tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67367688113060856762024-02-19T08:50:33.382-08:00Mountains to the SeaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-90435712379758318742013-02-28T03:12:00.002-08:002013-02-28T03:12:31.487-08:00New WebsitePlease now go to my website<br />
http://www.mountainstotheseaphotography.com/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-2048492424833348362013-02-10T10:38:00.001-08:002013-02-10T10:38:05.134-08:00Courchevel to Mull<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The last couple of weeks have as ever been a whirlwind of jumping all over the place. Some of the less exciting things have been things like Duke of Edinburgh Scheme supervisor/assessor days and sitting my bus driving theory tests (for once i actually passed first time!) while the more exciting bits have been exactly that. First up a week in Courchevel with a massive group of friends who really looked after Hannah and I amazingly. Iona was a star taking us too and from the airport and Adrian (and Tom Kenny) were very kind putting us up for the week. Ailsa firmly organised our social calendar and it was great to catch up with all the extended island crew for the week at varios drinks, meals and music.</div>
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Looking towards Meribel and Val Thorens.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1Y-DOKFmpsVjhBzyMl55KQAfjHcvJPk4T22ZoGOdjTUuZvegCXFEFKyFEe9bpNNl96nrazRgZIwJk15hHoYXDfAEeMUNYAU9PgATVz5Q1llv18Gjb0hC9FuCZwiYyBs93nsPC35ND4c/s1600/IMG_4765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1Y-DOKFmpsVjhBzyMl55KQAfjHcvJPk4T22ZoGOdjTUuZvegCXFEFKyFEe9bpNNl96nrazRgZIwJk15hHoYXDfAEeMUNYAU9PgATVz5Q1llv18Gjb0hC9FuCZwiYyBs93nsPC35ND4c/s400/IMG_4765.jpg" width="330" /></a></div>
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Birds playing in the snow at one of our lunch stops</div>
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Stu, Justin, Hannah and Sara tearing it up</div>
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A picture from Iona of me looking like a zombie after Hannah and I made our best effort at finishing off a raclette.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">After a swift transition it was off to Oban to meet Hannah and Tony to head over to Mull and Ardachy Hotel. </span></div>
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Hannah on the bonnet of Bluebell the red landrover at the front of Ardachy house. Hannah is house sitting Ardachy for the next couple of months in preparation of her dad Tony moving up there in April. Ardachy (helpfully pronounced with the emphasis on the Ard and the chy) is in a spectactular place on the ross of mull overlooking Ardalanish bay.<br />
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Ardalanish bay from the East<br />
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Some locals not too impressed with the strong winds last week.<br />
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Another shot of the beach<br />
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The Ross of Mull is famous for many things - one of them is high quality single pitch climbing. Hannah and David on the search for another crag on the nearby isle of Erraid<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuhsCeDYX_moHysKtCu1RtIoxP_oSY_kS1aBUTmmZ2k2Mqbmd5KroyGV7JtMpmi0qpZAgFAzIzUkn7NtWkKpqmpFLMxs82Mr4Z87XIwi6dgHBxTvRyPmIbg1X6wDxRssbu-IEjTlsqPo/s1600/IMG_5064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuhsCeDYX_moHysKtCu1RtIoxP_oSY_kS1aBUTmmZ2k2Mqbmd5KroyGV7JtMpmi0qpZAgFAzIzUkn7NtWkKpqmpFLMxs82Mr4Z87XIwi6dgHBxTvRyPmIbg1X6wDxRssbu-IEjTlsqPo/s400/IMG_5064.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Hannah with David belaying on "floyd" (HS 4b (5.8)) at pink walls. You wouldn't believe its the start of February. Shortly after this I was completely shut down on a VS 4c (5.8/5.9) to the right of this. Might have to get better at crack climbing!<br />
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Classic Mull road sign. (pronounced "Fin-a-fort)<br />
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Hannah on top of the asteroid in "asteroid chasm" another climbing area<br />
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Ardachy house (Left) and its view down to the bay.<br />
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Next up its time for some work before heading back to Mull for a couple of days before some winter climbing. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-26997634014827964862013-01-19T13:48:00.000-08:002013-01-19T13:48:01.322-08:00Rushing around everywhere.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I should currently be packing for a week skiing in France but love to procastinate with pictures so here is a quick set of photos from the last few weeks. I have been rushing around everywhere doing a massive amount of driving, some kayaking, rock climbing, winter (mixed) climbing, walking, demolition (at bobs house) and some profesional development courses.</div>
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I spent a great day on Ben Nevis with Miles climbing Tower ridge (IV,3). I got this shot on descent (it was dark when we walked in). You can see the CIC hut on the far left of the image and how little snow was present. We climbed Tower ridge pretty quick able to move on just rock for the first section and get crampons on at the little tower.</div>
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Bob topping out of DT's Route at the Limekilns<br />
The day before going to the Ben I was at Limekilns with Miles, Hannah and Bob. Bob told a story about how people go on ski trips every year thinking they can ski as well as the last day of their trip the year before and break their legs. Then after not climbing for many months Bob jumped on the lead on "DT's Route" (VS 4c) which we later found out might be a little harder the way we all climbed it. <br />
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Miles approaching the Eastern Traverse. One of the reasons we were able to climb so quickly was the old footprints in the snow and the clear weather. <br />
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Miles picking up coils shortly after dawn at the base of the little tower<br />
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Anyone who has climbed with Miles knows this face - it says - please let me lead the next pitch, please!<br />
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Meanach Bothy (far right) on a rainy morning. <br />
After the day on Ben Nevis my van decided it needed a new alternator. Luckily Fort william is a good place to break down and i decided to head into the mountains on my own till it was fixed. This was in the middle of some atrocious weather but I found a few bothies to stay in! I waded the river on the left in my underwear in the dark on the first night trying to find this one!<br />
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Looking down upper Glen Nevis to Steal hut (the white dot just off centre)<br />
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Staineog Bothy</div>
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Leacach Bothy (far left) at the base of Stob Ban. I did a few Munros from this bothy but mainly just hid from the high winds and heavy snow.<br />
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I then spent a few days at Bob and Clares in Glasgow helping demolish a shed and getting a quick days climbing in Glen Coe with Bob<br />
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Bob seconding up the 1st pitch of Inglis Clark Ridge (III) on Stob Criese. This pitch was meant to be a nice water ice pitch but instead was a little water ice, no gear and some frozen turf - great fun.<br />
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Bob leading off up the second pitch. The route then takes a swing up the face of the buttress/ridge for two pitches<br />
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Classic shot of Black Rock cottage with the Buachille behind from where we parked to walk into the Inglis clark ridge.</div>
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Glen Etive from the top of the ridge. This was a great day but lots of slogging through loose snow was pretty time consuming!<br />
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Now its off to france for some more snow!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-8746238457498722042013-01-04T02:08:00.000-08:002013-01-04T02:38:53.258-08:00Hogmanay 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well the Yellow Heiffer(my van) is currently packed with Kayaking gear and I am about to drive south to the Lake district for a couple of days of kayaking. At one stage this seemed like complete madness but it is currently very warm in Scotland with the majority of the snow stripped of the mountains so now seems like quite a good option.</div>
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In May last year Wee Ben and I chatted about doing a big hogmmany in a bothy in the middle of nowhere and as the months progressed I realised that I should organise it. I was a little more organised than usual (in that I actually invited other people) and the turn out was brilliant with some people driving for days just to be there and even an American!</div>
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A large group of us walked in on the 30th with heavy packs full of food, drink, coal and warm clothes with more arriving the next day. On the 31st we woke up to horizontal rain and some warm temperatures so had a very short day wandering up the glen and up to a good view point and then the party started.....</div>
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In the main room of the bothy on the first night planning the next day.</div>
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The bothy with rainbow on the last morning as we were packing up to leave.<br />
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There was a lot of old coal in the fire so when we did finally get it going it got a little too hot! This was actually a little worrying as the whole thing started to sparkle!<br />
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A very wet wander up the Glen. Miles showing great technique on a river crossing<br />
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Getting near the head of the glen as squalls of snow/rain/sleet hit us. Ruaridh leading the way.<br />
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Finally it cleared enough for a snowball fight with the remaining snow.<br />
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Ali C very happy with his jacket.<br />
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Scott and Miles back at the bothy on the 31st. The drinking started about 1430 and ended 12 hrs later when Scott and I checked that we had in fact drank everything!<br />
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The main room of the bothy all set up for party games and lots of food - Dinner was massive involving Haggis on oat cakes, samosas, onion bhajis, chicken fajitas, cheese balls, pizza, christmas cake, cheese and biscuits and chocolate.<br />
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When it did clear on the 31st it was amazing. Ruaridh (far right) looking down the glen back to the bothy.<br />
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HDR shot of the sandstone slabs running with water under a heavy sky.<br />
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Thanks to all who showed up, it was an amazing couple of days in a brilliant place. Same again next year?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-63393479427965310542012-12-22T04:52:00.001-08:002012-12-22T04:52:49.161-08:00Yangshou Post 3 (Climbing etc)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And finally the climbing...<br />
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Giles going for it on "Eggstatic"(6b+/5.11a) at "the Egg" on the second day.<br />
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Giles trying to stay on the same route<br />
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Hannah entering the crux of "Eggstreme Exposure" (6a/5.10b)<br />
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Hannah above the rice fields on the same route<br />
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Miles "I'm in Hufflepuff" Mconville<br />
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Hannah, Miles and Giles on top of Jeremys Jiji (they are on there if you look closely!)<br />
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Eben making things hard for himself on "Les Echo des Montagnes" (5/5.8) Low mountain<br />
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A crowded abseil station on Low mountain. L-R Eben, Miles and Hannah sporting some colourful tights<br />
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Miles abseiling from low mountain.<br />
