Ferry Camusnagaul

Last night Rory and I feet like going to a bit of a random day over on the ferry form Fort William to Camusnagaul. To go practice some nav skill and log a ML day. Getting the ferry over was easy and a fast crossing. Once off the at Camusnagaul we head up Meall an t-Slamain to get up high. On the way up had great views of the Ben and down Loch Linnhe.

Heading up Meall an t-Slamain

View form the top

Getting to the top we started setting tasks to find feachers and work out times. We made are way around to Ceann Caol and on to Stob Corie a'Chearcaill. Being lucky to have a bit of sunshine to come out for a bit of the walk. At the top of Stob Corie a'Chearcaill we had to start to prass on to make the return ferry back to the Fort. So on to Lochan na Cruaich then drop down to the track that lead to Stroncherggan.

View down Loch Linnhe

On the way to the Lochan

Down to the track

On the road it was going to be cutting it a bit fine to make the ferry so out with the thumb and get a lift. Got a lift from so nice German touriste heading up to Fort Augustus. It bit seem a bit of a odd way to go there but they where enjoying the views over the Loch. So a great day had making it back to the ferry with plenty of time in the end. Needing to go back again to explorer more.

Fort William to Camusnagaul ferry 

Rory killing time

Summer Solstice Adventure

So its just been the summer solstice last night and an adventure had to be had. With it being light for so long. Started of the fun with an afternoon ride about Nevis Range with Rach. She showed me down some new bits of trail that she been show by Mack Clark. Great little bits hidden trail. Need to get back and have a play on again. Pretty stoked for Rach riding her first black feature and looking smooth bring on the jumps next.

The long ride up

Rach ride her first black feature

Hidden trails

After a great ride on to meet up with Ewan, Matt and Fiona. Too head up Tower Ridge for a late evening assent. We had the bikes with us to make the way back down a lot faster. Thow this did mean ridding/pushing up the distally track. So getting a bit a sweat of made sort work of it.

Given and just pushing now.

Just the walk to the Ridge 

After the walk in time to get on the route. We where making go time along the ridge and was looking like we might to missing out to the rain forecasted. But that was sort life with the rain started as we got to Little Tower and had drizzling for more of the rast of the night.

Starting the climb

Fiona going light and fast

Ewam leading the way

Ewan going over the gap

Fiona doing the gap

What they think of the weather

Rach going over the gap

Matt just about making it over

At made it to the top

Getting to the top had a great view of the low cloud. The time for the long walk back of the tourist path then on to the path rond the halfway lochan. On the way down we could see a snake of lights making its way up the path for the Youth Hostel to find a mass sponsored walk was heading. After a wet walk back to the bike. More so for Fiona as she was in approach shoes. Had the fun of biking back down the track. A great summer solstice adventure now what to do for the next one

Sponsored walker heading up the Ben

Ewan happy to be alive

Almost lost Fiona on the way down

UKCC Level one coach

Gerat 4 day doing my UKCC Level one coach with Aquaplay Scotland. Learnt a lot for Gim and Steve. Don't know how they did it sun for the hole of it too. Hopefully moving on to 3 star then Level 2 Coach in the coming year finger crossed.

Last day bit of fun

The Coach see us how its done.

Blog up date

Its been some time seen up dating this. Been a made time with uni finishing for the summer, climbing, biking and even a bit of real world work.

Before all that madness started had a great trip to France with UHI Mountaineering Club. A week on none stop banter and climbing now and then. Nice to be able to enjoy sunny climbing weather. We mangered to climb all but for one day. Thanx Sally Hudson for some of the photo.

Great craging in the sun

Sam enjoying the sun

What to do on a wet day in France.  © Sally Hudson

Le tube neural the best route of the trip for me. 

The Team. © Sally Hudson

Next up after that was time to work on reports for uni so not to much got done outside. Got the odd evening out to Heather Hat with Rach and on the bike up to Nevis Range/Cow Hill. The summer start with uni all finished. The first summer fun was a over night ride at Laggen Wolftrax. Head out after work for a couple of laps of the Upper Red and Lower Red. Then a fun ride down the Orange. The a night in the 5* van accommodation with a morning ride before Rach had to be at work.

Rach enjoying the even sun 

A worn out whippet

Last Run for the evening

The next this to do was to get out climbing. Head out with Ewan to Sheepfall Wall in Polldubh Crags. A bit of a mad days as we walked in with the sun out looking like it could be to hat. Too end climbing in a mix of passing shower and gusts of wind. We got on with it anyway as it Scotland after all. There was some great climbing there. Ewan getting on Gambit** a nice climb is a bit green in place, then getting on Sheep Fank Direct*, Sheep Fank Wall* and Bardhinaghi**. With me getting on the other star route of the crag Tonis* , Pay No Poll Tax* (did like the name of this climb) and Haul*. All great climbing if feeling a bit wild in bits like.

Gambit S**

Tonis HVS 5a*

Sheep Fand Direct HS*

Sadly back the real word for a work at UK Gravity Enduro for The Billy Can. A mad week with great weather in Hamsterley. That then lead on to a week of biking with meet Andy starting off going to Hamsterley to do the Red and Black routs. Great fun with not to big climbs and the downs where wall wherth it.

At the top

The we head on to Dalby Forest. Wicht we where not so happy with a lot off pedalling for not much downhill fun. So on to the Peaks District to Glossop. The best day of the trip. Was meant to be of a epci day but my knee was giving me pain so we cut it down. End up doing along the Pennine Way for some fantastic technical ride.

The Climb

Lunch spot

The Way we came

Just about at the end

Not good

Getting back to the Fort. Head out to High Crag with Ewan to do Autobahnasfahrt. The longst route in Polldubh. Great day for it nice a sunning loving summer cragging. Great climbing and toping out with a great view up and down the Glen

Enjoying the view

Been getting out on the bike for a trip out to Morzine going up the Glen with Rach. Then time for the Downhill World Cup. A great weekend and even great weekend for it seeing friend form Aberdeen.

Mad Riding

Sadly that seed like the end of the good weather but me and Ewan feel like trying Centurion on Carn Dearg Buttress. One of the best routes I have done on the Ben. Shame that it started rain a bit on the top pitch but still made it a great like.

Second pitch

Steeping out

Wet top pitch

Happy at the top

Had a GoPro on so made a short edit of it.

Climbing on the Ben from Mark Chambers on Vimeo.

The last day be for heading off for UKCC Level 1 Couch me and Rach head down to Kinlochleven. A good ride a bike of a long ride but with so great climbing and view. Just on of them ride I had a big smile on me face the hole way.

Getting to the top now

Time for down

Black water dam