This last week has, however, been absolutely amazing, thanks mostly to the weather. Scotland (and I believe England too?) has been under a very high pressure and Ali and I have been bouldering in the balmy february sun on the beach, ice climbing on a magnificent looking Ben Nevis, single-pitch cragging on warm granite and mussel hunting in the golden light of this last evening. My feet are complaining loudly after climbing in mountain boots with no insoles but my ML Training is next week and life probably couldn't get a whole lot better!
Ali and I are now back on Mull for a few days of shelf painting, dog-proofing fences (in the wild hope of my Dad getting a dog before too long... come ON Dad! Move up here and then you can start looking!) and general knowledge building of the Mull coastline. I am attempting to pack for my ML... Going back through my "Quality Mountain Days" is tricky too. Most of my days out have always been climbing related rather than all about navigation and gaining a peak and all that faff. Ha, how single-track minded I have become... This summer may have to be all about ML days rather than climbing! Sigh...
Oh! EVERYONE needs to go and have a look at Ali's new photography website because his photos are brilliant.
And also, check out his latest blog, because he took some great photos of us actually winter climbing! He is far more gnarly than I am. I decided against carrying up both the heavy heavy humous pot AND the camera and decided food was vastly more important.
Right, now here are the few photos I have taken recently.
Wild goat under an ominous sky on the south coast of Mull. Fortunately, the ominous sky was just trying to trick us and instead, we haven't seen a cloud for a week!
Ali, Anna and Adam in the Nun's Cave. This cave has stone carvings dating from the 6th century onwards and was thought to have been a home for nun's coming from the Isle of Iona (supposedly the first place that Christianity arrived in the UK)
Bouldering on the beach, under the sun, 10 mins walk from the house. Perfect.
How is this for a gnarly mother? This is Mum, topping out of The Wand (V,5) on Creag Meagaidh. Ali is particularly happy that he can now say he has been on an ice climbing trip with his girlfriend's Mum.
Near the summit of Ben Nevis. Could not have been better conditions for climbing. We were extremely lucky too because despite this weekend being one of the busiest of the year for the Ben and Meagaidh, we didn't have to queue for a single route and we only chose the classics to climb! For those interested we did Staghorn Gully (III) and South Pipe Direct (IV,4) on Meagaidh and Comb Gully (IV,4) and Point Five Gully (V,5) on the Ben.
Sunset from the Back of Keppoch, near Arisaig. This beach is so beautiful and well worth a visit if ever anyone gets the chance. It was a childhood holiday memory for Ali and a place I could instantly fall in love with. The big islands in the background are Eigg (the flat one) and Rum (with the mountains - The Rum Cuillin). Who is keen for a sea kayak/climbing trip to Rum??
Last but not least, an amazing little bothy on the coast, tucked away over the hills and up a fixed rope. May have to come back here for an overnight stay sometime. A little stove, a stunning view, a comfy shelf and plenty of driftwood on the beach. Idyllic!
Right, on with the ML packing. Happy adventures all!
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