It’s been some year . I knew that due to a lot going on at home including my wife’s illness ( now thankfully completely passed) , work and an impending house sale / move that not only had I been out in the wilds very few times but that if neglected to post . Discovering my last post was 2022… full of optimism for a winter season in the hills and mountains .. was a shock to say the least.Read more
Monday’s suck. Right? Not always!
Four and a half hours later, back at the car, a quick change into comfy trainers (not better feeling) and I had one last coffee standing breathing in the mountain air before closing the boot , jumping in the driver seat and heading for home….
Monday – best day ever!Read more
First of the season #ScotWinter22/23
Tramping up to the route start, occasionally finding a nice hole that we could fall into thigh deep we got on the route and Davy led off, both of us moving relatively fast without a rope to manage Read more
New England Road Trip Part 3 – Stephen Kings House
We arrived in a plain suburban street , lined with trees and large New England style houses, rolled up to his and spotted it immediate – not many houses have gates and a fence interwoven with all manner of creepy and spooky images such as bats , and not many have a large totem pole in their yard !Read more
New England Road trip part 2 – Salem and Portland
famous of course for the persecution of so called witches and one local wealthy merchant , John Hawthorne, became known as the key judge (and the hanging Judge) in such trials which saw the hanging of 19 people (the vast majority women) and the pressing to death of one man – the trials only coming to and end when a member of his immediate family was accused of witchcraft Read more
New England Road Trip Part 1 – Boston/Cape Cod
This site on the Eel river , known as Historic Patuxet is where, through local contemporary interpreters, you can learn about those who have been here for the last 12,000 years (spoiler alert – Columbus did not “Discover America”.) Sitting on deep fur covered benches in a wetu (house) listening to one young lady of the Wampanoag people talk about daily community life was completely fascinating and is something anyone visiting New England should experienceRead more
Brew with a view
Up the final rocky summit line , like an alpine top in miniature. Arrive at the rocky pointy summit with those sublime views.Read more
Wee Yin on the Wee Bookil … or Kaitlin’s 1st Munro!
Pickup at her flat in Glasgow, with roll and square in hand achieved, we set off for Glencoe and Buachaille Etive Beag (the little herdsman of Etive) or as most of us know it… the wee bookilRead more
#internationalwomensday2022
Celebrating 4 of the most important people in my life . Funny , smart, passionate , brave , caring, creative , ambitious and unstoppable ! And I love every one them. ( clockwise from Left top- My mum, wife , niece Lauren and Niece Kaitlin)Read more
That elusive start .. or.. the Big and Wee shepherd
Along the path , sun shining , views for miles and usual chat we headed with the goal being the water slab and getting a handle on the route starts of some ridges around the mountain. Read more
Tested – SIGG Thermo Flask
I’m not really one for taking anyone on the hill that isn’t essential – fundamentally I hate carrying wasted weight – light and (not so) fast is the aim . I don’t sacrifice essential safety kit such as torch, layers, first aid kit, blanket etc but Flasks of coffee tend not to be something I pack. That said – both my wife Sam ( my main hill partner) and my regular climbing buddy Fraser both love a coffee on aRead more
Douh !
Happen to us all right ? Some idiotic mistake .. something we forget .. well today was my turn . With VERY unseasonably warm temperatures for Dec 30th ( 10C !) Fraser and had planned to head into Coire an t’Sneachdea to primarily just “get out” on the hill ( always better than sitting on the sofa) but ideally if anything would go, to get a route in – even if just soloing up one of the grade I’s. LeftRead more
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