Hogmanay 2013

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.

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!

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.....

In the main room of the bothy on the first night planning the next day.

 The bothy with rainbow on the last morning as we were packing up to leave.

 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!

 A very wet wander up the Glen.  Miles showing great technique on a river crossing

 Getting near the head of the glen as squalls of snow/rain/sleet hit us.  Ruaridh leading the way.

 Finally it cleared enough for a snowball fight with the remaining snow.

 Ali C very happy with his jacket.

 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!

 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.

 When it did clear on the 31st it was amazing.  Ruaridh (far right) looking down the glen back to the bothy.

HDR shot of the sandstone slabs running with water under a heavy sky.

Thanks to all who showed up, it was an amazing couple of days in a brilliant place.  Same again next year?

Yangshou Post 3 (Climbing etc)

 And finally the climbing...

 Giles going for it on "Eggstatic"(6b+/5.11a) at "the Egg" on the second day.

 Giles trying to stay on the same route

 Hannah entering the crux of "Eggstreme Exposure" (6a/5.10b)

 Hannah above the rice fields on the same route

 Miles "I'm in Hufflepuff" Mconville

 Hannah, Miles and Giles on top of Jeremys Jiji (they are on there if you look closely!)

 Eben making things hard for himself on "Les Echo des Montagnes" (5/5.8) Low mountain

 A crowded abseil station on Low mountain.  L-R Eben, Miles and Hannah sporting some colourful tights

 Miles abseiling from low mountain.

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!

Yanshou - Post 2 (Landscape etc)

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.

 Celebrating the end of the world on one of our first evenings.  I have never seen so many fireworks released at once.

 It wouldn't be a trip to China without at least one picture of bamboo!

 The Li River with the Karst Landscape of Yangshuo - Taken from the top of Low Mountain

 Black and white reflections taken near "the egg"

 Another view from low mountain

 Down by the river with some traditional rafts

Me, Hannah, Miles and Giles on top of "Jeremys Jiji" on Giles last day.

Yangshuo - Post 1 (transport)

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....

Hannah and Miles cracking up on day one and out first mode of transport - Pink bikes

Crag access Yangshuo style - on our way to Twin Gate Crag

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)

The "Iles's" ready for action on their tandem

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.

Hannah settled in for the night on the sleeper bus back to Hong Kong.

Next up some Landscape and people shots I think.

Adventure Time

I 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.

 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!

 Not taking a nap - Miles tried to hide in the rubber tubes so we pushed him over.

 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!)

 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.

 The Swimming pool in Luk Wu gorge.  No swimming this week but it was beautiful hiking weather.

 Black and White HDR shot of Wong Yi Chau pier.

 The 2012 staff team.

Another shot from the end of SPCC.  5 photo stitch.  L-R - James, Ant, Curtis, Al, Adam, Gabby, Gnani. Eben, Choy, Kyle.

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.....

Slowly getting cooler

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.

 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.

 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)

 Giles on "Dr Evil" 6c+/7a depending on reach and dyno ability.

 Nasty looking monkey on the way to Lion rock.  One of these went for me taking a photo of it later.

 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.

 Sunset over the ferry at my home town Yung Shue Wan, Lamma

 Miles and Letty in the their new house complete with fridge and red horse beer.

 Limited drink choices at the end of the night

 Giles seconding the first pitch of "Silent Prayer" 6a on temple crag.  A bit hot for slab climbing but great fun.

 Miles going for the only good hold on pitch one.

 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.

Miles "this is kind of like Dun Caan" Mconville high above Lantau island.