudden I saw a giraffe swimming in the Tay (hang on, the 1st of April was yesterday).

HW