All clear on Ben Nevis

Yesterday, I was working for Snowdonia Adventures, along with Mark and Helen, and were with a group from 'Islamic Help', a charity based in Birmingham, who are doing what they can in order to make a difference to the lives of those afflicted by poverty and suffering, and in particular those affected by the devastating earthquakes which hit south-western Pakistan earlier this year.

The group's aim was to scale the UK's highest peak, Ben Nevis, standing tall at 1344m above sea level.  Whilst many of the group had been to the top of Snowdon, a worthy achievement in itself, the walk up the mountain path of Ben Nevis has the added challenge of starting at just 15m above sea.  Fortunately, we were blessed with good weather throughout the day, and the group did very well, with 18 out of 20 making the summit.  The group were particularly impressed with views into the north face of the mountain, providing views very different to those encountered on the western and southern slopes.  I certainly don't ever get bored of looking down onto the steep cliffs and ridges, it is an amazing place after all!

Team 'Islamic Help' on top of the UK

Change of Scenery: DofE Silver Expeds with Eton College

Having had one day to turn around my kit after Skye, Max and I headed off on the 22nd June to North Wales for eight days, to work for A to Z Expeditions, who specialise in providing training and expeditions for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, across the length and breadth of the UK. Keen to tackle their Silver practice and qualifying expeditions in one intense (in tents!) 8 day burst were Eton College, who were made up of 7 highly motivated and enthusiastic groups. Alongside Max, I was working with Simon Knight, Dave Fowler and Steve Ironside, a great bunch of fellow instructors, all of whom were keen to deliver high levels of challenge and adventure.

The determined 'Group 7' with Tom, Ludo, Jo, Ed, Oliver and Tom

Group 7 on the summit of Moel Siabod

The focus of the first expedition, the practice was to equip the groups with the necessary skills required to be self sufficient in the mountains, so included everything from use of stoves to basic and more advanced navigational techniques. During day 2, the weather was such as to necessitate the use of pacing and following bearings in poor viability, both skills of which the group I was with grasped quickly. I was particularly impressed with the determination and ability of 'Group 7' made up of two Toms, Jo, Ludo, Ed and Oliver. On day three of the practice expedition, we headed up the West Ridge of Moel Siabod, which provided some easy scrambling and great views in the adjacent cwm, which clearly showed signs of glaciation.

The following day allowed groups to relax, replenish energy supplies and reset all their kit before setting out again, for what was to be some fantastic three day qualifying expeditions. The groups I was supervising started at Llyn Gywnant, before tackling Snowdon via the back of Cwm Tregalan, talk about being thrown in the deep end! In order to meet our respective groups, Dave and I enjoyed a quick scramble over Crib Goch, and having eventually met all the groups, (who were in varying states of euphoria and appreciation for what they had just completed), we descended down the Parson's Nose, whilst the groups made their ways down either the Pyg Track or alongside the railway.

Group 1 successfully on the summit of Snowdon 1085m

Group 2, just as successful, on the summit of Snowdon

Day two saw my two groups crossing over from The Pass of Llanberis, via the spectacular Devil's Kitchen into the Ogwen Valley, before camping at the head of Llyn Cowlyd Reservoir, a great little site, nestled in amongst hillocks and small rocky outcrops. The final day saw both groups finishing their qualifying expeditions in good adventurous style, taking in the Carneddau before finally descending to Aber Falls and onto Abergwyngregyn. Throughout the three days, both groups showed nothing but determination and a thorough understanding of what it is to be self-sufficient in the mountains. Well done to all the Eton College groups who all rose to the many challenges, I look forward to working with them again next year!

Book Review: Skye Scrambles by Noel Williams

I've just finished writing a book review for Mountaineering Council of Scotland's quarterly publication, The Scottish Mountaineer.

The Isle of Skye unquestionably boasts some of the finest scrambling and climbing opportunities in the UK, and for many mountaineers, the traverse of the spectacular Cuillin Ridge, arcing 12km and providing some of the most dramatic and challenging mountainous terrain in the UK is a life long ambition.  However, it’s not just the Cuillin Ridge that draws mountaineers and walkers, as numerous outings, of high quality, can be found across the island, which is quite useful, given the notoriously changeable Hebridean weather.

The eagerly awaited second edition of Skye Scrambles, published by the SMC is finally in the shops, and just a brief flick through the pages, was enough to convince me that this guidebook is an absolute must for anyone with a mountaineering interest in the area.  The most striking feature of this guidebook must be the hand drawn topos, as for the first time that I’m aware of, the drawings are now in full colour, showing intricate detail through careful hill-shading, providing information that even photos can not always offer.  Whilst predominantly a scrambling guidebook, a healthy selection of easier climbs and walks have also been included, giving the reader plenty of options in almost any weather condition, and as with all SMC guidebooks, inspiring chapters on geology, history and environment are included, all of which can easily enhance one’s experience of mountaineering on Skye.

