That's better! Winter returns

A welcome return to more normal temperatures for the time of year, and a new, albeit, light covering of snow. Today I was out climbing with my friend James on an easy mountaineering route in Coire an Lochain in the Northern Corries of the Cairngorms. A beautiful day of no wind, great views and lots of sunshine. The snow in the gully was lovely to climb, having become bullet hard from lots of freeze-thaw cycles. It looks set to stay cold for the foreseeable future-great!

Enjoying The Couloir

Coire an Lochain

Smiles all round!

More smiles!

What a year!

Happy New Year! Thank you to clients, friends and colleagues for a whirlwind 2019, and here's to an equally good 2020.

Trekking perfection--Tour du Mont Blanc, July 2019

Like most years, for most people, 2019 has had its ups and downs for sure. But when I scan back over the diary and photos it brings back lots of happy memories. Guiding and instructing clients at home all over the Scottish Highlands has been a big part of the year, and I have worked on Skye, in Torridon, the Cairngorms, Ben Nevis and Glen Coe, and everywhere in between! It's been fantastic meeting lots of varied people, some after an adventure, others looking to learn new skills, and some just wanting to spend time in our wonderful hills and glens.  There's been climbing, scrambling, walking and even the West Highland Way!  Further afield I have taught navigation in the Lake District, and guided the wonderful Tour du Mont Blanc trek (twice!).  Personal climbing has taken me all over Scotland, as well as to Spain, Morocco, Chamonix as well as the more esoteric delights of Fairy Cave Quarry in deepest Somerset! Personal skills development for me included finally gaining my UIAA International Diploma in Mountain Medicine, as well as the Snowsport Scotland Alpine Ski Leader award. In between all that a juggling act of family, home-life as well as a little bit of medical work. Phew!!

What about 2020? It's already looking like another busy one! Skye, the Dolomites, Morocco are already confirmed for work, and I'm really looking forward to all of it!

Guiding the Traverse of Liathach, Torridon

Teaching climbing, Dunkeld

Personal climbing, Chamonix

Glacier skills & crevasse rescue as part of the UIAA Diploma in Mountain Medicine

Guiding the Aonach Eagach, Glen Coe

Autumn sunshine boulding in Torridon

Abseiling into Creagan a Cha No, Cairngorms

Teaching rock-climbing, Glen Nevis

Personal climbing, Puig Campana, Spain

Personal climbing, Pygmy Ridge, Cairngorms

Chimney Rib, Caingorms

Bouldering in Torridon

Liathach traverse in winter

Great turns on Cairn Gorm in November

Superb scrambling in Morocco--Tizgut Ridge

Alpine rock in Morocco--Millennium Ridge, 1500m of climbing

Bouldering in the Peak District!