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Not climbing but I thought I should include one shot of the food which was amazing the whole time. Miles sampling a local delicacy of pork stuffed snails. You can just make out the dish to the left (Szechuan beef). This was probably my favourite meal the whole trip!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-90833576315863851092012-12-22T04:24:00.000-08:002012-12-22T04:25:00.449-08:00Yanshou - Post 2 (Landscape etc)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have been to Yangshuo a few times and it never fails to impress with amazing scenery. Below are some of the better shots I got over the week.</div>
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Celebrating the end of the world on one of our first evenings. I have never seen so many fireworks released at once.<br />
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It wouldn't be a trip to China without at least one picture of bamboo!<br />
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The Li River with the Karst Landscape of Yangshuo - Taken from the top of Low Mountain<br />
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Black and white reflections taken near "the egg"<br />
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Another view from low mountain<br />
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Down by the river with some traditional rafts<br />
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Me, Hannah, Miles and Giles on top of "Jeremys Jiji" on Giles last day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-9662246595827698442012-12-22T04:11:00.001-08:002012-12-22T04:12:10.626-08:00Yangshuo - Post 1 (transport)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After a stressful couple of days I now have my bag back from Amsterdam airport with all my camera gear and laptop complete. Not entirely sure what would have happened if it hadn't turned up other than my next couple of months being considerable bankrupt! I took a lot of pictures over the last week or so hanging out with Hannah, Eben, Miles and Giles up in Yangshuo in China. Here is the first of three posts....</div>
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Hannah and Miles cracking up on day one and out first mode of transport - Pink bikes<br />
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Crag access Yangshuo style - on our way to Twin Gate Crag<br />
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Day 2 - Tandems - I think this tested Giles and Miles's relationship more than Hannah and I's. Could be because Hannah insisted they wear tights as well (Giles didnt need much convincing)<br />
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The "Iles's" ready for action on their tandem<br />
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Day Three - Electric Scooter Day. Definitely my favourite. With a top speed of about 15km an hour these things are hilariously brilliant for zipping around on. Even funnier to see Miles with Eben on the back at the end of the days climbing.<br />
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Hannah settled in for the night on the sleeper bus back to Hong Kong.<br />
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Next up some Landscape and people shots I think.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-52352429904193195932012-12-07T23:22:00.001-08:002012-12-07T23:23:31.331-08:00Adventure TimeI thought I try and fit one last post in from Hong Kong before its time for fun and adventures once more. Yesterday was my last day of work for a while after another busy season with Asia Pacific Adventure. The last month has been pretty busy with work and bad weather which has meant no climbing and not really anything much except work actually. November and the horrific Mo came to and end finally and I am back to not having an itchy upper lip. I did have a slightly more relaxed week at work last week and managed to take some photos on program. <br />
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Chisum, Ken and I (the dream team?) at the end of another program in the Beer Garden and the last day with the handlebar style moustache! - Yes Ken is drinking half pints!<br />
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Not taking a nap - Miles tried to hide in the rubber tubes so we pushed him over.<br />
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Kyle bringing the dragon boat home at Wong Yi Chau last week. It was overcast and rainy most of the week but still a lot of fun (especially seeing as we were staying in dorms!)<br />
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An old abandoned house at Wong Yi Chau village in Sai Kung. There are loads of these old villages in the new territories but less and less people living in them. Its amazing to walk along and come across these buildings that probably had people living in them not long ago.<br />
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The Swimming pool in Luk Wu gorge. No swimming this week but it was beautiful hiking weather.<br />
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Black and White HDR shot of Wong Yi Chau pier.<br />
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The 2012 staff team.<br />
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Another shot from the end of SPCC. 5 photo stitch. L-R - James, Ant, Curtis, Al, Adam, Gabby, Gnani. Eben, Choy, Kyle.<br />
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Today I have a new climbing rope uncoiled, a pile of quickdraws and am trying to pack my bags. Hannah flies in in a couple of hours and then its off on adventures for the next while - first stop a sport climbing trip to Yangshou.....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-29624929282888517562012-11-17T01:39:00.002-08:002012-11-17T01:46:41.124-08:00Movember<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Its been a busy last couple of weeks with lots of work and the odd day out and about in Hong Kong looking for adventures. I have also been taking part in Movember this year for the first time ever. Thank you to all the sponsors so far and know that the moustache is coming in thick and strong (and itchy). Photos from the last couple of weeks.</div>
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Gnani (my only real competeition at this stage) and I one week into movember</div>
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Eben on the crag classic at Beacon hill "Lizard" 7a.<br />
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A quick night shot on my way home one day. <br />
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Another night shot from the top of the ferry pier where i get the boat home.<br />
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I spent two days out on Tung Lung Island with Geordie and Nikolai chopping old bolts and replacing them with Glue ins. Gear being sorted.<br />
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One hole down - This was a long dusty couple of days grinding, drilling, cleaning and glueing. You can just make out the start of the moustache - I think this was on the 2nd of Movemeber<br />
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Still going in the evening of day one. Geordie grinding the old Tyrolean bolts<br />
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Nikolai and Geordie messing with one of Mr Wongs kittens.<br />
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Miles, Giles, Matt and I made an early morning dash to Lion Rock to do a mass ascent of the classic climb "Gweilo". Here Miles seems less than certain of Giles choice of legwear and his way of getting past him.<br />
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Busted - Matt pulling on quickdraws on the crux pitch.<br />
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Mile on the traverse pitch<br />
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At the top being very chinese about it. Hilarious day of banter climbing as a massive group. <br />
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Last weekend Giles and I tried to find a route on Mt Stenhouse on Lamma which the old guidebook describes as a traditional classic. Called "Aardclimb" and graded HVS 5a. The approach, as expected, was pure jungle scwacking to get to the base. It actually did look like someone has been there recently. The climb probably has not been done in years and we were met with a lot of vegetation.<br />
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Giles "cleaning" the second pitch. He did in fact get to a position where he was standing on the thing hes holding onto in this shot before we realised how horrible the rest of the climbing looked (you can see the crack above him filled with grass and bushes)</div>
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Giles "Do I look like Bear Grylls" Cranston alone in a sea of bushes on our retreat<br />
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Panoramic shot of hong kong from the end of last month from the top of Kowloon peak.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-64860334107427331142012-10-21T18:06:00.000-07:002012-10-21T18:12:12.128-07:00Slowly getting cooler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hong Kong is slowly cooling down and becoming a little less humid. This means more climbing on the big crags and possibly even wearing trousers in the evenings in a couple of weeks time. I actually cant wait till I first have to put on a fleece. I have managed to get out climbing quite a bit over the last few weeks as work has not been too busy and the breeze has been pretty constant making the big crags of Lion Rock and Temple crag viable options. Lots of days climbing with Giles (who always seems to be ill) and an assorted crew of others has as ever allowed me to get to less visited parts of Hong Kong. Apart from climbing theres been the usual round of eating and drinking with friends and the occasional music session.</div>
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A rare photo of me climbing. I dont always wear tights. Thanks to Curtis for taking the shot, a brilliant day at central crags a few weeks ago with Giles, Curtis and Kyle.<br />
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Some of the crew hanging out at the bottom of Austin Powers crag at Central. L-R Elle, Jake and Gabby (looking in disgust at Giles on Dr Evil I think)<br />
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Giles on "Dr Evil" 6c+/7a depending on reach and dyno ability.<br />
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Nasty looking monkey on the way to Lion rock. One of these went for me taking a photo of it later. <br />
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Giles struggling to keep his feet on the rock on "Austrian Staircase" on Lion Rock. Higher up this route I thought I saw a snake in the same crack my fingers were in. Not my most controlled climbing but at least I stayed on (yelling "snake, snake, snake"). Turned out to be a large Gecko.<br />
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Sunset over the ferry at my home town Yung Shue Wan, Lamma<br />
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Miles and Letty in the their new house complete with fridge and red horse beer.<br />
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Limited drink choices at the end of the night<br />
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Giles seconding the first pitch of "Silent Prayer" 6a on temple crag. A bit hot for slab climbing but great fun.<br />
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Miles going for the only good hold on pitch one.<br />
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3rd pitch of Silent prayer with Giles and Miles. Lots of banter climbing as a three. Small world to be multipitch cragging in Hong Kong with three people who all used to work for the same place in Scotland at different times. <br />
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Miles "this is kind of like Dun Caan" Mconville high above Lantau island. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-58473510770722586292012-09-29T22:32:00.001-07:002012-09-29T22:37:36.576-07:00One Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've been back in Hong Kong for a month now and as we enter October it is definitely cooling off a bit. This month has been a mix of work and play - days in the office, staff training, working on a program and the odd day climbing, gorge walking, hiking and running. </div>
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Cooling off at Tung Lung Pier in the middle of the staff training week. Pilky (furthest away) going for the "gaynor" while Tom front flips.<br />
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Abseil at lovers rock all set to go for the annual staff adventure race.<br />
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The day after staff training. Tired and hungover but ready to go at the Zawn of Cape Collinson. L to R Giles (potentially still a little drunk), James, Elle (hiding) and Gabbie<br />
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Giles and Elle on neighbouring routes in the Zawn - this wall is great for an easy day sport climbing with a good progression of easy(ish) F6's<br />
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Same as above, different angle.<br />
