Round up: Best of 2022
The end of 2022 feels very different to the start; this time 12 months ago we were still looking at restrictions and possible lockdowns going forward. Family christmas was a very muted affair whereas this year has been an almost return to normal!
A thin (but brilliant) Gardyloo gully on Ben Nevis
JANUARY - in mid january we were finally able to return to OUR annual MIGRATORY pattern and head north to the west coast of scotland for the winter. The season started mild and things took a while to build. ben nevis was the real saviour giving reliable climbing.
we ran the first of two fully booked winter mountaineering courses for austrian alpine club uk members.
One of only a couple of ski days out in Scotland winter 2022; Creag Meagaidh with Becky and Rach
FEBRUARY - was the stormy month! Conditions got better and better but the weather rarely abated all month being windy and snowy every day. i spent 4 weeks on climbing and mountaineering courses for Jagged globe, ticking routes like Green gully and tower ridge on Ben nevis and the Aonach Eagach. Stand out route was probably the rare red gully on sgor na H ulaidh.
Becky on the steep finish to Comb Gully Buttress, Icicle variation. A brilliant day with Rach and Becky
MARCH - the start of march saw fantastic conditions and I guided routes like twisting gully in Stob Coire nan Lochain and tower ridge again. By mid month, it suddenly went nuclear warm and it was suddenly the end!
we escaped down south and I worked on a few mountain training courses before it was holiday time…
Moyen Envers, Vallee Blanche powder. A rare skiing treat
APRIL - we finally made it back to the alps after an ABSENCE of a couple of years. Luckily our trip COINCIDED with a big dump of snow and we got some great off piste skiing, some ski touring and some climbing in. it was also great to see some good friends. A funny highlight was a holiday within the holiday where we escaped to oltra finale in italy for a few days of rock climbing in the sun!
Linda on her way to ticking the Skye munros. We had a brilliant day on the northern 3, starting a bit later to dodge the heavy rain and winds and getting clear skies in the afternoon.
MAY - was the month of everything; some great work and climbing at home featuring outdoor education, tree work, scrambling, some training and assessing mountain leaders and ten days of work and play in scotland. I ticked the cuillin munros working and got very soggy in glencoe!
Sea level traversing has to be one of the best group activities on a sunny day
JUNE - (into july) was the month or so for delivering outdoor education. I delivered the first week using our newly gained AALA license as well as freelancing for blue peris AND ARETE. it’s always great to work with young people in the outdoors.
I also delivered a few scrambling days, a few run guiding days, ML refreshers and learn to lead courses!
Descending into Arolla on typical alpine trekking terrain; moraine on the edge of the glaciers
JULY - was a chance to get back to the Alps. it’s now very difficult for us to work (solely due to brexit) but there are some limited opportunities in switzerland. it was great to work with the legendary jim langley on an a haute route for alpenwild. We had a lovely team from the usa. While it was great to be out in the bigger mountains it was depressing to see the impact the hot weather was having on the glaciers and general snow cover.
A real highlight of the year was seeing these two develop their mountaineering skills. They first came to me a couple of years ago to prep for a Cuillin traverse, now leading their own climbs and scrambles. Well done Dave and Sam
AUGUST - seemed to have a training and assessing mountain qualifications theme. I worked on several mountain leader and rock climbing instructor courses and helped several mci trainees prepare for upcoming assessments…
Looking back at the Old man of Stoer
SEPTEMBER - was spent mainly away. I’d signed up for the ring of steall (fell) running race and so spent some time training. A wet week in pembroke gave some opportunity for my longest run for awhile before heading north for the race. I had a great couple of weeks of work and play after including two laps on the inpinn before a fitting finale of an ascent of the old man of stoer with my great friend and client, Luke.
My nieces came to stay and we had a fun few days adventuring locally in Eryri
OCTOBER - was unusual month for me; earlier in the year I’d had some wisdom tooth pain which NECESSITATED their removal at some point. They were difficult extractions and involved a week off work each… i had one in may and the second in October. I did a fair bit of tree work and a couple of mountain leader courses for Garland mountaineering
Blurry but one of my favourite shots of our diving experience
NOVEMBER - seems to be holiday month! I got on my first flight in quite a while to mexico where we had a distinctly un mountainous experience learning to dive in the CARIBBEAN. This was something i’d wanted to do for quite some time so was a real treat. On top of that the food was excellent! when we got home it was cpd season; a first aid renewal and some work for mountain training association in the lakes and baiml in the peak made for a good few weeks
Boxing day walk on the south coast with my Dad and Nella