30th Jan 2009 Joe's Valley, Utah

Chris and the GMC heading into the Wasatch Plateau area for...
Another day in paradise, Joe's Valley, Utah

Melty WayChris Ravey arriving at the stance on first pitch of Melty Way

Finishing moves on Melty Way
Topping out on Melty Way

Rapelling down first pitch of Melty Way
Climbing out of the cave

Climbing out of the cave and onto the front side on Smaug

29th Jan 2009 Joe's Valley, Utah, Ice Climbing

Left park City early and drove to Joe's canyon on east side of the Wasatch Plateau.
Did two lovely routes in magnificent surroundings and blue skies. A wonderful place to climb.

CCC Falls above and Chris Ravey seconding the steep top pitch below

Chris Ravey leading up on Deadbolt

28th Jan 2009 Park City, Utah

A stormy day was had at Park City. Blown powder on top of hard pack.

27 Jan 2009 Powder Mountain, Utah

Mark Larson

Chris Ravey running the steeps leading from the rocky crest under the Paradise lift

End of a great day

26 Jan 2009 Snowbasin ski day par excellence

With Chris Ravey and Mark Larson, went to Snowbasin where the SL Olympic downhills were held. Brilliant powder snow and a fantastic ski field. Later in day, after the avalanche controllers had bombed the slopes under the cliffs, they opened some outer zones which gave magnificent fresh track powder runs. Pretty much as good as it gets. Resort facilities out of this world!

25th Jan 2009 Skiing at Brighton, Utah

Beautiful powder day at Brighton in Big Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Mtns. Snowed all day on top of fresh powder snow with almost no significant wind. A brilliant day skiing.

24th Jan 2009 Driving to Salt Lake City, Utah

Drove from Truckee today, across the whole Nevada, to Utah. Lots of fog and atmospheric views of Great Basin ranges and then at Wendover on the Utah border the temperature soared and drove over the Bonneville Salt Flats to Salt Lake. In the evening picked up Mark Larson from Olympia and Chris Ravey from Stirling at SLC airport.

Squaw Valley 22 Jan 09

Raining in Truckee today. First rain of the trip. Went up to Squaw on off chance.
Met dave, an old timer, former ski instructor, and we were first up Granite Chief and 10" of new snow on the firm base gave us a wonderful morning shredding lines all on fresh tracks, ahead of the pack so to speak. By lunchtime was pretty wet so called off and headed home. Great morning tho'. Here a shot of cable car from 20th, rising over Broken Arrow ridge.

Squaw Valley 20 Jan 09

Celebrated inauguration day by skiing at Squaw Valley. Groomers were fantastic, off piste icy and closed. nevertheless a great day and a reminder that Squaw is one of best fields in USA. Used snowblades today. Sally out with me. Heading into AtticResort view

Wonderful sierra tree

Lake Tahoe 19 Jan 09

Arrived yesterday in Truckee and today took a short walk at the Lake.

20 January 09 Squaw Valley USA

Out skiing with Sally at Squaw Valley on a bluebird day. Fantastic running on the groomed runs, but frozen off piste. Reminds me though that Squaw is really one of the best fields in USA.

18 Jan Eastern Oregon to Truckee

Drove down today from Summer Lake in Eastern Oregon to Reno, Nevada and then back west to the town of Truckee where we are staying with Ruth and Matthew and the new grandchild Gracie

Ruth, Gracie and SallyGracie with Sally

17 Jan Mount Bachelor, Oregon, ski day

The summit slopes of Bachelor after the recent ice storm

A pretty good snowpack as you can see in this pic of Sally

View out to the Three Sisters volcanoes

16th January Tilton River, Washington

Paddled the Tilton River in Western Washington. An amazing day. The recent lowland snowfalls have still not vanished even after the incredible floods that followed and therefore the flow in the river was 2000+cfs, a nice level. The weather was foggy, but clearing just as we approached the river, giving a stellar sunny day with ice frosting the ferns and moss draped trees in the spectacular basalt canyons. The river is a great play run, with some quality grade 3 and 4 rapids.

14 Jan 09 Mount Baker, Washington State

Visited Mount Baker with Kevin Kaiser and Sally for first time. Incredible views and decent skiing on hard pack. Wonderful views of Mount Shuksan, Mount Baker volcano and the jagged surrounding N Cascade peaks. Kevin Kaiser, from Bellingham, is a volunteer patroller at Baker

The magnificent Mount Shuksan

The frontier range with Canada

Mount Baker, northernmost volcano of the Cascades and still active

Friday 9th Jan 09 Ben Nevis Ascent

Took Mick Hennessey from Ireland and two friends of his onto Ben Nevis.

Ascent of the Red Burn and above was on well frozen snow with a slightly softer crust. Good chance to try out crampons and axes for the group

Group made a very wintry and windy summit in about 5 hours
Fine late afternoon looking southwest down Loch Linnhe

Wednesday went to Glen Moriston to look at a new river in the icy conditions! A fantastic looking burn that will merit a visit when the rain levels are right.

Tues 6th January Deep Cut Chimney Hell's Lum

Went to Cairngorms with Dan and found a great deal of new blowing snow on top of nevee.
Weather was a bit wild. Finished the route just at dark and walked out on bearing with headtorches. A fine but rugged day of climbing

The first long pitch was up icy slabs to a vague fault leading left with very sketchy belays, followed by a wade into the chimney proper with scarce runners until we reached a good peg belay on left wall, security at last. Route was covered in spindrift up to this point.
Climbing the steepenings in the chimney proper. Bridging moves make them slightly easier than they look and the nevee above each steep section allowed a solid pull through.
The second pitch in the chimney proper gives nice secure but strenuous climbing with good protection

Moving up into the depths of this awesome chimney, towards the cave belay at the very back
The extraordinary finish, back and footing out from the cave towards daylight and the group of blocks jammed in the outer jaws. This unlikely move was actually easier than it looked. It then allows an escape to the right and quite quickly to the top of the crag and safety.

Monday 5 Jan 09 Aonach Beag climb

A fine day and an early Aonach Mor gondola at 0800.
Light fresh snow made the walk over the summit slightly harder
but very beautiful. A wonderfully clear dawn over NW highlands.
Dan and I headed to Aonach Mor/Beag col to have a look at
N face of Aonach BeagNice views out across Loch Eil towards Rhum
Wonderful views of Ben Nevis with morning sun lighting up the Brenva Face
as we walked over the Aonach Mor plateau
Climbed the lower pitch to this prominent but very brittle ice fall and then finished by a gully and mixed climbing at grade 4 to the right. Forget the name.