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Matt in the pool of Yellow Dragon Waterfall on Lantau island on a day off. A group of us had a great day hiking and swimming in the gorge followed by a solid bush bash out of the top of the gorge. Hong Kong definitely has some beautiful natural places still to explore.<br />
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Giant Golden Orb Weaver (or Large Woodland - not as cool a name) spider hanging out - taken on the hike out of the yellow dragon gorge.<br />
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Yesterday James and I decided to break our rule of not going multipitch climbing on the big crags till it cooled down and went off to climb "Sunset Crack (S4b)" on Kowloon main wall, high above the city. This turned out to be the full adventure experience, slogging uphill for 45mins in the heat, bush bash/scramble to the base followed by 5 pitches which may be a little undergraded (hard to tell as my left shoulder is not to happy right now so I was not really using my left hand). James here on the finger traverse pitch - brilliant route for the grade though probably hasnt been climbed in years!<br />
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James relieved to get through the crux with our somewhat limited rack of trad gear.<br />
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Swimming below the main fall in the brides pool gorge on staff training. This day was so hot we were barely hiking 15mins before looking for the next pool to dip in.<br />
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Now I have a couple of days off to relax and get out and about in Hong Kong a bit more. Its so easy to fall into the trap of going to the same places but with a group of interested people I'm hoping to see more places that I haven't yet seen in and around Hong Kong.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-72619444523481350052012-09-08T05:34:00.001-07:002012-09-29T22:40:09.343-07:00Fast Transistions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As ever I did not give myself much time to transition from one job contract (and country) to another. My last few weeks in Scotland saw the seasons change to a definite Autumn and the super breed of midgies (no see ums for the americans out there) appeared as well. I managed to fit in a couple more adventures before leaving even with the high winds, rain and midgies. The first was a group effort in too Ardverikie wall on Binnean Shuas with the hope of another climb the next day. In true style we walked in around 3pm to pitch camp and have a go at the route as a party of 5. Amazingly the midgies and rain held off most of the time we were actually climbing (except the second belay spot) and we were soon back at our beautiful camp getting eaten alive by midgies....</div>
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Walking in to Binnean Shuas, Hannah up front and Joe behind - note the cheeky bottle of Rose wine on the side of Joe's bag.<br />
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Looking down the route at Hannah and Laura on the second Belay. I dont think they were particularly impressed with me taking photos while the midgies swarmed.<br />
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Laura after her first ever outdoor climb. Drinking wine through a midgy net - Classy!</div>
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The camp below Binnean Shuas.<br />
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The last adventure was my last full day in Scotland for a few months. Ruaridh agreed to meet me at the northern corries car park in the Cairngorms even though the forecast did not look too impressive. What was impressive was that Ruaridh had not climbed in a couple of years but was happily flying up the classic Magic Crack (HVS) with frozen fingers and toes and some very windy belays.<br />
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Ruaridh trying to work out the wet lower pitch of the climb.<br />
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Ruaridh looking fairly happy in the middle of the crux on the upper pitch. (With cold fingers and toes this pitch felt a lot harder than HVS!)<br />
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Ruaridh cruising the final few moves of Magic Crack.<br />
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Then the next day I was in Hong Kong and today had my first day out climbing. A bit of a change from Scotland.<br />
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James (top left) on one of the warm up routes on Bunker wall. I only climbed three routes today due to sweating so much..</div>
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At least there's something to do when it gets too hot! <br />
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Climbing access Hong Kong style.<br />
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And of course the sunset on the ferry ride home. It is as ever a shock to jump between two such radically different places but soon the busy season will be in full swing in Asia and I will soon be back in Scotland for the snowy and icy stuff.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-31658762944586156562012-08-16T06:25:00.002-07:002012-09-29T22:39:07.744-07:00The good life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As ever I feel incredibly lucky to live my life as I do and the last few weeks have been fantastic even with the mixed weather. A gamble and a long drive to Ardnamurchan paid off with an amazing few days climbing with Adrian and Hannah a couple of weeks ago and lots of time hanging out in beautiful places have made it easy to find photos for this post...</div>
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Adrian on perfect Gniess in perfect weather on the ring crags of Ardnamurchan (the route is Yir VS 4c on Meall an Fhir Eion)<br />
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Hannah padding up the classic HS Leac Glas (i think) on the apron slabs<br />
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Me taking a breather after the hard part of "minky" E2 5b<br />
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Adrian and Hannah sorting gear halfway up the Apron Slabs<br />
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Dolphin playing in the sound of Luing<br />
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More dolphins<br />
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More dolphins being followed by Iona in Goldeneye<br />
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Dolphins showing off<br />
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Ailsa and Stu storming through the corryvrechan to drop me off on the North end of Jura for another expedition<br />
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Theres a climber in there somewhere. Meall an Fhir EionUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-1461513900289173792012-07-20T08:35:00.002-07:002012-07-20T08:37:47.970-07:00Lots of driving, lots of rain, lots of fun and a little climbing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Even by British standards it has been a little damp for the summer. It is still possible to find good weather if you look hard enough but it does involve a fair bit of driving and some staring at synoptic charts. The last few weeks have been busy with work and courses, I took some days off and completed my Mountaineering Instructors training which was great fun (Glenmore lodge is sponsored by Balvenie whisky and has full cooked breakfasts every day which helped) and it was then back on the road for some climbing up North. Then back to work for the last few weeks with the odd day off looking for dry rock or at least dry pubs.</div>
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Last night - Some of my family lined up at sunset in findhorn bay - you might be able to tell who has the binoculars..<br />
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Charlie rocking it out at the Moorings in Corpach<br />
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My co-instructor Chris sitting by the fire in North Bay on Scarba on one of our expeditions.<br />
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On the same expedition with Chris we came across an awfull lot of dead animals. The group of young lads we had with us looked a little horrified when we hacked the head off this deer the next morning and carried it back with us. The smell did mean they kept walking though.<br />
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My Kelly Kettle cranking out one last hot chocolate at about 11pm in North bay while Chris tells the kids a story in their sleeping bags.<br />
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Another wet day in scotland. Adrian jumping off right angle falls.<br />
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Its probably dry up there - Adrian and I about to bail off a very wet "Satans Slit" on Rannoch wall. Neither of us could feel our hands.<br />
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Hannah seconding up "route 3" on the main wall on Diabiag in perfect conditions while it rains on the rest of scotland. The climbing at Diabiag is unbelievable - we managed to fit 9 pitches of climbing into the day, all above HVS finishing with the immaculate "Northumbria wall (E2 5c)"<br />
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Looking NW from the summit of Scarba. The Garbhellachs are the long thin chain of islands on the left and mull is in the the background. The right side of the image is Lunga, Rua Fiola etc.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-49747935400223356992012-06-23T14:26:00.000-07:002012-06-23T14:26:23.957-07:00Island life and Jolly nights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Keeping this blog going while I dont have electricity is proving to be a bit of a challenge but the photography opportunities in the hebrides are endless so I will keep at it. It doesn't seem long since my last post which is probably because days off have been few and far between. I am now however into my big break of the summer before things get really busy. Life on the island continues with beautiful sunsets, fun times and the odd night in our own bar the "Jolly Roger". The highlight of any course is always the expedition, a chance to explore one of the fantastic remote islands of the inner hebrides, cook on open fire, swim in rock pools and check out the wildlife and rocky coastlines. Below is a selection of pictures from the last few weeks.</div>
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Shag eggs on the west coast of A'Chuili</div>
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My Employers - Torquil and Margaret dressed up as the Queen and Prince Philip for the Jubille<br />
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Jubilee lunch in the main house<br />
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Pete keeping things going (with Adrian helping) in the Jolly Roger<br />
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Bog Cotton with Dun connel and Garvellach from Eilean Dubh Mor<br />
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The Small island between Dun Connel and Garvellach at sunset<br />
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Last light from Eilean Dubh Beag<br />
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Ailsa (the biggest poser in the world) kissing a Scorpion fish<br />
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Looking north in the sound of luing on a still evenings paddle</div>
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<br /><object id="BLOG_video-UPLOADING-0" class="BLOG_video_class" contentid="UPLOADING" width="320" height="266" ></object></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-77381035823249738562012-06-07T08:22:00.001-07:002012-06-07T08:22:13.674-07:00Trying to fit it all in<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My days off over the last month have been exactly as I remember the best days off in Scotland being. Big days climbing or on the hill, nights camped in beautiful places with great people. Below is a selection of photos from the last month.</div>
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A day out on Etive slabs with (from left to right) Nadia, Hannah, Wee Ben, Gloria and myself. We climbed Spartan slab with Nadia and I topping out last at about 9pm to get back down to the glen to find a fire going and dinner cooked.<br />
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Nadia enjoying a bit of scottish slab climbing!<br />
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The Yellow van Club - Stu's, mine and Ben's parked at the head of Loch Etive<br />
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Halfway along the Aonach Eagach ridge with Stu, Iona, Nadia, Gloria and Hannah with of course a dinner in the Clachaig Inn at the end of the day.<br />
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While Nadia was in Scotland we headed out early one morning to look for the "Captains Bothy" otherwise known as Carlottas Eyrie - on of the most spectacular coastal bothies I have seen. The door is accessed by climbing up some slabs with an in situ rope to help you along...<br />
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Messing around on expedition on the Island of Lunga. The sundial says its time to go find a cave to sleep in.<br />
