Mike, Keith, Dave and I originally planned to head down to Spain this week in April to check out the world class bouldering on offer in Albarracin. Instead however (due to a lack of planning and then flight becoming too expensive) we decided to stay in the UK and go bouldering. That's where all the best bouldering is right?
The weather running up to this week away was being watched intently by all, with none of the forecasts looking promising. Monday it looked like the NW of Scotland was the driest place to head for the week; Tuesday the Peak District; Wednesday Yorkshire :) :) :) ; Thursday the NE Moray coast; and by the Sunday we left it was back to the NW. That meant we were heading up to Torridon, much to Mike's delight!
We packed up the Zafira we rented and the four of us set off up north in high spirits, though unable to see each other between the piled up bags. We stopped off along the way at the Ruthven Boulder, where it started raining...heavily! It did dry out enough for us to send some problems, with Mike and Dave doing a few 7a's and Keith and I a few easier things. I got a font 4, 5, 6a, 6a+ and 6c+ sent. The rain then continued, so after taking in the views we headed into Inverness for an Indian, where according to one local the restaurant was where high maintenance people go since the eggs are free range! Base camp for the week was eventually established in the free Torridon campsite around 23:00.
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| The Zafira on the sunny weekend, complete with the rain shelter (the boot) |
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| Skimming stones on Loch Torridon |
In the Celtic Jumble we put up a fair few new problems, pottered around on a load more and went exploring for new boulders. Of the routes I can remember (and find the names of online since there are far too many boulders to identify one from another) I sent:
| Morning Wall | font 4+ | Sent | Torridon Celtic... | |||
| North Wall Traverse | font 5+ | Sent | Torridon Celtic... | |||
| Evening Wall | font 5+ | Sent | Torridon Celtic... | |||
| Hanging Arete | font 6b ** | Sent | Torridon Celtic... | |||
| Black Wall | font 4+ | Sent | Torridon Celtic... | |||
| Celtic Knot | font 6a ** | Sent | Torridon Celtic.. |
I also managed to put up two new routes - a 20 hand move traverse @ ~V3 (a bloc too far) and the 40 hand move extension @ ~V4/5 ('Dave kicked me out the tent for a girl' - aka. 3 bloc 3 stone). This took a lot longer than it should have as I kept falling from the crux at the very end when the pump sets in!
Keith put in a good performance and eventually sent the V3.
is shown.
Me going for a run at 'Dave kicked me out the tent for a girl' - aka. 3 bloc 3 stone. This covers 3 blocs and tops out above 3 stacked stones. A really worthwhile pumpy route to get on!
We did leave Torridon on one day and headed up to Reiff in the Woods, stopping on the way back at Ardmair Beach. Both are beautiful settings as these pictures show.
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| Reiff in the Woods - L to R = Stac Pollaidh, Dorie Dhubh, Cul Beag, and Meall Dearg |
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| Reiff in the Woods - Loch Lurgainn |
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| Ardmair Beach - perfect for an evening climb BBQ session |
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| A 6c+ at Ardmair |
| Watch Your Back | font 6b+ ** | Sent | Ardmair Beach | |||
| Youzyernee | font 6a+ ** | Sent | Ardmair Beach | |||
| Sloping Off | font 6c+ * | Sent | Ruthven Boulder | |||
| The Descent of Man | font 4 | Sent | Ruthven Boulder | |||
| The Cheeky Girls RH | font 6a ** | Sent | Ruthven Boulder | |||
| Austin Powers | font 5 ** | Sent | Ruthven Boulder |
We did only just make it back though, driving on empty ignoring the cars warning messages, to only just get through the campsite gate. A big thanks to Kris Devlin and Ian Crozier for buying us a Jerry Can of fuel when they met us on the weekend!
A brilliant week was had by everyone with good banter, good food and good company. A follow up weekend trip down to the Bowderstone in Borrowdale and St Bees in the Lakes was put on the cards. Should be a good if this trip happens!
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