The second edition of Skye Scrambles fell into my hands only a couple of days before a planned working visit to Skye, provided me with the ideal opportunity to put the guidebook through it’s paces.  During four days on Skye, I covered the following: West Ridge and Pinnacle Ridge of Sgùrr Nan Gillean, Direct Route up the East Ridge and down King’s Cave Chimney of Am Basteir, and the majority of the Ridge Traverse, starting at Gars-bheinn and descending after Sgùrr a’ Mhadaidh, and can honestly say that this new guidebook helped me to no end, particularly the chapter that describes the Cuillin Ridge Traverse, which includes clear yet simple descriptions and perhaps more useful, well annotated and simplified maps.  If the rest of the guidebook is this useable, which I’m absolutely certain it is, then a new benchmark for scrambling guidebooks has been set.

So, if you want help fathoming out the most complex and spectacular mountain range in the UK, you know what to do.

Four days on Skye, including a Cuillin Ridge Traverse

The northern Munros of the Black Cuillin

It's certainly been a busy few weeks, hence the lack of postings here, but my feet have finally touched the ground, so to speak, for a short while at least!  Friday the 17th June saw an early start with a drive to the 'Misty Isle', or Skye as it's better known as, which in my mind, is one of the finest mountaineering playgrounds in the UK (see my book review on the new Skye Scrambles Guidebook, published by the SMC), and to meet up with Steve and shadow Mike along with his clients; Nick, Noel, Bob and Peter, with the intention of completing the three northern most Munros on the Black Cuillin; Sgurr Nan Gillean, Am Basteir and Bruach Na Frithe.  The circuit is very achievable in a day, and incorporates plenty of excitement, from the airy scramble along and back down the West Ridge of Sgurr Nan Gillean and a tricky down climb from the summit of Am Basteir, imaginatively called 'The Bad Step', to a spectacular abseil down the Knight's Cave Chimney, in between the summit of Am Basteir and Am Basteir's Tooth.  From here, it was a straight forward walk to the summit of the third Munro, Bruach Na Frithe, before descending back down Coire a'Bhasteir.  The weather took a turn for the worse as the day progressed, however despite the rain, the group had a great day.

Heading up the West Ridge of Sgurr Nan Gillean

Heading to the summit of Sgurr Nan Gillean

Saturday saw me working with Mike for Abacus Mountaineering and heading out with Anthony, Paul, James and Bryan for a warm up day up Pinnacle Ridge of Sgurr Nan Gillean, before a full Cuillin Ridge Traverse starting on Sunday.  In profile, Pinnacle Ridge, which we saw the previous day, looks quite spectacular and imposing, and whilst the journey is nothing short of spectacular, the actual route over the pinnacles is far less intimidating than first appearances may suggest.   The highlight must be the airy abseil from the third pinnacle, onto quite a narrow ledge, before down climbing to a much larger ledge below.  The ascent of the Knight's Peak involved some fantastic scrambling, before easing off leading up to the summit of Sgurr Nan Gillean.  From the summit, we heading back down the West Ridge and back down to Coire a'Bhasteir.  The weather held out nicely, and gave the team a taste of what was to follow over the next couple of days.

Loch Scavaig and Loch Coruisk

Anthony, Paul, James and Bryan

The team had opted to start the traverse by taking the boat from Elgol, across Loch Scavaig to the foot of Gars Bheinn, which I now think is possibly the best way to start the traverse due to not having to back track at all, never mind the adventurous feel to it all!  We made good progress up onto the ridge, and found ourselves at Sgurr Dubh Mor in good time.  Both Mike and I took our teams up the King's Chimney on Sgurr MhicConnich, before moving swiftly up An Stac and up and over the Inaccessible Pinnacle, where the weather took a slight dip, fortunately the difficulties for the day were done with. That evening we made it passed the Three Teeth of Sgurr Thormaid for a short bivi.  The following morning was another early start, however following the knife edge ridge of Sgurr a'Greadaidh and technical climbing of Sgurr a'Mhadiadh, I descended from the ridge at Bealach na Glaic Moire, with Bryan who was finding that his knees were giving him trouble.  It must have been a hard decision for him to make, and made all the more difficult by watching the rest of the team head off up Bidein Druim Nan Ramh.   Mike went on to complete the ridge with Anthony, Paul and James, despite less than ideal conditions, so a huge well done to them!

Descending the Inn Pinn

Tacking the knife edge ridge of Sgurr a'Ghreadaidh

That was my first substantial bit of work on Skye, and I'm not sure that guiding in the mountains gets much better, so fingers crossed it won't be long until I'm back on Skye! (All photos courtesy of Steve Holmes).