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Hannah and I set off to have a massive course break fitting in as much climbing as possible. This is taken on the first night at about 9pm before starting the Cuillin Ridge on Skye. We bivied on the ridge, finished it the next day, drove to Ben Nevis, Slept, Climbed "Centurion" on the Ben (with Hannah in one approach shoe/one climbing shoe), drove to glen coe and climbed "Agags Groove" on the Buachille the next day in the pouring rain before heading back to work.<br />
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Hannah and I about to start the Cuillin traverse at about 9pm on the summit of Garbh Bheinn the most southerly peak of the 14 peaks that make up the ridge (11km of lots of scrambling, climbing and abseiling)<br />
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Hannah seconding up the crux pitch of Centurion - you might just be able to spot that her left foot is in an approach shoe after she forgot one shoe....<br />
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Cuillin ridge shortly after dawn<br />
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Sunset from Back of Keppoch.</div>
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On sadder news my friend Doug passed away recently from cancer. Doug was an amazing inspirational guy who had a story for every occasion, Below is a selection of photos of Doug in his element on Staff training on the Deschutes river. Not sure why I shot them all in black and white but it does seem to suit.</div>
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Doug telling another story<br />
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Justin, Doug and Mike watching a flip drill.<br />
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Doug surrounded by staff at the Ed Rogers flag on the lower deschutes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-79947708515270629192012-05-12T06:50:00.003-07:002012-05-12T06:50:48.456-07:00Back on the Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Its been a whirlwind couple of weeks and I am now back living on "the island" (Rubha Fiola) on the west coast of Scotland. The transition from Hong Kong to an island with no roads, internet, electricity or even anything to buy has been interesting and I am enjoying not being on my computer so much. Island life is as mad as it has always been with jet boats, mud pits and wild people and my days off seem about to follow similar patterns to when I worked here last. After the first course last week we finished work yesterday at 10am, drove to Fort William, Stared at rain, went to a cafe, went climbing (in the wet - kind of scary!), caught up with some friends, went for a curry, went for some beers, then some whiskies, woke up with a hangover, had a fry up, climbed a classic three pitch route in Glen Nevis, drove back to oban and am now drinking coffee and getting ready to meet the next load of kids. </div>
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I also managed to meet Nadia for a night and most of the day last week and tried to show her some of my favourite places around Glen Coe. </div>
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Some photos</div>
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Staff kit piling up in "Goldeneye" to head out to the island for four months. (a third of that is probably mine!)<br />
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The spine of a minky whale skeleton we found on expedition last week.<br />
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Back to smelling of campfire on a regular basis. Expedition food at its finest, sausages and baked beans.<br />
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Bog cotton blowing in the wind with another amazing sunset over the black isles and garvellach<br />
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Looking North just after dawn (which is rather early right now) toward Easdale, Belnahua and Mull</div>
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Nadia and I on the summit of Buachille Etive Mor on a very cold day<br />
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All the best things - a classic scottish hill lunch.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-73930681277374472702012-04-21T02:26:00.004-07:002012-04-21T03:12:04.612-07:00Last shots from the old lens<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; text-align: left; ">I have been holding off buying a new lens for a while but my trusty old Tamron (the massive 18-270mm f4.5) is struggling on many levels. There is a vast amount of dust inside the lens, its very shaky, auto focus does not work at various lengths, manual focus is pretty messed up (leaving me with the annoying process of flicking between manual and auto to try and get the focus ring in the right position). After much deliberation I went lens shopping today and relaced it with Canons L series. (Just realised this is probably boring for non photographers so if your interested I will put the deliberations at the bottom of the post!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">The last couple of weeks have not seen me outside too much. I decided not to go to Yangshou at the last minute and have been out climbing and kayaking a bit in Hong Kong as well as working in the office. Below is a collection of shots from the last couple of weeks</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkz0JpJm47_qgtT9zpbCy3RijuDh3Q8AIH_eHRruUgz9GgWOaouQUMWvuF5h1JpwuW_wPNFOsWg3EOoypEmX1avn_xXDPzATdmKAiyl5Ng1gP9eWJ9aeqp-L9FX1LdFC2O9dm9fXL6zY/s400/hklights2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733785762456461458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 128px; " /><div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;">Can anyone say light pollution? A long exposure from the hill behind where I live (next to the windmill for any locals) of Pok Fu Lam, Cyberport and the edge of Aberdeen on a clear night as the clouds roll over Hong Kong Island.</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xTQnV-dcIyt3iNRXPIz4tdDnibywFxPSqj74JANYccl-Yhms5HqTMvDvu1uFpR33sYItMr-PK-UBs6m0IPHp0gNpEhyphenhyphenzL_tsFf-xmE68oaP8-CAvS4Uqm46xckX5xIOysyVGWsC5OKw/s400/IMG_7821.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733787273922921234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;">Taking a Sampan over to work yesterday morning with a sea kayak that need fixed, beautiful morning heading over to Aberdeen</span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNpjUpyE1Bn1EWnoDLgGxP3uf_GSwALxEEaTlMbfPzS3o9aCxV40z8ht5f-5EHdafMAMBPTISAm3FAnetQYhEQRHIGQbBrQOCvh76jovpU8pXZDVcxQiq6bAQUYdoTQqPG-zFySenxWU/s400/IMG_7829.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733784165828915106" /></span></span>The stormy season has started, this was taken out of the office window in the middle of the day. It suddenly went dark and then started pouring with rain.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_63-wpE9BTk33ffxKExwMAkHpz35BpOUlsdLU1HCUpJrhgWacSsyhT3QEDq_VGZ2kWWU9PaO1GFCc_PiCyhClTfQFoV2reBJ9i1gbfKLecrFQFYEgBPLNz2rnkcn_FEMr_bN_0zADxc/s1600/lammasunset.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_63-wpE9BTk33ffxKExwMAkHpz35BpOUlsdLU1HCUpJrhgWacSsyhT3QEDq_VGZ2kWWU9PaO1GFCc_PiCyhClTfQFoV2reBJ9i1gbfKLecrFQFYEgBPLNz2rnkcn_FEMr_bN_0zADxc/s400/lammasunset.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733784150159101778" /></a>Sunset from Lamma looking toward Lantau island.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtdAUygzTth-hdCsLLcXHN3J2pgEhu_ZjShdowk7Nf15SF2suTvugabFkLZ6019j37u5zPOfAgKZKR4YEuZOLQ-XImNHf5PwRpYAeerynds3OupStTB-GSWxOmfu3io7B0qOXAe2m-WY/s1600/starferry2bw.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtdAUygzTth-hdCsLLcXHN3J2pgEhu_ZjShdowk7Nf15SF2suTvugabFkLZ6019j37u5zPOfAgKZKR4YEuZOLQ-XImNHf5PwRpYAeerynds3OupStTB-GSWxOmfu3io7B0qOXAe2m-WY/s400/starferry2bw.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733784144205371234" /></a>The Star Ferry that runs across Victoria Harbour. It amazes me that the star ferries still run, they are seriously old and it only costs two and half Hong Kong dollars (about 20p)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrS8eQMnAsoC3ef3XPHJITEbujzxbZYAbzl3XuLifsbCmABCndwWPcf0miIKQZkZO_p-dVSJHCZfA7Yg2in4Qwkl4mP_pxCgZk1R37iU8zhOp7SbWjX7x5_iroGvDHPKGHmIMIxZbXy4/s1600/rocks2.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrS8eQMnAsoC3ef3XPHJITEbujzxbZYAbzl3XuLifsbCmABCndwWPcf0miIKQZkZO_p-dVSJHCZfA7Yg2in4Qwkl4mP_pxCgZk1R37iU8zhOp7SbWjX7x5_iroGvDHPKGHmIMIxZbXy4/s400/rocks2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733784129422513202" /></a>Waves breaking over a rock at Shek O.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Lens deliberations - I decided to buy into the L series lenses as they are fully weather proofed and at first was thinking of getting a 16-35mm f2.8. I then started looking at the 24-70mm f2.8 and switched my mind to this (thinking that I will probably buy the 16-35 at a later date). At the last minute I decided to go for the 24-105mm f4. It seems like a good deal for me as I dont shoot indoors too much and it has an image stabiliser in it which kind of makes up for f4 as well as being smaller and lighter than the 24-70mm. It is also cheaper! </div><div><br /></div><div>Camera shopping in Hong Kong is pretty funny, haggling is pretty easy and you just have to get well off the main tourist areas (Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui) and choose a few shops. The smaller and more disorganised a shop looks the cheaper it is seems to be the rule. Today there was a HK$2000 (£160) difference between the highest and lowest prices I was quoted!</div><div><br /></div><div>I also managed to go to a "touch and test" (no really that is what it was called) of the new Hasselblad H4D (the body alone retails for over 20,000 US dollares). It was completely ridiculous with 60megapixels and a 18-90mm f1 lens on it. The average file size would be 60mb! For some amazing old Hasselblad photography check out Clyde Butcher - <a href="http://www.clydebutcher.com/">http://www.clydebutcher.com/</a> . Alright. Enough geeking out.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-68662331684082837902012-04-03T18:28:00.005-07:002012-04-08T04:15:20.816-07:00Hong Kong Life<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Heading off to Yangshou, China tonight for some climbing and a bit of a holiday but thought I would throw some photos up on the blog taken in the last few weeks. Its been a busy couple of weeks and that added to the main lens I use slowly dieing has meant that I have not been taking quite as many photos as usual...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKzv1DgTE8s_ETqqK0PNl7VUKaX67fht0ZPbdaBcbAkH_qFto3IK0eHpOhD9KMUxRdKhkgf6v-X__Pxr6yt2mJg6yWcZ2eXK3YVRTL0qDDUOXK7LBwmWaenvyF31QfWfZ_POScViDMjU/s1600/IMG_7606.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKzv1DgTE8s_ETqqK0PNl7VUKaX67fht0ZPbdaBcbAkH_qFto3IK0eHpOhD9KMUxRdKhkgf6v-X__Pxr6yt2mJg6yWcZ2eXK3YVRTL0qDDUOXK7LBwmWaenvyF31QfWfZ_POScViDMjU/s400/IMG_7606.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727352163688116546" /></a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Pak Sha Wan (Hebe Haven) at night with Ma On Shan in the background (Ma On Shan is the peak) taken from Wong Sui Seng. Hong Kong folks might know this better as the peninsular W of Sai Kung with Trio beach on it.</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5ZpLLQWMcXHVMeAGsG0ab2ceoM-RWZOak5pGgfV6fKPdkkrt8wagm36Qwhp4kqsh-ej9E1_CYevt1qoqRaU3FSF2G_T539IsZaCHacsHcm9DTuzPm8ZJyOn-4t12aNlg-ar5UETxmrc/s1600/IMG_7608.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5ZpLLQWMcXHVMeAGsG0ab2ceoM-RWZOak5pGgfV6fKPdkkrt8wagm36Qwhp4kqsh-ej9E1_CYevt1qoqRaU3FSF2G_T539IsZaCHacsHcm9DTuzPm8ZJyOn-4t12aNlg-ar5UETxmrc/s400/IMG_7608.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727352157384283026" /></a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">The patter of tiny feet - I took a couple of these as some students ran around on an evening scavenger hunt at Wong Sui Seng</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfStk6BN42OKyEN-FR0YEJGNYH_ZpQSyb3plTPwiwajsJIKfyEMTa_mosb5Voxs-ySArrR1ADtPkzzql0rFRSCu4pGJhA_mgWepw82wvBW10ZfSLWtfdsCzjJP6YFrQ2IHbu9rOqu0NU/s1600/IMG_7615.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfStk6BN42OKyEN-FR0YEJGNYH_ZpQSyb3plTPwiwajsJIKfyEMTa_mosb5Voxs-ySArrR1ADtPkzzql0rFRSCu4pGJhA_mgWepw82wvBW10ZfSLWtfdsCzjJP6YFrQ2IHbu9rOqu0NU/s400/IMG_7615.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727352151370484322" /></a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">The 21st floor - Probably taken around 7am, the first challenge of every program is getting all the (correct) gear from the store on the 21st floor into the back of the truck on the 5th floor!</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfU5W3NWM0QgmKcWkw5uNTjFoYIPm9snkDz9Va-8cw4ofjkh9iy4S5u4LPANmLcF3T50_btbWCMNvJWBWBk0cP3fRURcngoK-6Kyv9LV8AETjndEUVpwcvW3S_xtgNdJOCi8OhkhyphenhypheneMk/s1600/IMG_7640br.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfU5W3NWM0QgmKcWkw5uNTjFoYIPm9snkDz9Va-8cw4ofjkh9iy4S5u4LPANmLcF3T50_btbWCMNvJWBWBk0cP3fRURcngoK-6Kyv9LV8AETjndEUVpwcvW3S_xtgNdJOCi8OhkhyphenhypheneMk/s400/IMG_7640br.