West Gully, Beinn an Dothaidh - 12th December 2010

A fantastic day out in the West Highlands. We were based at the OMC club cottage for the traditional x-mas party. On the frosty Sunday morning we headed up to Beinn an Dothaidh. There had been a rapid thaw the previous two days so conditions for climbing weren't great as a lot of the snow had gone and the ice was still thawing during the day. We reckoned there would still be plenty of snow in a grade 1 gully to give a fun day out. So, we headed for West Gully on Beinn an Dothaid and weren't disappointed. Unfortunately our camera had been left overnight in the car and it's battery failed to work when we approached the climb. After some warming in my pocket and after the climb was complete it came back to life again:

Stuart on top of Beinn an Dothaidh. The view is looking north west.

Can you spot our shadows? Looking towards Beinn Achaladair.

On the descent down Coire Daingean. The snow and ice was now very frozen.

Looing up towards the buttress of Beinn an Dothaidh. West Gully is the obvious gully above and to the left of Jeanie.

A good view to the north from Coire Daingean. Ben Nevis can be seen on the left. The snow covered peaks continue along the Aonachs and the Grey Corries.

Looking back towards the Beinn an Dothaidh and some of the climbing areas. The line of Taxus is slightly to the right of the highest point of the crag. Hopefully a route we will do later in the season when there is a better build up of snow and ice.

Costa Blanca: 19th - 26th November 2010

Jeanie leading Pesahombre at Callosa, Orihuela.

Jeanie relaxing below Sector 1 at Callosa.

Lots of birds, mainly swifts, flocking around La Cueva at Callosa. There's lots of caves and pockets for the birds to nest in and later in the day they are very active.

Stuart on the 1st pitch of Puente Aereo, Marin.

Jeanie enjoying the 2nd pitch of Puente Aereo. Good moves through the overlap.

Stuart on the 1st pitch of Maika, one of the best routes at Marin.

Stuart on the 1st pitch of Jhonny, one of the classic routes of it's grade in Costa Blanca.

Jeanie leading Anda que no Andas na on Paisaje Lunar, La Panocha.

Stuart leading Placa de la sinfonia at La Panocha. It's a soft 6a+ so worth doing in order to tick a climb at this grade. Note the colours & patterns of the conglomerate rock.

The crags that comprise Salinas. It's a lovely quiet area, unfortunately the weather was cloudy and chilly but at least it was dry and there was no wind.

Jeanie onsighting No te lo pongas at Salinas. This proved to be a hard climb for a 4+, very slabby with shallow pockets.

We discovered a wee hoose high up in the woods. Don't know if it's someones holiday hideaway or hill-billies or a small finca.