Well its coming up to the end of the year and with no trips planned until new year this seemed like an appropriate time to summarise my 2012. I have done so much this year, taken up two new hobbies which have taken over my life, rock climbing and ice climbing.
Rock climbing very quickly became my hobby of choice this year, I have progressed very quickly and within a year have gone from never having lead trad climbing to beginning to consolidate climbing at E1, this year I have done:
- 109 trad rock climbs
- 87 of which I have lead
- 36 of those leads were HVS or above
I have had a few lucky moments though with a 25 foot fall in Pembrokeshire on Manzoku and a ground fall from 6m at Haytor on Haggis but thankfully I walked away from both with only bruises. I am looking forward to what next year brings and am currently training hard in indoor climbing gyms over the winter months to ensure that I enter the next climbing season as fit as possible.
As well as rock climbing this year I also have started ice climbing. I got into ice climbing in a weird way as I lead my first winter climb before I had lead a rock route outdoors which meant the first time I placed trad gear, first time I lead outdoors and first time I setup a belay was all in winter on the north face of Pen-y-Fan. I had a fantastic time climbing the north face of Ben Nevis up Gardyloo gully which involved an ice cave and last week I enjoyed climbing up Trinity Face on Snowdon which included my first grade 3 and first grade 3 solo.
As well as taking up new hobbies I have carried on old ones and headed out to the alps with some friends in August which was a fantastic two weeks where I managed to do everything on my ticklist and more. There are two routes which I will remember for a long time, the first being the Aiguille de la Grande Sassiere which I soloed up and it was just fantastic, I have never had views so good in my life and struggle to see how I will ever beat that view! The second was the traverse of the Weissmies which had everything a great alpine route should have: beautiful sunrise, an amazing cloud inversion, a snow slope, a rock ridge, a sharp snow arête, great descent, glacier crossing and a different descent to ascent.
This year I also graduated from the University of Exeter with a 2:1 in Mechanical Engineering and started work as an engineer for Rolls-Royce, the job I have wanted for as long as I can remember so have been very lucky. The job is going really well but it is a bit of a shock after four years of university life! I am looking forward to what adventures next year brings and am already adventurous trips away.
Mixed Climbing up the North East ridge of Stob Coire nan Lochan
Decending the north ridge of Stob Coire nan Lochan
Nearing the summit
Me with my winter gear
Ystradfellte Waterfalls
Scrambling along the ridge
Climbing with a beautiful view
Second trad lead up Raven Gully
Group photo half way up Tryfan
Admiring the view
Scrambling on Crib y Ddysgl
Ridge up to Y Lliwedd
Beautiful sunset on the descent from Y Lliwedd
Sgor Gaoith Summit
View over Loch Laggan
Walking up Observatory Gully to Gardyloo Gully (II)
Climbing the third pitch
Andrew climbing out of the ice cave
Group shot on Ben Nevis Summit
Walking off Ben Nevis with spectacular views
Stunning weather on the descent
At the bottom of Ben
Simon climbing Doorpost
Sunset at Lands End
Walking into Sty Head
Stunning views up the ridge
Scrambling up a wet Cam Crag Ridge
Traverse on P2 of Fishers Folly (VS 4c)
Walking up to the Col de la Liesse in the snow
Walking past the frozen lake
Walking away from the Refuge de la Leisse
Approaching the second hut, the Refuge du Lac Blanc
Lovely alpine meadows
More unbelievable views
Most stunning panorama I have ever seen!
Lost for words…
Lac du Santel and La Tsantelenia
Group summit shot
Me on the Allalinhorn
On the descent with the Matterhorn in the background
Lovely views
Beautiful weather
Simon arriving at the hut
Stunning inversion at dawn from the Zwischbergenpass
Climbing the soft snow slope
Walking up to the start of the ridge
Scrambling up the ridge
Approaching the snow arete
It’s fairly narrow…
On the arete
Stunning albiet hazy views
Scrambling up an arete
Another angle on the ladder
Another arete
Fantastic arete
Final few minutes of VF
Graduation
Graduation
Graduation
Working out where the route goes at Chair Ladder
Climbing South Face Direct (VS 4c)
Me on the iconic traverse on Diocese (VS 5a)
Mum at the end of the traverse on Diocese (VS 5a)
Me on belay
Final move on Crack in the Sky (E1 5b)
Abseiling into Fox Promontory
Traversing over the cave on Heart of Darkness HVS 4c
Climbing Blue Sky, a very airy and amazing VS 4b
Climbing Army Dreamers HVS 5a
View back along the overlap
Sun Setting over the Severn Bridge
Kynance Cove
Paddling
ExSoc 🙂
Walking to Lizard Point
Sunrise over Tryfan
Stunning views on the North Ridge
Looking out to Anglesey while scrambling up Bristly Ridge
Stunning sunrise on the drive to Snowdon
Scrambling along Crib Goch
Scrambling along Crib Goch
Stunning views while Scrambling along Crib Goch
Scrambling on Crib y Ddysgl
Scrambling on Crib y Ddysgl with Crib Goch in the background
Climbing up Second Pinnacle Ridge
F15 Eagle through the Exit
Miss Demeanour off into the distance
Stunning sunset over Stanage Plantation
Arriving at the meet
Good turnout in lovely weather
Huntsman calling back the hounds
Me solo climbing “Bulging Wall”
Walking back up to Haytor
Sunrise from the Miners Track
Snowdon & Llyn Glaslyn at Sunrise
Climbing the waterfall above Llyn Glaslyn
Stunning views over Crib Goch, the Glyders and the Carnedds
View over Y Lliwedd
View towards Crib Goch on Crib y Ddysgl
Sunset over Snowdon and Trinity Face