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727352136777121890" /></a><span>Bioluminescence<span style="font-size: 100%;"> - probably the brightest I have ever seen on the Wan Tsai peninsular. This image is not photoshoped, this was a couple of minutes of exposure at a high ISO speed with about 15 people chucking rocks into the water the whole time. The far small pin pricks of light are probably fish breaking the surface for food.</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4JUtQsSZGCazovd4VMhrdzwrTDL4WvNX7X9RTW1kcQp6BkqGkh-OXBjiUgjjEYlw6pemIMkn2az_Kgzq0guCwBf-nDy37wLNOQzsH_5D88MzhfYG0KCIT_lAhZ3r7Vui7G3F9tdlmBg/s1600/ferrysign.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4JUtQsSZGCazovd4VMhrdzwrTDL4WvNX7X9RTW1kcQp6BkqGkh-OXBjiUgjjEYlw6pemIMkn2az_Kgzq0guCwBf-nDy37wLNOQzsH_5D88MzhfYG0KCIT_lAhZ3r7Vui7G3F9tdlmBg/s400/ferrysign.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727352134586852194" /></a>Hong Kong signs never fail to amuse. Taken with my new fancy pants Ipod after my very old one gave up the ghost.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-51789727873875519362012-03-23T17:01:00.005-07:002012-04-08T04:16:18.768-07:00Hong Kong Days<div>I am now once again busy with work back in Hong Kong, living on the beautiful lamma island and trying to fit some days of climbing and fun into my work schedule. Work over the last couple of weeks has been a shock to the system working with groups as young as 8 year olds and trying to remember how to get around the Hong Kong public transport system. I have managed a few days climbing which has been great as the pain in my ribs is now almost totally gone.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_trwiAxfkluj7W8dmXuklzulnt7axRI3G7HwmNHSNxZwqcXjXQZNmiLbNm9bg2-4pRjJ0ZEgtKAeM-VxU9lJjJEcX2J9WM33EndXS2nUzKT4SWxZ3gCnvzg6bVJWqhS4A9EPraqUMHDk/s1600/IMG_7507.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_trwiAxfkluj7W8dmXuklzulnt7axRI3G7HwmNHSNxZwqcXjXQZNmiLbNm9bg2-4pRjJ0ZEgtKAeM-VxU9lJjJEcX2J9WM33EndXS2nUzKT4SWxZ3gCnvzg6bVJWqhS4A9EPraqUMHDk/s400/IMG_7507.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723250568568651202" /></a>James staring at the crux on the fourth pitch of "Gweilo" (6a or 5.10b) a classic multi pitch on Lion Rock.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TEp5rfyuPL-JpsI1DfMXkvfMNJSpbmy_EXv7dNh3R47XM9-w0mf5n7V8i6tUjZtQARhpEGLQ5P-1942K-RBRnbm6DOM-OHTEpwhM5ZApO3rpQt6I7Ax-y1HdXnOrYttWaTWsiTtx1cc/s1600/IMG_7553.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TEp5rfyuPL-JpsI1DfMXkvfMNJSpbmy_EXv7dNh3R47XM9-w0mf5n7V8i6tUjZtQARhpEGLQ5P-1942K-RBRnbm6DOM-OHTEpwhM5ZApO3rpQt6I7Ax-y1HdXnOrYttWaTWsiTtx1cc/s400/IMG_7553.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723250548602000530" /></a>A work photo - Col and Juillian teaching absieling at Shek O. The weather has been a mixed bag with some amazingly hot days (around 30degrees C) and others like this that feel a little more like Scotland.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMDTf2l9oLubsJx4xh6hAKOa4OrTXuMiu7Zi93CiHoXQcI0sNki9xAIDvMq4ZrmMQJ5Aaqk0vOKQpIM-tU1dFp6VPXJTXkx3kvj31uu1Yd-redZR-feAYa1ttIavllY8mblPpw5IATUI/s1600/fromlionbase.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMDTf2l9oLubsJx4xh6hAKOa4OrTXuMiu7Zi93CiHoXQcI0sNki9xAIDvMq4ZrmMQJ5Aaqk0vOKQpIM-tU1dFp6VPXJTXkx3kvj31uu1Yd-redZR-feAYa1ttIavllY8mblPpw5IATUI/s400/fromlionbase.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723247911488447218" /></a>The view from the base of Lion Rock back towards the Kowloon peninsular<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FYw7ezSLPRuURXYO-oZPsJRzIRI1vCha43pHlG0gty8C8sA8GBWsNS7JZJHafsDlY8QVlVcqUWNMGfuhi-yeE8svqR-EmWc8dV_BEz7JunIYq2Ig8jjB2v0PrHLSagGbEwRdRfHuuI0/s1600/IMG_7489.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FYw7ezSLPRuURXYO-oZPsJRzIRI1vCha43pHlG0gty8C8sA8GBWsNS7JZJHafsDlY8QVlVcqUWNMGfuhi-yeE8svqR-EmWc8dV_BEz7JunIYq2Ig8jjB2v0PrHLSagGbEwRdRfHuuI0/s400/IMG_7489.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723247899711311010" /></a>James coming up the 3rd pitch of Gweilo.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGY8x67nOl37hEfIkgjkc_APNwwLJtb8DBbg9UCa_XDsVH1pGjRUr-A5p4Mo45IYZxjVy9kGBsDUvr9UuKwolxNmYSsDfq2pXg2LEOpS7qGCLZ_606fMtxY5QDqR_A2IFfliI786IeoU/s1600/IMG_7525.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGY8x67nOl37hEfIkgjkc_APNwwLJtb8DBbg9UCa_XDsVH1pGjRUr-A5p4Mo45IYZxjVy9kGBsDUvr9UuKwolxNmYSsDfq2pXg2LEOpS7qGCLZ_606fMtxY5QDqR_A2IFfliI786IeoU/s400/IMG_7525.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723247894882615090" /></a>Me looking pleased with myself on the top of Lion Rock, taken by James after finishing Gwielo.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLZvAB84FLI-mvVZM9vbtL3f7ufDtQmOJuyzACDoaQPpX8cD8OqVsOUR7ImYiamyRlFFiwo7hBjwAgTukLB12-sMapJf5OakBmMZhknhq535FvTl0VB1oSwsEV8qJ-Cydt5RgPcrS3og/s1600/IMG_7474.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLZvAB84FLI-mvVZM9vbtL3f7ufDtQmOJuyzACDoaQPpX8cD8OqVsOUR7ImYiamyRlFFiwo7hBjwAgTukLB12-sMapJf5OakBmMZhknhq535FvTl0VB1oSwsEV8qJ-Cydt5RgPcrS3og/s400/IMG_7474.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723247884633130290" /></a>Unknown climber on something hard at Lion Rock, looking east towards the New Territories and Sai Kung<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO-2c5CZke8ZGkxcYomdzPtVF5xB9isBj9ak028jcTnDr6YvxcQA01_hPbXZBl_Dvu_dI4rhGjzuLAQO0jbxPHl99hixk-3-lP-Y72q_oWzlbohtwfl9ib_5GiXZ4SQr1jJh0lgH_S3Q/s1600/IMG_7455.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikO-2c5CZke8ZGkxcYomdzPtVF5xB9isBj9ak028jcTnDr6YvxcQA01_hPbXZBl_Dvu_dI4rhGjzuLAQO0jbxPHl99hixk-3-lP-Y72q_oWzlbohtwfl9ib_5GiXZ4SQr1jJh0lgH_S3Q/s400/IMG_7455.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723247878395982098" /></a>The morning ferry ride into Central from Lamma island. This journey never really gets boring.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-72223445283132603652012-03-09T18:30:00.011-08:002012-04-08T04:17:03.023-07:00Hanging with the King and Shanghai Sideways<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">After the first school program in Lijiang, Asia Pacific Adventure decided it was cheaper to keep myself and another staff member, Lisa in China rather than have us fly back and forth. This meant 12 days of expenses paid tourism while not having to look after any teenagers! We spent the first few days in the beautiful town of Dali and then headed to "Shangri-LA" to see another staff member Kevin and help him out on a trip to his lodge in the small tibetan village of Nidzhu. Kevin is known locally as "The King of Shangri-La" after various television companies made documentaries about him and his wife Lynne raising thier family in a remote chinese town. Being around Kevin is never boring (he cant read this as Blogspot is blocked in China, so I can write what I want) and he had arranged to take a group from "Shanghai Sideways" up to his lodge. The lodge is normally 4 hours of rough driving away and Lisa and I agreed to go along to help with the food for the 14 motorcycle and sidecar riders. Shanghai Sideways was shooting a promotional movie as well as some photos for their website so it was great to hang out in the support jeep with Kevin and even take a turn in the sidecar (hopefully even appearing in their promo movie!). </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRp2nK9_pWSXGCwNBTL449GOtNFxtJqDnvv8BqFofcwbH20L-5CIfAlMX9tY31iszZ-0C6M2rtU7SjuStIjpYdeRzC6tRh20cmPKAv7M0OStVBY3yNgo9cfIuFiBafo7dL2Fu6nFAuSk/s1600/bikes3.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRp2nK9_pWSXGCwNBTL449GOtNFxtJqDnvv8BqFofcwbH20L-5CIfAlMX9tY31iszZ-0C6M2rtU7SjuStIjpYdeRzC6tRh20cmPKAv7M0OStVBY3yNgo9cfIuFiBafo7dL2Fu6nFAuSk/s400/bikes3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718114724620531458" /></a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">The sidecars lined up on the road to Nidzhu. These are 1950s BMW sidecars (or chinese equivalents).</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7dZAjfbc5opX5C-shsC7X1IKsmi67HYZq4n1BDHdl8OeIcUjjbv_vZYISaYNG88dUsyBasMe1ZWp6ceMFoRo7kFhttbtZdyqMubQRNF7mClyR8FxKVW4W5DAlwiNAd9qJFSFR8M1cgc/s1600/IMG_6920.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7dZAjfbc5opX5C-shsC7X1IKsmi67HYZq4n1BDHdl8OeIcUjjbv_vZYISaYNG88dUsyBasMe1ZWp6ceMFoRo7kFhttbtZdyqMubQRNF7mClyR8FxKVW4W5DAlwiNAd9qJFSFR8M1cgc/s400/IMG_6920.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718113966554769250" /></a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Shopping for groceries with Kevin before meeting the folks from "Sideways". I thought the shopping for vegetables was crazy until we went to the meat counter. Its no wonder that all the staff at APA got </span>Guardia the week before when we saw how food is bought!</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXturmlrrBPCDaeZ9BtVgQ_6mnhlJbXtS9ByIFUS67ucNDF52oQZujG5wJasZcNl6mia7ATBlZAsBWoGecWa00pINxC2TnVq2ySDTV_6DQbL0poIcDysalPFUUtHMLj3H1YKvGtuIUMG4/s1600/IMG_6939.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXturmlrrBPCDaeZ9BtVgQ_6mnhlJbXtS9ByIFUS67ucNDF52oQZujG5wJasZcNl6mia7ATBlZAsBWoGecWa00pINxC2TnVq2ySDTV_6DQbL0poIcDysalPFUUtHMLj3H1YKvGtuIUMG4/s400/IMG_6939.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718113958566447778" /></a>Huge bags of Chili on sale. My system slowly got used to the heat in the food.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichWjgRxwk8kl24cTsjxz5FZRvS2V3XwSas3H4JjzdIaphXVIhPT5WNKjFEKZknTS7Pm2y6CTDmmDtjDOY0GZZiRZ1laM2oeZH9BSbXW26o02WZCn09UeQpkzBA9-H61lhoes63B_Qobg/s1600/IMG_6951bw.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichWjgRxwk8kl24cTsjxz5FZRvS2V3XwSas3H4JjzdIaphXVIhPT5WNKjFEKZknTS7Pm2y6CTDmmDtjDOY0GZZiRZ1laM2oeZH9BSbXW26o02WZCn09UeQpkzBA9-H61lhoes63B_Qobg/s400/IMG_6951bw.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718113949647162530" /></a>Street in the old town of Shangri-La near Kevin and Lynnes house.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaLC6EkgLmBsRgWxgOQv2WUii6HrU9Yy-u7EzO9GL_RlNZ0rAUr8VUWKAd8XMu1_otMxKSRpzxXaMgUtwMCAyoOVVOMQF7Q4C_v1rIqptWJrcvobs_wcEw_GFmlruyYZrnJ5uuZ-PblI/s1600/IMG_6967.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaLC6EkgLmBsRgWxgOQv2WUii6HrU9Yy-u7EzO9GL_RlNZ0rAUr8VUWKAd8XMu1_otMxKSRpzxXaMgUtwMCAyoOVVOMQF7Q4C_v1rIqptWJrcvobs_wcEw_GFmlruyYZrnJ5uuZ-PblI/s400/IMG_6967.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718113943159987298" /></a>Another huge meal. Basically all I have done for the last month is eat. This was a meal with 4 different types of Yak (all of which were cooked with Chili) with Kevin and Lynne (far right) and some of their friends. (Photo taken by Lisa)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZMWNjNzoY5TiF-UVHer04LhtsgmVydyjWCPPEEw5FVAfKpeb9cF-XjGc3LuotzW0KrKGt77iA82n67O8nfZw1fWy018o2Dkx6_NqWKSlVWc7evWam8NQ-IIsGZNQ2Sj8tAo2NME2AIU/s1600/IMG_6994.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZMWNjNzoY5TiF-UVHer04LhtsgmVydyjWCPPEEw5FVAfKpeb9cF-XjGc3LuotzW0KrKGt77iA82n67O8nfZw1fWy018o2Dkx6_NqWKSlVWc7evWam8NQ-IIsGZNQ2Sj8tAo2NME2AIU/s400/IMG_6994.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718113928114378786" /></a>My favourite - Jiaozi ((jow-zha) or chinese dumplings in the uk/pot stickers in the usa.) all racked up ready for another massive breakfast.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSA7gzjcFhapYWmFndcicPi8JQc7xd-TrfAbF414iCvE2Ww7Fc1W8bqodXgxYrpbHKJ4XVgJWhsWXTqv0CpK7onXoGPvOXr7qbG_xQUzkz4Idy2j-5RJjVL2LeVyWBYUjg3CD75L5PRI/s1600/IMG_7145.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSA7gzjcFhapYWmFndcicPi8JQc7xd-TrfAbF414iCvE2Ww7Fc1W8bqodXgxYrpbHKJ4XVgJWhsWXTqv0CpK7onXoGPvOXr7qbG_xQUzkz4Idy2j-5RJjVL2LeVyWBYUjg3CD75L5PRI/s400/IMG_7145.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718111636962111618" /></a>Lisa chilling in the back of Kevins Jeep as we wait again for the sidecars.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGH7xRPYxMJDRk035yLC2brYz4kDSj2Ly6L3lXgYvC9n-InGuBjGkPFyYiuft2z9R8FMDIXhekFLAQ6GzQQkTc8lFgi8EOoMjfxu58F-M00to4M4AnIVDxIgl7Zi7_uLfhMTDfW8UbC1o/s1600/IMG_7197.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGH7xRPYxMJDRk035yLC2brYz4kDSj2Ly6L3lXgYvC9n-InGuBjGkPFyYiuft2z9R8FMDIXhekFLAQ6GzQQkTc8lFgi8EOoMjfxu58F-M00to4M4AnIVDxIgl7Zi7_uLfhMTDfW8UbC1o/s400/IMG_7197.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718111625978890530" /></a>Hanging out of Kevins Jeep following the sidecars (note the tibetan mastif barking at the bike going past it!) as we pass a buddhist Stupa. <div><br /></div><div>Interestingly there is a Stupa outside of Shangri-La in the middle of a roundabout. After building the roundabout they realised they had a problem as traffic is meant to travel anti clockwise around the roundabout but you are meant to travel clockwise around a Stupa. They solved this by making the inside lane of the three lane roundabout clockwise and keeping the two outside lanes anti-clockwise. Problem solved - sort of!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjvuz967MZGfMFD44Ka_Tlaw81CtzdB-AG9Gn9O_YWFNWhdOzv40I7JSILLM6-fxs6B61vO90eX6obDWfUBFwtRMvQuWQHzHAqIYwE4TR022h4S6_jQ3QouUcRsvbbkn2B-iYkc2fMRY/s1600/IMG_7257.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjvuz967MZGfMFD44Ka_Tlaw81CtzdB-AG9Gn9O_YWFNWhdOzv40I7JSILLM6-fxs6B61vO90eX6obDWfUBFwtRMvQuWQHzHAqIYwE4TR022h4S6_jQ3QouUcRsvbbkn2B-iYkc2fMRY/s400/IMG_7257.