New route

Reaching the ridge.

Drew.

On the summit.

Drew leading over a crevasse field.

Heading for the South Ridge of Badger Buttress.

Over a crevasse field.

The long walk In.

Concentration.

Bringing up the rear.

Reptile Ridge.

Mark and Dickie.

Climbing badger buttress.

Drew

Me.

One of my first Antarctic Climbs conditions were great but a bit chilly better get used to it.
Stork North Ridge.

Euan and I went to Glen Coe to do our last climb before I go to Antarctica, what a great day we had. We started walking up Buachaille Etive Mor at 8am.

Half way up with the Devils Staircase and the Nevis range in the background.

It was very cold and windy at the top.

Euan at the summit with Rannoch Moor in the distance. To finish the day we called the Drovers Inn for a coke and shandy.

A shelter built by Ashley and Euan using only what was around them.

Abseiling at Aberfoyle.

Ashley

Euan practicing his climbing.

These are some of the mountains around where I will be based at Rothera in Antarctica.

A part of my training in Antarctica will be in Crevasses. For rescue and pleasure purposes.
Another view of Antarctic mountains.

This is one of my favourite climbs The Aonach Eagach Ridge which incorporates Meall Dearg(953m) and Sgorr nam Fiannaidha(967m). As you can see there is a lot of scrambing on this ridge

This picture shows you the ridge looking west

This is my youngest son Euan as we climbed Ben Lomond(974m). This is our local mountain. The view in the back is Loch Lomond. This was Euans First mountain.

The midges were bad at the top so we went straight down Ptarmigan ridge.The walk took around 3 hours.

These photos are take on Buachaille Etive Beag(958m) and Bidean nam Bain (1150m). Both of these are good climbs in winter conditions.



As you can see the views are spectacular. I think the best time to climb is late autumn to early spring, as on frosty/cold days your view isn't spoilt by low cloud.



My son Ashley and I in about minus 9

- minus 12 it was so cold our drinks had frozen by the time we had reached the top. Other members of this climb were Derek Swan, Matthew Swan.

These photos were taken at the top of Sgorr Dhearg(1024m) and Sgorr Dhonuill(1001).Both of these mountains are at South Ballachulish. It took a good 6 hours to complete the two as we climbed up Beinn a' Bheithir, a steep ridge which was covered in ice.

The views were breath taking you could see the isles of Jura,Islay and Skye

You get such an adrenalin buzz once you've completed something like this.