Organ Pipe Wall, Beinn Udlaidh 29th Dec 2009

Climbed Organ Pipe Wall 5.5 with James. First time I have really seen it looking complete.

A really good first pitch with an awkward crux section. A nice second pitch with some short verticals.

A classic day out and an excellent first route of the season. Cogne next week!

Tilton Gorge, Washington 18th Dec 2009

Nice day trip with Mark, Chris and Jared from Olympia, to the Tilton Gorge. Walls dripping with icicles from the recent cold spell.

Grand Canyon, Colorado River - Nov 29 - Dec 14 2009

Gained a private launch permit for Grand Canyon. Made up a team of 10 folks and headed for Flagstaff for the Nov 29th launch. Logistics from PRO. Team was: Chris, Callum, Stephen, Phil, Larry, Doug, Tim, Kevin, Oleg and Olga. Trip planned for 16 days and 236 miles.

Doug and I drove down from Seattle over two long days. Here at Cedar Breaks, Utah

Pre-trip dinner at a cantina in Flagstaff, Arizona. L to R, Olga, Oleg, Callum, Doug, Larry, Tim Stephen, Chris, Phil, Kevin.
Callum on the South Rim of Grand Canyon, before the trip

Olga and Oleg on their catamaran beneath the Navajo Bridge

Chris roping down into Silver Grotto

Chris rowing his Sotar 18 foot self bailing gear boat.

Another side canyon, Callum holding up the chockstone!!

The incredible Redwall Cavern
The canyon opens out again after Redwall

Tim at the granaries at Nankoweap

Oleg catches some rays in Vishnu Creek

Olga hotdogging at Phantom where the only footbridges cross the river

Chris runs Horn Creek Rapid

Tim rides high in Granite rapid.

Elves Chasm

Callum somersaults into Elves Chasm!!

Chris working through the narrows in Matkatamiba Canyon

Crazy potholes full of crazy people

Snow blanketing the upper slopes

Deer Creek, approaching the patio

Kevin rowing through Deubendorf

The delightful Creek at Havasu

The catamaran heads into Lava Falls

Chris entering the top of Lava Falls

Tim swims out of Lava with Callum in attendance

Callum enjoying a Lava Falls run

Flipping Kevin's raft back after his upset in Lava Falls

Pumpkin Springs, our last camp and lay over day spot.

River Pattack 14th Nov 2009

Falls of Pattack, the put in point.

Sean runs a rapid in the middle gorge

Sean running into the double drop at the start of the final gorge

Piers at the brink of the final falls, the take out point.

Spean Gorge13th Nov 2009

Callum Anderson playing on the Spean Gorge. :-)

Early snows on Ben Nevis 5th Nov 2009

A lovely evening view of R to L, Ben Nevis, Carn Mor Dearg and Aonach Mor from near Spean Bridge.

Autumn Views - Great Glen 5th November 2009

Reflections on Loch Oich in autumn..................


Reflections of an autumn evening on Loch Lochy

Spean, Laggan dam to Spean Bridge, 4 Nov 2009

Pat and I went up to run the Spean again. After bigger releases yesterday, it was back to two pipes on a fine day with light winds.

The first major obstacle on the upper section.

The exit rapid of the gorge below Inverlair Falls.

Looking up into Monessie Gorge during the portage.

Looking down on the fearsome cataract in the middle of Monessie.

Looking from the cataract downstream.

Chris running the right side of Split Decision (5) in the gorge below Monessie.

................. and flushing through the last drop on the same rapid.

Roy, Brunachan to Spean Bridge, 3rd Nov 2009

Spean was running 5.5 on gauge at Spean Bridge and Roy was above the quartz band at Roy Bridge and rising in the rainfall. Pat and I elected to run the Roy from the top. It was a great level for all sections. Here Chris takes the first drop in the run in to the middle gorge.

Pat runs the same ledge.......

Nice whitewater in the lower half of the Roy Gorge.

At the Spean confluence we hit the dam rfelease and enjoyed a nice high water run down the Spean where some of the classic surf waves were just beginning to come in.