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718111621559552562" /></a>View downt the valley from Kevins lodge in Nidzhu. The 4 hour drive ended up taking more like 10 after a few minor breakdowns on the bikes, the second support Jeep giving up and one of the sidecars drving of the road.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ElD2gZ-VB-ZcnTwEqla9Zb5lr_l4Vyfsd_Ak_-LUJH-vVydnRyNXUpx_xKi9dawJ7rfcsdnL3t9PnvTMAbMpHGIqp1Cz50hHIiJL3Xtvn-Bi6_QCzYbpd-YYDvGphNH9KVcAW1AdJgI/s1600/IMG_7290.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ElD2gZ-VB-ZcnTwEqla9Zb5lr_l4Vyfsd_Ak_-LUJH-vVydnRyNXUpx_xKi9dawJ7rfcsdnL3t9PnvTMAbMpHGIqp1Cz50hHIiJL3Xtvn-Bi6_QCzYbpd-YYDvGphNH9KVcAW1AdJgI/s400/IMG_7290.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718111611057259234" /></a>Prayer flags outside the lodge.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4eLOSAOzlNaiz5a5FyrZCLkBaxdnIDKanuMRziWv9MmmkKpWG8Uw_oOl2Qh10iCe7bw8FqbYqKVHQqVcxSM8HNoVmTk1fWf9BNGwp8oJwZXDmLZTqEh5_4UeYjOiaA8P97sf9ZwTRU4/s1600/multicolourwaterfall.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4eLOSAOzlNaiz5a5FyrZCLkBaxdnIDKanuMRziWv9MmmkKpWG8Uw_oOl2Qh10iCe7bw8FqbYqKVHQqVcxSM8HNoVmTk1fWf9BNGwp8oJwZXDmLZTqEh5_4UeYjOiaA8P97sf9ZwTRU4/s400/multicolourwaterfall.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718111597918454450" /></a>Multi Coloured waterfall a couple of hours hike up the valley from Nidzhu. Nidzhu is in Chinas first national park which has huge hiking potential. In summer this would be an amazing place to swim and hang out for an afternoon.<br /><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxRnIWOKvyJEM0YfWvwoupN0W253eXasj_YVWW9WDCaQzg3Nldc_aUEvsaOxMRr9xwgyMBMM8YXkaCWxHC4' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Video shot from the Sidecar. Shortly after this I decided to get back in the Jeep with Kevin as we hit dirt roads. The next thing we knew, Simon the driver had driven off the edge and the bike was in pieces. Luckily Simon managed to jump free as the bike went over and was fine except for some scratches. The bike did not survive!</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Am now back in Hong Kong for the next few weeks where it is currently cloudy and grey. Hoping for some climbing and kayaking if the weather clears up.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Check out Shanghai Sideways website - </span></span><a href="http://shanghaisideways.com/" style="font-size: 100%; ">http://shanghaisideways.com/</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-24577894983740450002012-03-09T17:13:00.005-08:002012-04-08T04:17:29.588-07:00Tiger Leaping Gorge<div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Just back from Yunnan, China and have a couple of different blog posts coming. I was based in Lijiang with Asia Pacific Adventure for the last month starting with ten days of work and ending with a week of work and twelve days off </span>in-between<span style="font-size: 100%;">. Work has been fun though interesting at times with stolen gear and staff getting </span>Guardia<span style="font-size: 100%;"> (including myself) but always with amazing views and great food. A major part of the program in Lijiang is the hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge on the Yangtze river. This is probably one of the most beautiful commercialised hikes in the world so I thought I would start with these shots and then the next post will be about time off. </span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsr5DYPzMKOL6Sp7RMDCUIwbOtkZQFHoQlSMvlxAuYKHKKBV3NyU-4DfblbbQw1WkZIj9cI24wgffMDtI0PIZgf7cJZjWXu7iSjvJCwaji8dd8YewVL4gybx3_XzRRiKtjPAPITdFo0A/s1600/fromteahorse.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsr5DYPzMKOL6Sp7RMDCUIwbOtkZQFHoQlSMvlxAuYKHKKBV3NyU-4DfblbbQw1WkZIj9cI24wgffMDtI0PIZgf7cJZjWXu7iSjvJCwaji8dd8YewVL4gybx3_XzRRiKtjPAPITdFo0A/s400/fromteahorse.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718073997994875250" /></a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">The view from Tea Horse Guest house toward Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. We stopped here for lunch on both programs.</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtA0TmFcpfl-8tYfhNoT8iT1xtC7KvbXK4kzQCkam2JQylHeR62_PR3bfSWs90Sb8L4xLP-voONB2CZi-aghwGMBQxQ8dtIhmH2IwOD5fpjQYrRRev8l_XQ_4alYgX-jud31xNTkzs0ho/s1600/TLG.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtA0TmFcpfl-8tYfhNoT8iT1xtC7KvbXK4kzQCkam2JQylHeR62_PR3bfSWs90Sb8L4xLP-voONB2CZi-aghwGMBQxQ8dtIhmH2IwOD5fpjQYrRRev8l_XQ_4alYgX-jud31xNTkzs0ho/s400/TLG.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718073096311578882" /></a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Looking up the valley toward Quiatou.</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtHi7kyE6Z_ZaJYJk6xFpTFnPrFVZYvWyWG84xk2KABzXRjt_sVpfPSLbHx4v7LV3jVurg8FLlZH_DyIP15Q-bQRV9WEaMul5-PUt_ojVpYsuFSbWWLKCMDg4wiRr_7E7Ft-iw8-FCJ8/s1600/IMG_6448.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtHi7kyE6Z_ZaJYJk6xFpTFnPrFVZYvWyWG84xk2KABzXRjt_sVpfPSLbHx4v7LV3jVurg8FLlZH_DyIP15Q-bQRV9WEaMul5-PUt_ojVpYsuFSbWWLKCMDg4wiRr_7E7Ft-iw8-FCJ8/s400/IMG_6448.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718071772025644530" /></a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Some students playing a game on "Inspiration Terrace" at Halfway House with JDSM in the background. This was one of the original guesthouses in the gorge and I actually stayed here when I first hiked the gorge in 2000. It had two bedrooms when I stayed there originally and now has space for 80people.</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57TF0yZWOv4og6TxIxNb-rmomd6nNlC1EBcHg3XjTrgffI2iXrR8i0mym340UeIABOpoSh-RHoDns-jh3YmaSoOxOcx4YEWzDy5vAYkW1TKQintjSWD-e9GaM1RWLkamkWDOb53CHB94/s1600/IMG_6408.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57TF0yZWOv4og6TxIxNb-rmomd6nNlC1EBcHg3XjTrgffI2iXrR8i0mym340UeIABOpoSh-RHoDns-jh3YmaSoOxOcx4YEWzDy5vAYkW1TKQintjSWD-e9GaM1RWLkamkWDOb53CHB94/s400/IMG_6408.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718071765356174418" /></a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Morning light over the peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (5596m). The actual summit is much further back, the Chinese say this has not been climb but the internet disagrees with some americans claiming the first ascent in 1987 (though without a permit as it is a holy mountain)</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-aD5un0pEwuYGRJSexvbeuwTSny7xZyIn-FfVY-QKANHbCz2Me4yTfmMzMQLa6l6MvspQF7ucrqwGSEoito8pig89x6lTx4Rvftuz4M7Qb2R1Y5xklBTVH29urrlhABqKt82CCMKFR8/s1600/IMG_6391.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-aD5un0pEwuYGRJSexvbeuwTSny7xZyIn-FfVY-QKANHbCz2Me4yTfmMzMQLa6l6MvspQF7ucrqwGSEoito8pig89x6lTx4Rvftuz4M7Qb2R1Y5xklBTVH29urrlhABqKt82CCMKFR8/s400/IMG_6391.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718071753850826498" /></a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Traditional building by the side of the trail.</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAsFZbkC5kCPBoPjlYWwrpdZ6sFO7sNjormj7k39-q3yEjYQO9M1p5NkW1Fq29jYngjn-NF86g6TUcJll0n9fRxUH21BeRdt80VLZZHnawiFLg5yL60KVYaJYw8MjZSxXO-5U2f6SN4c/s1600/IMG_6383.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAsFZbkC5kCPBoPjlYWwrpdZ6sFO7sNjormj7k39-q3yEjYQO9M1p5NkW1Fq29jYngjn-NF86g6TUcJll0n9fRxUH21BeRdt80VLZZHnawiFLg5yL60KVYaJYw8MjZSxXO-5U2f6SN4c/s400/IMG_6383.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718071742246086098" /></a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Bright green right terraces in the valley below the trail.</span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6rgf2d9fKLgSc8v1QfXxvHQBai3uE-n1P__UR8x6prDpFk-i_jYPQZ1p0zAvjRi_4LxNNyNYXo2GCcJrTQSnUgzOgvHdzu2nFJRcqWMeO6nWwDdCl-sq4q0GgDouvL38-vYWsWEzSfk/s1600/IMG_6362.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6rgf2d9fKLgSc8v1QfXxvHQBai3uE-n1P__UR8x6prDpFk-i_jYPQZ1p0zAvjRi_4LxNNyNYXo2GCcJrTQSnUgzOgvHdzu2nFJRcqWMeO6nWwDdCl-sq4q0GgDouvL38-vYWsWEzSfk/s400/IMG_6362.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718071732333980274" /></a><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Woman wearing traditional Naxi (Na-Shee) dress.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-2342349411072045302012-02-01T06:58:00.002-08:002012-04-08T04:18:08.474-07:00The Rest of January<div>January has been a whirlwind month of catching p with old friends, seeing family and the odd trip into the mountains. Thanks everyone for your hospitality and help over the last six weeks, I am off to China and Hong Kong on Friday (with a brief stop in Holland) and will be back in Scotland in April.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A few photos of the last couple of weeks.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuopH7xWWw3PxXcUuS081foQqDGCNHcK7smG4J9h_cJhJq_LigSD-PA4BUMnM_TTq1u4_cwbAG51MnW-cwfU8lOF4mH-kKF1j9IKT02IG69yaR0ne51lLA_UbObNaCCeiTcMYoKY1_AU/s1600/GlacialHDR2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuopH7xWWw3PxXcUuS081foQqDGCNHcK7smG4J9h_cJhJq_LigSD-PA4BUMnM_TTq1u4_cwbAG51MnW-cwfU8lOF4mH-kKF1j9IKT02IG69yaR0ne51lLA_UbObNaCCeiTcMYoKY1_AU/s400/GlacialHDR2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704187847820209938" /></a>Having driven down from Torridon to sort out my chinese visa I drove back up on the promise of good weather. This photo was taken just before dawn of some glacial erratics leading away towards Sgurr Ruadh with the clouds in the valley below.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSOLcaWM0a-9k5izfrUeoTZnxlvK2trOif3-LiZd3XNO5mbqc5zzEZhcrs31TKjSLO-qzO5vAw_sCPPDdq1sYya0C673sxWZIvqaT48kQwmuBHdr5eeSO0ITivUTcGAFaCwJ7ywE8nX0/s1600/coulagsstarsj.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSOLcaWM0a-9k5izfrUeoTZnxlvK2trOif3-LiZd3XNO5mbqc5zzEZhcrs31TKjSLO-qzO5vAw_sCPPDdq1sYya0C673sxWZIvqaT48kQwmuBHdr5eeSO0ITivUTcGAFaCwJ7ywE8nX0/s400/coulagsstarsj.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704186601684046402" /></a>The night before I spent in this bothie in Coire Fionaraich.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWdCjHjZYZA9RCHlCygmACrSyR8QcdscsVUu8sTv9ZaYV99kaPQm9-Se6rumO0CWi7aD7XpYTTBhd5-Ize2Rto6YoiHwLkIf6wDpXyfwgN0PA0dMOC1XA15v1lo2lYH6nIJoOQCagL7c/s1600/MaolCheanDeargBeinnDamh.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWdCjHjZYZA9RCHlCygmACrSyR8QcdscsVUu8sTv9ZaYV99kaPQm9-Se6rumO0CWi7aD7XpYTTBhd5-Ize2Rto6YoiHwLkIf6wDpXyfwgN0PA0dMOC1XA15v1lo2lYH6nIJoOQCagL7c/s400/MaolCheanDeargBeinnDamh.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704186593863520178" /></a>From the summit of Sgurr Ruadh looking back at Meal Chean Dearg and Beinn Damh (the sea loch on the right is the head of Loch Torridon)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcu6Yt0Pc82KigM2855P2lruIP1lbIrTjY-flClKVNIVcsnx9eqca0TK0dZeKGeXKH7Afed6DNT2o-LIqs5TUutvpGcPBDHCiqAfq671-rjV_zEl2-wnWbJAgvQ7Q8WyQ9vfMjHmgMOc/s1600/torridonridges2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcu6Yt0Pc82KigM2855P2lruIP1lbIrTjY-flClKVNIVcsnx9eqca0TK0dZeKGeXKH7Afed6DNT2o-LIqs5TUutvpGcPBDHCiqAfq671-rjV_zEl2-wnWbJAgvQ7Q8WyQ9vfMjHmgMOc/s400/torridonridges2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704186581710183746" /></a>The Torridon Ridges (about an hour before sunrise) L-R Beinn Alligan, Liatach and Beinn Eighe.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsi0fRPOgTaUD-oiMqwd8ZRYd7wpIl5ISy9ZiLhGEhg6Jg1pquwtt8NH5l_dPKUcmv_-lINBlLkyvP0GKHCLSToti0ZBZRM_4Izmy8lvf93Zf6FUBekydxeAobQlkdHGQh9IO63ukB6g/s1600/IMG_5434.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsi0fRPOgTaUD-oiMqwd8ZRYd7wpIl5ISy9ZiLhGEhg6Jg1pquwtt8NH5l_dPKUcmv_-lINBlLkyvP0GKHCLSToti0ZBZRM_4Izmy8lvf93Zf6FUBekydxeAobQlkdHGQh9IO63ukB6g/s400/IMG_5434.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704183372199898306" /></a>Skiing, Scottish style - A classic shot from early January. Toby, Ally and Ruaridh checking the map down the valley at Spittal of Glenshee.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmRF0uqXKxZodxeqPUpd6CH2CTiKNvRQ6lAtyipRU88HVjygtioiWyTtCgVtAOVENXwlSRIfSWqT2npgV_8gZ8FflsrmlvochY_suI5QFxtt6x_h2hctWlYBlRAHrnC_stcyNeVrj5Yg/s1600/IMG_5481hcbw.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmRF0uqXKxZodxeqPUpd6CH2CTiKNvRQ6lAtyipRU88HVjygtioiWyTtCgVtAOVENXwlSRIfSWqT2npgV_8gZ8FflsrmlvochY_suI5QFxtt6x_h2hctWlYBlRAHrnC_stcyNeVrj5Yg/s400/IMG_5481hcbw.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704183363828109890" /></a>Ally Ross out in front on the way up Ben Tuilieachan above the spittal of glenshee.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiZb4z5wrSvdCnJE2VP-Huw61RwS7BipNdennzUrc34h8Epysw_cPA0owddrlvJt1lBo_YUV152Ng8Y8kP6uHeQi4TIE1KeVRvhvFVk2nIrDsYEPMe_cvZGqUbNhkVPycutoJ1ufmayU/s1600/IMG_5494tweak.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiZb4z5wrSvdCnJE2VP-Huw61RwS7BipNdennzUrc34h8Epysw_cPA0owddrlvJt1lBo_YUV152Ng8Y8kP6uHeQi4TIE1KeVRvhvFVk2nIrDsYEPMe_cvZGqUbNhkVPycutoJ1ufmayU/s400/IMG_5494tweak.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704183355866539170" /></a>Summit cairn with rime ice.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgap1HVv1SQ_ay8tgvmeXbDcfefNRmtkkFBy4X_7cbACyAhsMdxsOy7iJfz0KcVumchD9f64lJNATa427BVL7Mldd6M0OfONsDHhwNnNe3qZMPRsSHyfgtaEfku4fd6xgjatU5EVRWnsAo/s1600/IMG_5480.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgap1HVv1SQ_ay8tgvmeXbDcfefNRmtkkFBy4X_7cbACyAhsMdxsOy7iJfz0KcVumchD9f64lJNATa427BVL7Mldd6M0OfONsDHhwNnNe3qZMPRsSHyfgtaEfku4fd6xgjatU5EVRWnsAo/s400/IMG_5480.