Thursday 24 May 2018

New Routing Season Starts

Spring is without doubt my favourite time of the year. Its time to go searching for new trad routes and I've had success already this season.

Last year I visited Blade Buttress in Glen Nevis with Steve to check out an existing line and spotted potential for a new route instead but it required some deforestation first.

Abbing in to begin cleaning. Steall falls behind.

Extreme gardening.

Fast forward one year and another visit with Steve and Iain. After all the recent sun I was happy to see the route in rare dry condition so I got to work and finished cleaning it and eventually getting to see the moves. After a quick play on the crux I got on lead, after easy climbing I reached the crux and had a bit of a brain fart but figured it out and climbed through to the finish. Its an awesome wee line at around E1 5c, I called it Bit o a Boorach. 

On the first ascent of  Bit o a Boorach. Pic- Steve Holmes

One week later and we visited Onich for some serious cleaning. Unearthed 2 lines. One of which is a project with pretty much no gear and very technical, strenuous climbing. The other however gave very nice climbing but again only marginal gear. I called this one 'View to a Kill' as Onich has a view over to the Murder Cairn area where the Red Fox was shot in 1752. I think its around E1 5b.

Tooled up for cleaning. Pic- Type Two Media 

On View to a Kill. Pic- Sillars Photography

Another angle. Pic- Type Two Media

The Dream Team. Conor, John, myself and Michael Pic- Type Two Media

Its been a great start to the season and heres hoping it continues.