Spring has come!!!

What a start of the week. Spring has start with a bang with sunshine and blue skies. With the good weather was planing of going climbing on the Ben but with the high temp this was going to be hard work. So change of plans and headed to Reiff with Matt, Karen and Lou. There we found amzing rock and sun to kill for!!! First night we got there we are so psyched to get climbing that we got on the worry wall to start with but sorted that out. We got done 3 routes done on the Pinnacle with the most amazing sunset behind up.

Karen going up Westering Home

The bulge of Hy Brasil 

Lou enjoying the sunshine

The next day be walk up to the north end Rubha Ploytach. Would say that wellies are the best footwear for the bog that you have to go over. There was found that tide was a bit high to get done things but go a some short routes that where a nice warm up. After here there we had down to Seal Song Area. Where are meat the crowds. I was that and there was only 3 other teams there. That was good chat and fun seeing people enjoying them self.

Craig on The Executioner

Where are we going?

All go again 

Matt on Diamond Black 

Good ned to the day

That night are got up up by Tim how lives in Rieff and is in the know for the good weather and place for the North West. Sadly Matt had to leave as he had work that left Lue, Karen and Myself for one more day. This time we fancy something a bit longer so head down the road to Stac Pollaidh. There was got on the classic Jack the Ripper. Where was all got a pitch. Witch each one was great fun and cool move. The top being the best and I lucky got it. After a sort walk off it was a change into short for the second route November Groove. Another fine route a bit dirty in the middle but still great fun to the had.

Looking down the top pitch of Jack the Ripper

The summit pic 

After that it was back to work again. But with the sunny weather making the trails dry for biking.. Head to Badaguish and Lairig Ghru. Both really fun and after being in the Lairig Ghru in the snow now its dry its really enjoyable!!

A wee bit muddy

A good week

Now onto this week with a 4 Star Canoe training and good weather sure more fun with be had.

Puffer Fun

Well last weekend was the 10th Strathpuffer and it was a great time!! Had been enter with my friend Andy who I did it with last year as a quad and we where going to do it as a pair but he broke his wrist the week before. So with some calling about got another friend Rich to join in for the 24 hours of madness. The route was not much different form last year they had add a muddy end to the lap witch was great fun to hit the puddles and there was a lot more ice about at the start off the race. So how did it good. We did pretty will for the still about 1 where we both die after getting 16 laps done and then got back on it at 7 to get 3 more done so 19 laps in all. We came 31st out of 58th mans pairs. I was well happy with 19 laps as I had broken my ankle back in Sept and Rich had week notice before the race. And some how had a smell on his face on the change over (think he enjoy the muddy a lot more then me). A big thanks to Fi and Davey for food and pitting for us!! We'll done to Fiona for coming third solo woman. And will I be back again for sure just need find a team.

Me enjoy the sunshine (Photo Archie Lang)

Fi with her prizes 

Stormy Weather

Again on the Wast Coast is stormy weather about. So getting out on the hill was not looking good. What else to do then get out on the bike. Head up Cow Hill for the fast track down. Then over to Glen Nevis to head down the tourist track to the Achintee. A great day with a mix of everything rain, snow, hail and a very small bit of sun. Just need the weather to calm down.

Top of Youth Hostel track

Down time

Enjoying the Rain

Blog up date

So been a bit lax with blogging for a fair bit of time now, going to try get back into it again. As a short summary of what has been going. Summer was mad working lots and trying to fit a bit of play time in between before heading back to University. Made it out to Etive Slabs with Dave and Fiona. Great day climbing the Hammer. Had a bit of a long walk off in the dark but still a great time for sure.

Crux Move on the Hammer

Then had my friend Andy up for a week of biking. Head out to Laggan, Glen Nevis, The Devil Staircase and enter Tour De Ben Nevis. It was a great week with some wild weather and amazing trails. 

Devil's Staircase 

Heading up towards the Buchaille

Then it was time to start getting on with Uni again. This year has been a bit mad with assignments as it is the second year. Though still getting out paddling. We have been working toward our 3* canoe and all of the group passed the assessment.

Rich practising his poling

Andy surfing a wave

Got out on the hill to getting some more ML days logged and need to get on and book a training course come the summer. Had one great day out on Ben Starav. A nice blue bird day.