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704183345610572562" /></a>Tobi, Ali (hidden behind), Ruaridh and Louisa skinning up the ridge in the very strong wind.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUVNt_uFO39b7o7g9E63jH9cX_VWRs0gej40Ri3vWWCXhXC_0eITqBSUzSnyuy8LoKOxqvvSyjcAoDrbGMqhARzvo8dOCjN2Kh-bTxZNkJ6UJn3OpXuvOMrstQouW_juC5LpNmixkJ5M/s1600/IMG_5451bw.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUVNt_uFO39b7o7g9E63jH9cX_VWRs0gej40Ri3vWWCXhXC_0eITqBSUzSnyuy8LoKOxqvvSyjcAoDrbGMqhARzvo8dOCjN2Kh-bTxZNkJ6UJn3OpXuvOMrstQouW_juC5LpNmixkJ5M/s400/IMG_5451bw.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704183341682379170" /></a>Two Skiers silhouted on the way up the ridge.<div><br /></div><div>Next update should be from Lijiang, Western China</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-73305333767562726102012-01-19T06:20:00.001-08:002012-01-19T08:59:52.662-08:00Canoeing Across Scotland<div>My 101st post on the blog. Could have also been titled "Not the best rest and recovery" as my ribs are still aching but are now joined by my lower back. Bob Taylor and I set off last Friday morning to cross Scotland by canoe. </div><div><b>Day One</b> (Kinlochleven to the East end of the Blackwater) </div><div>We left Kinlochleven at 11am with the boats on trolleys for the first 7km uphill portage. Actually the first 2 km are what its all about as you essentially gain most of the 300m in that distance before gaining a concrete conduit to get up to the Blackwater.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqmTaFIsHL5H7lWGOfkBsA9YxijnUbIwEgYxuXFsza1sq5XEdK49g2-fgKyaccbc4i2vJEoFLG-_WUMWmCOk41uxujqclHSgsOJ1yjuoCszEnovl75_TVzIrrgXKIkOfE3-uVnlzpGAs/s1600/IMG_5506.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqmTaFIsHL5H7lWGOfkBsA9YxijnUbIwEgYxuXFsza1sq5XEdK49g2-fgKyaccbc4i2vJEoFLG-_WUMWmCOk41uxujqclHSgsOJ1yjuoCszEnovl75_TVzIrrgXKIkOfE3-uVnlzpGAs/s400/IMG_5506.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699368381420342114" /></a>Unloading the trailer in Kinlochleven looking up at the route of the portage. It was 1degreeC when we left and never really rose any higher. This was perfect, I cant imagine what it would be like in summer pulling boats up this hill.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEb72OUGPkA5aO010GVi-kNsPPI8RB4ji57lMMVhFJ8z-uuLEH039LlkBXzgR65umqx0BCVbXMrn6POxT0IVDV4IML0tvI8coorpeSi9Rb7FDsJmzrCXCTqt-NMxtivrmyQJ8seFZS5k/s1600/IMG_5511.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEb72OUGPkA5aO010GVi-kNsPPI8RB4ji57lMMVhFJ8z-uuLEH039LlkBXzgR65umqx0BCVbXMrn6POxT0IVDV4IML0tvI8coorpeSi9Rb7FDsJmzrCXCTqt-NMxtivrmyQJ8seFZS5k/s400/IMG_5511.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699367339211881202" /></a>Bob with boat heading up the first hill.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPI39k8uSF_uHbqAv2nNTL_Jp4m6XFrt3gqQH-O0FVP5fz2lcJXnPkN_8KdMhbNTJdbaVWWH5yQ0EjKhWT5B1V7axcy6t6JPWOuNyTXuJdBSlp2pANVUzJTdd7GMo-vB8UwB57qQMq0k/s1600/IMG_5518.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPI39k8uSF_uHbqAv2nNTL_Jp4m6XFrt3gqQH-O0FVP5fz2lcJXnPkN_8KdMhbNTJdbaVWWH5yQ0EjKhWT5B1V7axcy6t6JPWOuNyTXuJdBSlp2pANVUzJTdd7GMo-vB8UwB57qQMq0k/s400/IMG_5518.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699367325852849794" /></a>Still going up..<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYsX7l3z7iv-YBFpCV6CL70vZeCBGuU8tEOXHNXQRbTlg5kvoZQVIeKZjOXb_oe5-X0mUKEOSLIU5t3qwZ9rkBP9akhV7sxVc7ZvgJneCD0skAsdk6SyLvFCZ1jpcBI0-pWcHuH6FPVQ/s1600/IMG_5525.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYsX7l3z7iv-YBFpCV6CL70vZeCBGuU8tEOXHNXQRbTlg5kvoZQVIeKZjOXb_oe5-X0mUKEOSLIU5t3qwZ9rkBP9akhV7sxVc7ZvgJneCD0skAsdk6SyLvFCZ1jpcBI0-pWcHuH6FPVQ/s400/IMG_5525.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699367317512712162" /></a>Bob and I on the conduit. Kinlochleven can just be seen (the whitish spot in the valley on the lower left is the sea on the west coast)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlBD7hpFGP6MhrtPFJ93rSghRLq_J_H8ismAcEmkEy3XZ6y0fKk1u1J9qaknS6WJ9D-SQmO_FXFggQSwfRaVdjQYljBDil5mBSl3aKht2RhYdGbqfQixTMS87j49l1J-hQdfBiHb4IFo/s1600/IMG_5557.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlBD7hpFGP6MhrtPFJ93rSghRLq_J_H8ismAcEmkEy3XZ6y0fKk1u1J9qaknS6WJ9D-SQmO_FXFggQSwfRaVdjQYljBDil5mBSl3aKht2RhYdGbqfQixTMS87j49l1J-hQdfBiHb4IFo/s400/IMG_5557.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699366231440901314" /></a>Finally on some water. It took 3 hours to get the boats up the hill to the blackwater but it was all worth it, paddling in some flat calm on a beautiful high loch.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYE0IyOP1SBuvqxzokMwyzNVhPXWuvC2sKPGYZxqURaQfH51Pa88F79dY_I4PD3QONTiJxwCndmS9C3GozcQDpa1DxVbLK59wiezN6cS7A6gsjmXsWX5rw3G2Mvmpjgdx5ku5EzA9kH0/s1600/IMG_5572.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYE0IyOP1SBuvqxzokMwyzNVhPXWuvC2sKPGYZxqURaQfH51Pa88F79dY_I4PD3QONTiJxwCndmS9C3GozcQDpa1DxVbLK59wiezN6cS7A6gsjmXsWX5rw3G2Mvmpjgdx5ku5EzA9kH0/s400/IMG_5572.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699366220402657906" /></a>Bob with 10km of the Blackwater still in front of him late in the afternoon.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJD5wjNBxNg0JY8voIIwqTFXJnlThUqa4_Sj4NTQ_u7q5weEJQY5qcqmxhF-MZ08c8X5GmYIsqJF8yVkrfCG7ak4vBjv54qK7h1mjaueyYUSTIM6NgAaG4UUcbe5tNRRyIkHsM0fU6ao/s1600/IMG_5599.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJD5wjNBxNg0JY8voIIwqTFXJnlThUqa4_Sj4NTQ_u7q5weEJQY5qcqmxhF-MZ08c8X5GmYIsqJF8yVkrfCG7ak4vBjv54qK7h1mjaueyYUSTIM6NgAaG4UUcbe5tNRRyIkHsM0fU6ao/s400/IMG_5599.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699366212632068002" /></a>The tent lit up on the first night, camped at the East end of the Blackwater ready for the heinous portage the next day.<div><br /></div><div><b>Day Two </b>(East end of Blackwater to the river Gaur)</div><div>We got up and out of camp as it got light and headed off initially trying to connect sections of the Blackwater river with each other but quickly gave up and pulled the canoes behind us instead.</div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGdVq6xlgM2O4fMYP0jwYx4jv7sv7mmNudcl6OTWJtxpOk1iG4M55DFhBBJNxqPxoYtekzjb90WpPa4kPGITdJnK3EtGVEe5AWafYZObiqhOHM23AxXaLypgBwrYeRgFCxcTJXADeWAI/s400/IMG_5614.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699361722614182770" /><span>Bob contemplates another boggy section. This first portage was meant to be just over 3 km but we frequently had to take the long way round small streams and large bogs. It was quite useful the ground being frozen as the boat slid pretty easily on the frozen turf.</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGdVq6xlgM2O4fMYP0jwYx4jv7sv7mmNudcl6OTWJtxpOk1iG4M55DFhBBJNxqPxoYtekzjb90WpPa4kPGITdJnK3EtGVEe5AWafYZObiqhOHM23AxXaLypgBwrYeRgFCxcTJXADeWAI/s1600/IMG_5614.jpg"><span><br /></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-fuAf_hXPwqx6ELdeKMxefzuKT5h6Xrq8htTx3TrLbWZLBgcxkH6RDkRg55w9aC4xEzeeGlg0HqC4QrC3K8AgwXCArynxT_9acyJa4Z8TLqHZKmV3Wd0djQcxpF7jf6zY5CsOcSg-4s/s400/bigportage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699366204814533154" /></a></div><div><div>No water in sight. Potentially the highest part of the crossing getting closer to the small Lochan a' Chlaidheimh at the top before another long portage down to Loch Eigheach at the head of the Gaur.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteudn3jI1MXGfg8xN1TiX6WYD7wy9JSKso2G2hc-UGj7ufkIXTsLGrkqaMkGgaI7kRoBqaDMLKiQc_zniA4jNdxRZ5XHumXv97MfEHr3Vvt6frSMs0EheVvEOQwnSjSbc5mxqrrum_lU/s1600/IMG_5627.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteudn3jI1MXGfg8xN1TiX6WYD7wy9JSKso2G2hc-UGj7ufkIXTsLGrkqaMkGgaI7kRoBqaDMLKiQc_zniA4jNdxRZ5XHumXv97MfEHr3Vvt6frSMs0EheVvEOQwnSjSbc5mxqrrum_lU/s400/IMG_5627.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699361707888803074" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Crossing yet another small stream - at times the boats were quite handy as you could slide them halfway across and then climb across them! We both spent much of this day imagining different contraptions that would make this easier.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaaE9ds4oc_-kvmkKAu37vAqcPTHRRNchb9g1qziqIBpt4wHd-yB8H57HJp1O3WVl4KOc8sGZybkPS17J8PojpqBLNL12Zit03W77gtfsthQsXffWrayhgyc6Xt82GA0uuuDyrAVfNh0/s1600/IMG_5659.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaaE9ds4oc_-kvmkKAu37vAqcPTHRRNchb9g1qziqIBpt4wHd-yB8H57HJp1O3WVl4KOc8sGZybkPS17J8PojpqBLNL12Zit03W77gtfsthQsXffWrayhgyc6Xt82GA0uuuDyrAVfNh0/s400/IMG_5659.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699361699011222018" /></a></div><div>Camped on the side of the Gaur after a very long day. The last 600m to the road down to Loch Eigheach seemed very long indeed after dragging the boats what should have been 7.5km but was probably more like 10.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Day Three </b>(River Gaur to Dunalastair Dam)</div><div><br /></div><div>We woke up to find a hard frost and temperature refusing to rise above -5degreeC and not a breath of wind. Lieing in the tent looking at the maps on the first night we had realised that we had totally forgotten about Loch Rannoch, incidentaly the largest loch we would have to paddle. We slowly got into some very cold drysuits and headed downt the Gaur river which was rather low on water.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8YbR2Co192AToKTPFvn8L7yU2RcUu3YiMak5b4ZyN4EUCbRtRhA-PD4DD6Cesls1d0noQCmxWOrJ597Vh_05mTr2BSFG8w7U-SlXNJpV3X6eggJFaFFrVZcbDEQ8qHaEBUZM9vSEmP0/s1600/IMG_5671.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8YbR2Co192AToKTPFvn8L7yU2RcUu3YiMak5b4ZyN4EUCbRtRhA-PD4DD6Cesls1d0noQCmxWOrJ597Vh_05mTr2BSFG8w7U-SlXNJpV3X6eggJFaFFrVZcbDEQ8qHaEBUZM9vSEmP0/s400/IMG_5671.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699361681738851650" /><div style="text-align: center; "><span>My socks frozen to the canoe.</span></div></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AHiuQVfCSaiOMA10R_7D3AItqDEUliE-w9R5YKggt6fP-xK7sCoJJYmvI9BtbxQKDeCpmfokZuInmhegoFF9FlwK-diLhLlQ1hWitXtoazi53ULaUS_lxInHgthlKxnx4TNM1bDfoy8/s1600/IMG_5692.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AHiuQVfCSaiOMA10R_7D3AItqDEUliE-w9R5YKggt6fP-xK7sCoJJYmvI9BtbxQKDeCpmfokZuInmhegoFF9FlwK-diLhLlQ1hWitXtoazi53ULaUS_lxInHgthlKxnx4TNM1bDfoy8/s400/IMG_5692.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699352731280121762" /><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span>Tree at the start of Loch Rannoch in the early morning sun.</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQF3W1lfxsCDLYKOwyJOPr4QIABZFfxTmYuAfqA55NxOURQGcQvPDm1dwQwRLNG7D4yDv_sw6Wr-CFWw-seAXpEcKqKNpvhdNfcronoiaFHvaOJjLUhG8NHUh_k78-DEsrywgnV5uGugw/s1600/IMG_5701.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQF3W1lfxsCDLYKOwyJOPr4QIABZFfxTmYuAfqA55NxOURQGcQvPDm1dwQwRLNG7D4yDv_sw6Wr-CFWw-seAXpEcKqKNpvhdNfcronoiaFHvaOJjLUhG8NHUh_k78-DEsrywgnV5uGugw/s400/IMG_5701.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699352720347715954" /></a></div><div>Finally across Loch Rannoch and past the Rannoch Dam feeling very pleased with ourselves after meeting an incredulous gentleman who asked "where you headed, Perth?" to which we replied "yes". We then explained very poorly that we had come from the West Coast and that we were not doing it for charity...</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><u><b>Day Four (Dunalastair Dam to Pitlochry)</b></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another cold and frosty morning and another portage around a dam to get into the upper Tummel river. We scouted this portage the night before which made things go a bit quicker only to discover that there was no water in the Tummel river and all the throwbags etc were completely frozen. We chose to portage the hard rapids. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AHiuQVfCSaiOMA10R_7D3AItqDEUliE-w9R5YKggt6fP-xK7sCoJJYmvI9BtbxQKDeCpmfokZuInmhegoFF9FlwK-diLhLlQ1hWitXtoazi53ULaUS_lxInHgthlKxnx4TNM1bDfoy8/s1600/IMG_5692.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQoTakNiXSfDo3jHo9GD5z0g-3xbNaF2BX4uSn6AWjrZy6hVV278sSWnUB-_ixDB1BtFEseGghm-pLKctzvKCKg6j68xLN6ujtn4WbYkzrX8m7VfKQsdI_-uSJnM23Y73B6-kAjhPgVI/s400/hyperdunalastai2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699366194639400706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px; " /></a></div><div>Dunalastair Water in the morning light.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-X2LJCmaLIzszf7mgi3FL3lJ0-OW55YUzea6O3m8Ktr6w0Qsc9qCH4FX6ce_yemfBrqvk7AdMX3WskoV3zM1jEffZVPCa0Ue098dq4OsURcGUnys0ou8rTV_r6G3c1qXVc8aoX_7Zok/s1600/IMG_5731.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-X2LJCmaLIzszf7mgi3FL3lJ0-OW55YUzea6O3m8Ktr6w0Qsc9qCH4FX6ce_yemfBrqvk7AdMX3WskoV3zM1jEffZVPCa0Ue098dq4OsURcGUnys0ou8rTV_r6G3c1qXVc8aoX_7Zok/s400/IMG_5731.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699352710120127298" /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-X2LJCmaLIzszf7mgi3FL3lJ0-OW55YUzea6O3m8Ktr6w0Qsc9qCH4FX6ce_yemfBrqvk7AdMX3WskoV3zM1jEffZVPCa0Ue098dq4OsURcGUnys0ou8rTV_r6G3c1qXVc8aoX_7Zok/s1600/IMG_5731.jpg">L</a>oading the boats for the portage around the dam.</span><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQF3W1lfxsCDLYKOwyJOPr4QIABZFfxTmYuAfqA55NxOURQGcQvPDm1dwQwRLNG7D4yDv_sw6Wr-CFWw-seAXpEcKqKNpvhdNfcronoiaFHvaOJjLUhG8NHUh_k78-DEsrywgnV5uGugw/s1600/IMG_5701.jpg"></a></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEEEhQabP1sl1TbYgDuFfsId6g-3fgFclbLBU7kX0OefFPjY8HMeCcw5tXPfzcywR-IHHadgQ1L28GVjzEnlZQD6DGESb1_9Q9ibwf-J4oA-CTDHFVJdt19X4VLW166sWpw-KA9PwQbo/s1600/tummelisland.