Category Archives: Rich's Blog

Dec 27 2011

Lakes Winter Action

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Some pics from a recent trip to the Lakes. Martin Cooper, Jonny Morgan, Nick Wallis, Nick Williams and myself had 3 days visiting Gable, Scafell/Pikes Crag and Bowfell. With good early season mixed conds we managed ascents of Jabberwock (with some good airtime!), first ascent of a nice route on pikes crag, an attempt on Botterills Slab, Bowfell Buttress classic route and FWA of Rubicon Groove on Bowfell Buttress. Other teams out made impressive FWA’s of Angel of Mercy, a new route on BB, action on Cambridge crags and lots more activity throughout the Lakes – so a great weekend on the hill. Most impressively, we managed by the skin of our teeth to not write off my car on Honister pass when Jonny slipped off the bonnet and my chains snapped… Thanks to the Honister quarry workers who towed us away from the brink!

Oct 26 2011

Peak and Pembroke

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I’ve been enjoying a spell of work in the Peak District, Pembroke and the Wye valley with Nik, Sim and Al. Some strong winds and moody skies set the tone in Pembroke but we managed to duck and dive between the odd shower and get some good stuff done including the excellent Heart of Darkness/New Morning, Tactitian, Straight Gate a few other classics around St Govans/Travellan. Cheers for a good trip guys!

Sep 21 2011

Aiguille de la Republique

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Chamonix enjoyed an extended summer with hot sunny weather right into mid sept, so my last two guiding weeks with David H were spent on the rock. Highlights included the Salluard on Pointe Adolph Rey, a visit to the amazing Dalmazzi hut in Italy (easily the best hut food of the summer, a warm welcome and cragging by the hut door..) and finally the Aiguille de la Republique in the Chamonix Aiguilles. Simply one of the best mountain rock adventures you can have at this grade, and a memorable end to the season, cheers David!

Sep 21 2011

Cordier Pillar

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A few pics of the excellent Cordier Pillar on the Grand Charmoz. I teamed up with regular James Smith to climb this route in august – we had a tight schedule with rain forecast on the sunday, so did the route from the first bin on saturday followed by a comfy bivvi on the Blaitiere moraine. Cheers for a great day out Jim!

Aug 4 2011

The South Side of Paradise

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Chamonix saw some grim snowy weather last week, so I set off with Dan in search of dry Alpine rock on the south side of the Gran Paradiso national park. Just 2.5 hrs from cham, this is a wild corner of the Alps with loads of flawless granite in the main valley, and some great peaks of good quality gneiss in the main massif. We had a fun time on Becco Meridionale della Tribolazione where we climbed the Grassi – Re, and a good fight on Diedro Nanchez and Fissure Disperazione – good old fashioned granite at its best!

Aug 4 2011

Chere Couloir, Aiguille du Toule and Cosmiques Arete

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A few more pics from the week with John Long and Matt Coleman. We had some very snowy weather which led to a very eclectic week of rock climbing in Italy, ice climbing in an underground ice cave near annecy, the Aiguille de Toule, an attempt on the Rochefort, the Chere couloir (in amazing conditions) and the Cosmiques arete. Cheers for a fun week guys!

Jul 6 2011

Annecy Rock

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A few pics from my first week of the season down in Annecy with Jim Bird. Fun time dodging the weather and some eclectic sport – Delite de Fuite (approx 12 pitch 6a) at Sapey which has some of the best limestone around, a massive bike ride in the hills round Annecy, and Thones via ferratta, which is quite full on – ladder rungs on a 30 deg overhanging wall above a massive drop!

Rich

Jul 6 2011

Gastlosen Weekend

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This weekend I teamed up with Al MacColl for a trip to the excellent Swiss limestone region of Gastlosen. We started out on the Corneau Aubert with a varied 6 pitch 6a, before a quick afternoon trip to the cannuled slabs at Wandflue. On Sunday the weather was excellent again and we got fully toasted on the huge limestone slabs of Padflhu in the main Gastlosen chain – Bilbo gave some great limestone slabs again with endless water runnels… Keen for the ridge traverse some day which looks great!

Rich

Jul 6 2011

A few more pics from Cham

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Some more pics from my trip with Ju Williams – ending on the summit on the Blanc!! awesome snow conditions but totally baltic and very windy – hard won and all the better for it… now that we’re down!

Rich

Jun 28 2011

Rich’s latest adventures

Just a few pics from Rich’s week so far, climbing with Julian Williams – Pyramide du Tacul, Dent du Geant and teams on the Rochfort.  It’s due to get cooler over the next couple of days, so sharpening the axes…

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