Helly Hansen X Adventure Race

28th-29th March saw Team Accelerate put 3 teams into this spectacular 2 day event in the Lake District. Comprising of 9 events on the Saturday from Archery to Canoeing and a big multi disaplin race on the Sunday. All three teams performed well and really enjoyed the event. Overall we achieved a 3rd place securing £500 prize money. My team finished in 6th after our hopes were dashed while in 4th I went over on my ankle during the fell race on Saturday.

Kendal Climbing Wall

Having arrived back in the Lakes to a lovely evening I caught up with Luc for a climb at Kendal Climbing wall.

Buchaille Etive Mor & bye bye Scotland (52 Munros)

Stob Dearg 1022m
along the ridge taking in the two tops to
Stob na Broige 956m ** Munro number 75 (52nd this Winter) **
after retraced steps and dropped down into Lairig Gartain.
Fantastic day with a high cloud base. Before heading into the mountains I hunted down the two hidden bothies within Glencoe and after went for an explore and came accross this wire pulley bridge.

Glencoe Ski munros

Today the weather was aweful! very strong winds again from the south with rain on the lower slopes and sleety hail higher up. The temperature had risen and I had left it late to take on these conditions and head up in the hills. From the ski carpark I headed up under the lifts to Meall a Bhuiridh, 1108m, almost walking into someone coming down as i could not see in the direction i was going for the conditions. I continued round the horseshoe to Creise, 1100m, battling against the full force of the wind in poor visability. Not even my jacket hood could damped the force at which the hail was hitting me which really hurt :( I managed a qhick photo in the wet and headed back to the car.

Very windy day on Mamores

Scotlands Mini Matterhorn
Binnein Beag 943m
windy video

windy video 2

The 4 Eastern Mamore Munros from Kinlochleven. This was a very windy day with winds in the region of 70mph. At times i had to time lulls in the wind to pass some sections without being blown off my feet. It was a long horseshoe and completes all my Mamore peaks. Didn't see anyone all day which is no surprise really.
Lots of fresh snow all bashed up in the wind and not bonding. Its like polystirene balls. The snow up tops will need a bit of time to consolidate.


Kinlochleven- Sgurr Eilde Mor 1010m, Binnein Beag 943m, Binnein Mor 1130m, Na Gruagaichean 1055m, back to car and pub

Perfect day for walk in the Skye

Sgurr Alasdair



Panoramic of the ridge in fantastic conditions

Absiel on route

Cloud had come in by the time i reached the In Pin


This morning awoke in my bivi next to my car at Glen Brittle carpark on the Isle of Skye to find the cloud had come in so i had a delayed start while i faffed around and waited to see any signs of clearing. After a couple of hours the cloud lifted and i was off up the ridge for some fantastic views and to tick off 2 new Munros at the start i had not done before. As you can see the cloud held for some time until i made it to the Inaccessible Pinnacle, a rock climb that i was defeated by on my last visit due to wet conditions and high winds. By the time i reached it to have another go the light was going and the rock extremely wet. As I was alone and no one knew where i was i chose that it was not wise to continue up past my half way marker again so down climbed and retreated back to my car.

Beautiful day over Scotland

Stayed an extra night at the lodge after MIC guinea pigging as there was a wiskey tasting session in the evening. The weather today was absolutely fantastic so took the day to chill, visit the beach on the Loch, and in the afternoon head over to the Isle of Skye to make use of this weather by tackling the ridge on Saturday.

MIC guinea pig day 2

Today was another awesome day in the corries. Alex and myself were guinea pigs on Carl's assessment who oversaw us complete a multipitch ice climbing route. After completeing the route we looked at lowering on steep slopes using bucket seats and bollards. We also looked at the use of a 'dead man' to protect ourselves.
I am pleased to say that Carl passed his MIC assessment which had him looking after us over the last 2 days.

MIC Guinea pig day 1

Ascending the route

Topping out on a route
Being taken on a climbing day as a guinea pig for an MIC (Ice climbing award) assessment. This was a great opportunity to ask plenty of questions and improve my skills to look after myself on routes in the future. It was a fantastic day with clear blue sky and sticky snow.

Perfect Climbing day

'The Vent' my first route of the day, the chock stone was only semi covered in ice. Near the top of Y Gully right hand route The 3 routes i did in the morning Climbing up the couloir An awesome photo of a 360 panoramic of cthe Cairngorm Plateau after ascending 'The Vent'

6 Routes in the Northern Corries, Cairngorms Fantastic day in the Cairngorms, Bivied out in the top carpark of ski center after car was starting to frost over on a clear night. It was going to be perfect weather in the morning. Walked into Corrie Lochain Started up 'The Vent' grade II, solo down the Couloir grade I up Y gully right branch, grade II, solo (with helmetcam) down couloir and accross vent to redo with helmetcam but was stacked up with climbers So, back up the Couloir Drop into Coire an T-Sneachda Up central gully, Grade I, solo Drop back in at eastern most point Up Aladdin's Couloir, Grade I, solo down Aladdin's Couloir, up Aladdin's Mirror, Grade I solo - not in condition, corner is on the rocks. Back to car

Couple of Munros

Today was drizzly and slushy with the cloud base being below the summits. Again stayed in a Luibleathann Bothy and drove the short distance to the Dalwhinnie junction on the A9. From here I ascended;
A'Bhuidheanach Bheag 936m
Carn na Caim 941m
on an anti-clockwise route back to the car. Afterwards i went on a bit of a recci in the car and came accross the remains of Ruthwen Barracks.

4 Munros with Matt

West of Cairngorms, bagging 4 munros with Matt Davis who came by to visit.

Awoke in Luibleathann Bothy

Drove to the B+B on the A9 (NN 627 792)
Geal-charn 917m (quick ascent 55 mins up)
A'Mharconaich 975m
Beinn Udlamain 1011m
Sgairneach Mhor 991m

Conditions, 40mph SW at tops, Slushy patchy snow. Above freezing

40 mile Mountain bike with Matt in Cairngorms

Awoke in the Ryvoan Bothy and walked back to cars to grab bikes. 40 mile ride around Abernethy Forest and Queen's Forest near to Avimore.

Conditions were drizzly with sunny spells. Protected from the wind in the forest. Stayed on fire tracks. After headed over to Luibleathann Bothy for the night.

Loch Lomond Golf

A round of golf with Ollie and Dad around the Cameron House Golf course

Fantastic weather and a welcome break from beasting myself up a mountain. The day ended with a couple of games of snooker.

Family walk by Loch Lomond

Family walk today around part of the Balcnock horseshoe to the West of Loch Lomond. We had 4 seasons in one day but all enjoyed the experience.

Bike Ride with Lucy

Drizzly wet day for our 37km ride round Loch Ard Forest, East of Loch Lomond. Made the most of it and enjoyed the well deserved Hot Chocolate in the Cafe at the end.

Download the route on Memmap

Bothy Day with Family

As a family we went to the Doune Byre Bothy along the West Highland Way, fantastic weather with time at the bothy to light a fire in a wheelbarrow to toast our marshmallows. The walk started and finished at the Droves Inn, a pub I would highly recomend. :)

Snow arrives at Loch Lomond

We awoke to a blanket of fresh along awaited snow this morning. It was beautiful

Loch Lomond

This week has seen me by Loch Lomond chilling out at my parents time share and waiting for some more snow to arrive and consolidate.

Creachan Hill

Walk with parents up Creachan Hill 536m to the West of Loch Lomond.