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEEEhQabP1sl1TbYgDuFfsId6g-3fgFclbLBU7kX0OefFPjY8HMeCcw5tXPfzcywR-IHHadgQ1L28GVjzEnlZQD6DGESb1_9Q9ibwf-J4oA-CTDHFVJdt19X4VLW166sWpw-KA9PwQbo/s400/tummelisland.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699352697903768178" /></a><div><span>Lunch on Loch Tummel Island.</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEEEhQabP1sl1TbYgDuFfsId6g-3fgFclbLBU7kX0OefFPjY8HMeCcw5tXPfzcywR-IHHadgQ1L28GVjzEnlZQD6DGESb1_9Q9ibwf-J4oA-CTDHFVJdt19X4VLW166sWpw-KA9PwQbo/s1600/tummelisland.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AHiuQVfCSaiOMA10R_7D3AItqDEUliE-w9R5YKggt6fP-xK7sCoJJYmvI9BtbxQKDeCpmfokZuInmhegoFF9FlwK-diLhLlQ1hWitXtoazi53ULaUS_lxInHgthlKxnx4TNM1bDfoy8/s1600/IMG_5692.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSxG_1aD8G9SoKqHqCS0zXduALgkUurUy0qYfCuccRQ8tf_NEFvUpFxmEq-c4Ri5ZgsR5Jw-iyKR70OZmquq-dNJi2DHnoDtvq4u8pr9v6oZhGfoVGSlZ1XP8kZ3z9CpO61Zw-rJFMXk/s400/P1160113.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699361676625640994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>Finally a pint of beer in the Kingfisher pub in Pitlochry. We had a couple of pints, some fish and chips and then wandered pitlochry looking for the portage route for the next morning.</div><br /><b>Day Five </b>(Pitlochry to Perth (and a bit further))</div><div><br /></div><div>We got up early and did a quick portage of Pitlochry at 615 not even meeting any vehicles on the road and then waited for the bakery to open for some bacon rolls to keep us going. Once on the water we were able to keep a good 10km an hour all the way to perth.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8dG7Yi9Q-SnHgTiwuT50gZhotOYNSbc11lyszanW8zFCICU0EbRUQfw-ExjgMQc4fgv5GVr3cRI6HfFUy9wkMvufWVIT6hCRvKTv5dYn34Cxzin9mLMvbh_fikNq68HqegXVlFTjJdk/s1600/IMG_5758.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8dG7Yi9Q-SnHgTiwuT50gZhotOYNSbc11lyszanW8zFCICU0EbRUQfw-ExjgMQc4fgv5GVr3cRI6HfFUy9wkMvufWVIT6hCRvKTv5dYn34Cxzin9mLMvbh_fikNq68HqegXVlFTjJdk/s400/IMG_5758.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699352690250259378" /></a>Approaching the bridges in Perth, the tidal limit for East Coast. Just to be sure we paddled an extra 11km down to Abernethy. Thanks to my Dad and Sister for dropping off some pies and irn bru and my dad for helping with the shuttle.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>For anyone interested in this route, some notes on logistics -</b></div><div><b>Total route</b> is about 150km</div><div><b>Portages</b> - hard! there is two painful ones, one on the first day and the other from the blackwater to the gaur. The uphill portage on day one is tough to start but the last 5 km are really pleasant.</div><div><b>Gear </b>- we took 2 boats and two trolleys. The trolleys were lifesavers and this does seem to be safer to do with 1 boat. We took enough gear to be comfortable, drysuits and waterproofs, Wellies, trainers and river shoes. We took enough food for 4 days (three dinners) knowing that we would make pitlochry before we ran out(only just!)</div><div><b>Timing</b> - We both thought winter would be better. Frozen ground, no midgies etc though we did paddle in the dark every day and could certainly have made more distance with more daylight.</div><div><b>Shuttle -</b> its really long though very obvious.</div><div><b>Route - </b>It seems that some people portage down to run the Garbh Ghaoir (the river above the Gaur) but this doesnt really make sense as it is a further portage and doesnt quite make sense (to us) on a map.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6736768811306085676.post-2797430634479609862012-01-03T03:43:00.000-08:002012-01-24T02:28:55.356-08:00Recovering<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This post is a little different to most in that a lot of the pictures were not actually taken by me. As some will know I took a bit of a fall climbing in Stob Coire an Lochain in Glen Coe so the bottom photos are purely from this. The last few are from my first trip back into the mountains over hogmanay with Ruaridh, Ann Marie, Robin and Jaffa the Dog to Coire Mor Bothy. We arrived to find a new barrier across the road forcing us to walk a little further but we still got in in good time. We met some other people at the bothy and saw in the new year with them and some whisky (though we only lasted till 11!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The healing is going well with it getting better every day though it was a bit achy sleeping on the bothy floor!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaAsDnuRVz87CtX_kXZbODQPTypdrSjfZWNZVcOYWzwHHuD4wtS0lBh-v8DBSldQtMbqIXoYTf8YSlzbX9berhyAlu0R8LZzcl3VVqO7BJbS48EnQks25CDAdS0RX7xrI3mH6og4vw5s/s1600/HDRCoiremor_3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaAsDnuRVz87CtX_kXZbODQPTypdrSjfZWNZVcOYWzwHHuD4wtS0lBh-v8DBSldQtMbqIXoYTf8YSlzbX9berhyAlu0R8LZzcl3VVqO7BJbS48EnQks25CDAdS0RX7xrI3mH6og4vw5s/s400/HDRCoiremor_3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693376258765113986" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaAsDnuRVz87CtX_kXZbODQPTypdrSjfZWNZVcOYWzwHHuD4wtS0lBh-v8DBSldQtMbqIXoYTf8YSlzbX9berhyAlu0R8LZzcl3VVqO7BJbS48EnQks25CDAdS0RX7xrI3mH6og4vw5s/s1600/HDRCoiremor_3.jpg">Coire Mor Bothy is actually the far end of this building with the doorway nearest being "Magoos" Bothy. I think this might be kept quiet by the Mountain Bothies Association as this really is one of the best bothies ever and the are has</a> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaAsDnuRVz87CtX_kXZbODQPTypdrSjfZWNZVcOYWzwHHuD4wtS0lBh-v8DBSldQtMbqIXoYTf8YSlzbX9berhyAlu0R8LZzcl3VVqO7BJbS48EnQks25CDAdS0RX7xrI3mH6og4vw5s/s1600/HDRCoiremor_3.jpg">a huge amount of Winter Climbing, Summer Climbing and Skiing potential.</a></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnVHxhReHIF8BCPVlGAfY3Hnsw2xhk2Oo7sTHMl5Rs25N1b4N3k6vGzEFZZdZ17ps5reAWzb_iWNIxevjroHKEzXh-LsC8aBjgyU7qfHt2opRTkrpjVlfudUndd3XiDZGYG_oDjXp_D8/s400/IMG_5386_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693377377580071970" /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><u>Ruaridh crossing the river after our day doing the </u></span><u>round of Seana Braigh. It was this or another hour of walking.</u></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7X32kaJp5mvCLCkG0hyphenhyphenTDws3LkAAp7Ep9LFTdva42750ILQZwLWm-MZcaVNVcsPNkgh5L3knrE_bPEILxW1Khm63xbsPLgrIJ1c3DEUwgncqzFGJ50XAXkSQpSvi1Pr837g-RJk_Stfk/s1600/IMG_5372_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7X32kaJp5mvCLCkG0hyphenhyphenTDws3LkAAp7Ep9LFTdva42750ILQZwLWm-MZcaVNVcsPNkgh5L3knrE_bPEILxW1Khm63xbsPLgrIJ1c3DEUwgncqzFGJ50XAXkSQpSvi1Pr837g-RJk_Stfk/s400/IMG_5372_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693374201762184930" /></a>Old Caledonian forest exposed by the river from the peat bogs - probably the most impressive one of these I've seen at the head of the loch.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNfF_j0JhsHfll7A4vDnQVQZJpVzkxELD1DbXVWExF2JVjUwhyV7dGfcbrP3-BZ8rDrrB3_Yun2hryYFugfU9WGIWjkBaXBf2OSq5d-Ji4BkNDlNs8DQIYCNLKRAsMWB4THuvXvrjwUw/s1600/IMG_5391_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNfF_j0JhsHfll7A4vDnQVQZJpVzkxELD1DbXVWExF2JVjUwhyV7dGfcbrP3-BZ8rDrrB3_Yun2hryYFugfU9WGIWjkBaXBf2OSq5d-Ji4BkNDlNs8DQIYCNLKRAsMWB4THuvXvrjwUw/s400/IMG_5391_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693374194681963442" /></a></div><div>Ruaridh and Ann-Marie relaxing on the afternoon of the 1st while clothes dry around them.</div><div><br /></div><div>The photos from the fall...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75_uoMJFCQPtJa_FGPjBvpyQ38uFbrXp10aVYRJxtJ4C_OlxvNo4hE-9IYSrZx1W04-S4JBAvcQUxhQ2th6Okk2COsLw0vQVEcr7-Cef6DqThA2Ai3UoJUxcui43uAx5xYAdbtKuNe94/s1600/IMG_4878.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75_uoMJFCQPtJa_FGPjBvpyQ38uFbrXp10aVYRJxtJ4C_OlxvNo4hE-9IYSrZx1W04-S4JBAvcQUxhQ2th6Okk2COsLw0vQVEcr7-Cef6DqThA2Ai3UoJUxcui43uAx5xYAdbtKuNe94/s400/IMG_4878.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693374179847330034" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div></a>2 climbers approaching the main cliff of Stob Coire.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCJBOgEiJkcFVmdrJGCOUyyE33k-HyHYEBpNv-_nFy1lWJtWi-yKyIzDvE8zOlSWBbr5esrSYdVL_vHErQNdEXymD_NteD8FeCAyiqKIfFRA51Gm23UdwDCubr16dzut9IL4p-Na1HqQ/s1600/IMG_4882_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCJBOgEiJkcFVmdrJGCOUyyE33k-HyHYEBpNv-_nFy1lWJtWi-yKyIzDvE8zOlSWBbr5esrSYdVL_vHErQNdEXymD_NteD8FeCAyiqKIfFRA51Gm23UdwDCubr16dzut9IL4p-Na1HqQ/s400/IMG_4882_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693374169738216082" /></a></div><div>Graham racking up before the first pitch.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXlmGEkpKF47Ykw5qa7QSA5V1Yy63YjLzOMSvifxkJRG4mORtHzxWdEcdm-cELy69sVVMZRN-RyD8mzzchlHqULRmsvXPPNIMSPRrlxO1Xtqtj9G9CNcsxEXbFElbeO6VzTaUyUHSxNxI/s400/IMG_4889_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693407279154032546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 400px; " />Me on the ledge that I bounced off on my way down (photo by Graham). You might just be able to spot the bulldog clipped to the right hand rope. I attempted to move up and right from where I am standing in the picture - I still dont think it was the right way.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfbXn3XC5wNPOBx3oxLmUIZzYFTWE8hiQnj4WeztQun0LbZ4fu2Nkv1nZ6FQmxCbfe5g4aBWLNKmGc6kBTJPDUTk1Jqt5NdgcQq4c7vB_lPF87en6UhVFM7FDMo51sV_PWCQWaButxF4/s1600/IMG_4905_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfbXn3XC5wNPOBx3oxLmUIZzYFTWE8hiQnj4WeztQun0LbZ4fu2Nkv1nZ6FQmxCbfe5g4aBWLNKmGc6kBTJPDUTk1Jqt5NdgcQq4c7vB_lPF87en6UhVFM7FDMo51sV_PWCQWaButxF4/s400/IMG_4905_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693373298315105490" /></a>Being fed hot juice while we wait for the helicopter (photo by Graham). The buttress I fell off is the left hand side of the coire. I was climbing the second pitch which would have got us close to the big snow band running up the left side of the crag.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8NTaj1E34xsVuQVCM-dLhKaIPcVEc5rJUlrnOQ67gych6MffLO5dJxccUQ5lNKUH-X42LpFG4bVl9pEB_qeWNM4JCA8QbFclI-mw8OavHRMj3JZQ2BYemOcUiZFUrJegjNqeoWpu5_0/s1600/Signaling+%2528E+Roo%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8NTaj1E34xsVuQVCM-dLhKaIPcVEc5rJUlrnOQ67gych6MffLO5dJxccUQ5lNKUH-X42LpFG4bVl9pEB_qeWNM4JCA8QbFclI-mw8OavHRMj3JZQ2BYemOcUiZFUrJegjNqeoWpu5_0/s400/Signaling+%2528E+Roo%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693373292517188354" /></a>Graham signalling the helicopter in (Photo by Emily Roo)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjZxO3AKbNOBQNauWAwtaSP0VUc6h4LaHhJVaP4c3RzcWR8cZtjQhyphenhyphenag01Qc2uZEZQlk7td8rlA5fNgtvG_DwqBXhAwAkOgbyK_QZKApJoXMc0jAosP8nP0L4XeeoSr4wM1rVxB4y5XY/s1600/Packaging+%2528E+Roo%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjZxO3AKbNOBQNauWAwtaSP0VUc6h4LaHhJVaP4c3RzcWR8cZtjQhyphenhyphenag01Qc2uZEZQlk7td8rlA5fNgtvG_DwqBXhAwAkOgbyK_QZKApJoXMc0jAosP8nP0L4XeeoSr4wM1rVxB4y5XY/s400/Packaging+%2528E+Roo%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693373286175653026" /></a>Me being packaged up ready for my flight - I was very cold by this point as graham had not let me eat anything and I was in shock. I was still warm enough to be annoyed by the neck brace which I later convinced them to take off. (photo by Emily Roo). If you look carefully you can tell Graham is grinning inside his hood.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlIJDzJSwTernQjDuZ79fBhyeoix2TrLDuvNTayFtA4JY-8f7hNxTeaDwJy3VfNvzQ7PFQKGXtnZr9dCgT5fmhsXf7g4-jm0IH2nJMoy8WPhyKCQ3KI4JozDv2-2tEFK7n86ZILfCiLU/s1600/Helicopter+%2528E+Roo%2529.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlIJDzJSwTernQjDuZ79fBhyeoix2TrLDuvNTayFtA4JY-8f7hNxTeaDwJy3VfNvzQ7PFQKGXtnZr9dCgT5fmhsXf7g4-jm0IH2nJMoy8WPhyKCQ3KI4JozDv2-2tEFK7n86ZILfCiLU/s400/Helicopter+%2528E+Roo%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693373274000180274" /></a>Me heading out the easy way (Photo by Emily Roo)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfROXCnIiFrXzpaAD1Fyt_GtOMNJPutneobDm9o1FDvcmAFk8o-BKSlAhETvO8VmDalqAx7fCv4hcD94az_Px3-X3uHLuNkP37lTSYD_z3fQckFT7PwKThPGwBXDxshJ26GpEv1woGZk/s1600/IMG_4908_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfROXCnIiFrXzpaAD1Fyt_GtOMNJPutneobDm9o1FDvcmAFk8o-BKSlAhETvO8VmDalqAx7fCv4hcD94az_Px3-X3uHLuNkP37lTSYD_z3fQckFT7PwKThPGwBXDxshJ26GpEv1woGZk/s400/IMG_4908_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693373266285442786" /></a>In the Fort William hospital with a cup of tea. They are so used to dealing with climbers they didn't even cut my clothes off. (Photo by Graham)</div><div><br /></div><div>Trying to take it easy and let my ribs heal has given me lots of time to consider how great we have it in the UK with free health care and Mountain Rescue. Hopefully I wont need it again any time soon but its good to know its there.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next up for me is some more resting and then hopefully more of the usual skiing, climbing and taking pictures before I head to Asia in February.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy New Year.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0