Looking down Ben Starav

Looking up the main ridge on Starav

And now that winter has come after a the long storms that we have had up in the north it is time to head out and play in the snow and ice. Had two great days so far, the first going up Stob Ban with folk from Limerick and the second heading over east to climb The Grooved Rib with Ewan. Two great days with lots of banter and good fun.

Heading up Stob Ban

Pitch 1 of the Grooved Rib 

1st Chimney of the Grooved Rib 

Now just need to keep on top of blogging and uni work. Then get out as much as I can and it will be a great 2014.

UHICC Enduro Dual Slalom Universe Championship Brodie

Last Thursday was the UHI Cycling Club Enduro Dual Slalom Universe Championship. It was a great laugh to meet and race against people. I fond it was not the eases thing to ride but still get to give a go. Managed to make it thought one round. To then be knock and then become the cameraman. Still a great time with beers and BBQ had at the end.

Fiona going for it

Pete getting a bit lose

Mark in the zone

People enjoying the push back up

Alastair getting close to eating dirt 

The Croy getting a bit wild

UHI Cycling Club jersey

Chef Mark working hard on the BBQ

Brodie of the winning run

Morzine Biking

Been out in Morzine the lost week biking with my friend Andy. Staying at the Riders Retreat in the center of Morzine. On the first night meet Fione by random, who I know form the UK Gravity Enduro. On the first day out there we where doing to Passport du Soleil. Which was going to be a nice 70km for a warn up for the start of the trip. It was a great was to work out the way around all the different lift and how to get over to Switzerland. On the way got to meet Mandil how was over from Napal and ran mountain biking holidays out there for Himalayan Rides. 

Looking like a good day

A happy andy on the first lift

Great views off the lifts

Over the top

Time to stop for the view

Something not sound right

Bike still working

So we made it through the first day without any mangersly going wrong. Just the odd noise coming  from bits. Head out with Steve, Adi, Adele and Mandil how oral staying in Riders Retreat with us too. We head over to Morgins in Switzerland. Getting over there was great adventure having to ride through snow and some great views off the tops. Getting to Morgins had a head down the blue and like more of ride on a Hardteil was a bit of work but great fun had. Sadly Andy managed to brake his forks on his last run before heading back. Which meant he was riding with a pogo stick. That afternoon spent finding someone to fix them.

A bit on snow

Onwards 

Adi enjoying the snow

Great views

Fixing flat 3 of the trip © Adele Woodbridge

In the end we got up early the next day and drop them off with someone to work some magic. So with Andy without a bike I did the best this and I head out to Les Gets by myself. To get a play before everyone else come over in the afternoon. Some how the forks where fixed with a bike puncture repair kit ( so for of magic I think) and where working ok.

Mandil leading the way

Into the woods we go

 After three days of sunshine the weather was on the change. But out we went anyway heading over to Châtel Bike Park hoping it would hold off for the day. Getting to there it was a bit wet but ok. We had a bit of a mud fast to get down to the bike park. When there I had a big crash for the trip. Which end up upside down in a hole fun time. After some more runs the the rain ended come so we called it a day and head back. For the joys of a hot tubs.

Muddy times

Crash time

Into the cloud

Sadly it did not stop raining till the morning so a muddy riding day it was going to be like. So to save going far we head up Super Morzine lift into the mud fast that it was. Even with all the mud it was a great day sliding and falling everywhere. I doing thing there was one bit of me that did not have mud on by the end of the day.

Mud slid

Andy show how its done

The deeps pond

Trying to ride the pond

Looking Clean

The trip had to come to an end but at less the sun had come out for it. We planned to head over to Champéry on the way there one of the life where not running so we changed plans to head back Les Gets to meet up with everyone else for a fun ride there. Heading had a blast on the runs that we enjoy for week. Getting to Les Gets meet up with everyone and had a great time blasting down the main run there.

Andy favorite moment 

Having a play on a 5

© Adele Woodbridge 

Happy team © Adele Woodbridge

So in the end had a great week of biking with so cool people. Now back to the smaller hills of Scotland for biking for a bit.  Thow I think I might have to move into the big boy world of a full sus but we will work on that.