Laggan Dam to Mucomir on Spean 29th Oct 2009

Woke to check the river and there was obviously a dam release on the Spean.
Callum and Pat came down and we headed up to Laggan dam where there were two pipes blowing water. This gives a pleasant level for the upper section.

This was a first time for Pat on this stretch.

Inverlair gorge was very nice at this level.

We climbed down into Inverlair gorge, paddled out and on down to Monessie. Here Pat is paddling across the flow at the base of Monessie Gorge after we portaged round the gorge.

The thumping Grade 5 below Monessie, Callum took it on in his tiny playboat!

....and dug his way across to the exit chute. Full on hard paddling.

Even the exit is not a piece of cake.

We paddled the middle section, past Spean Bridge and on through the lower gorge.
Here Callum follows me through the contstriction which is hardly constricted at 2.75 on the gauge!!

River Pattack, 27th October 2009

Rubberman, Michael, Pablo Gary et al were up on their annual week and gave me a call, so I went across to the Pattack to paddle with them. Nice level, moderately wet day. The falls looked very atmospheric and the river corridor was beautiful with the autumn colours.

The entry rapid to the final gorge was well padded. Three folks swam in the final gorge which resulted in some fun chase boating and extraction of folk from the last eddy on the brink!!

An Iola, first descent, 25th October 2009

A spell of torrential rain overnight had brought all the burns in Lochaber into a big spate.

Most were too high to consider as we drove south out of Fort William. We made it as far as the Esragain and it was flowing at a level which covered all the boulders!! After looking elsewhere and finding a tree filled ditch, we picked out the An Iola which flows down into Loch Creran. A drainage I had never noticed before, with a realistic gradient, a manageable flow and the prospect of a good paddle. To cap it all, I had forgotten my deck, so we set off up the river with Stephen's boat and deck to scout it all. The river was beautiful. We met the local farmer at the start who said "this is my river" and "never seen anyone paddle up here", so I responded by asking him, "do you mind if we paddle it?"

Stephen paddled most of the run and I did a stretch in the middle part. We ran with no portages from the obvious tributary that joins the river about 1.5kms up from the bridge.

Here Stephen takes one of the steeper drops........

..... and boat scouts the way ahead.

Here Chris running a typical section. One large ledge and hole had a tree obstruction below it and then another tree across the river below which Chris just managed to get under on the left side.
A good mix of grade 3, 4 and 4+ rapids all the way down the run. A great flow level.

Stephen blasts through a narrow and steep section near the end of the run.....

....and through the final staircase rapid just above the main road bridge.

We will be back to the An Iola!!

Steep or what!! Exploring!! 22nd October 2009

Was out scouting a canyon that shall remain nameless at this time. An incredible place and this magnificent set of falls kicks off the lower of 3 gorges. Falls in region of 100 feet high into an awesome amphitheatre. The river....well, quite a bit of it is runnable, but not this bit!!! But there will be an awesome abseil with boats down beside this fall to make progress.

River Moriston 20th October 2009

The last standard release of the year.


Pat Ingram getting his boof going on the Moriston's upper section, middle drop.

Chris taking the Hoss for a ride.....

Chris boofing the middle drop........

.....and the entrance to the long rapid close to the end..............

followed by Pat.

New gauge on River Spean 18th October 2009

Made a new gauge to pin to the old one on the River Spean at Spean Bridge. The new gauge has been made to match the intervals on the existing gauge and lies in same place, just river left below the A82 bridge.

The new gauge can be seen in place on the far side of the river.

Rock Climbing at Reiff 17th October 2009

A second day at Reiff, hiking out to the Sea Cliff area.

Rapelling down to the tidal area of the walls.

Great climbing in the sunshine....................

Some steep routes...................

.....on interesting fluted rock......

....with good protection.

Classic lines abound.

Wester Ross Autumn Views 16th October 2009

Magnificent weather on a visit to Wester Ross to climb at Reiff.

Here at Elphin, in foreground is SMC hut and a frosty outlook to Suilven in the morning.

Loch Veyatie.


Cul Beag.

Beinn Mor Coigach.


On the road to Allt an Dhu and Reiff

The magnificent panorama south across the Summer Isles.

Reiff Rock Climbing 16th October 2009

Headed out to Reiff near Achiltibuie to climb with Pat Ingram.

Immaculate sandstone climbs in a perfect coastal setting.......

River Garry 15th October 2009

Had a nice autumnal run on the Garry with Pat Ingram.

Here he makes a nice boof on the second last rapid of the full run.

In the thick of it on the last rapid..................

Chris makes a cross at the final fast corner....................


Pat learns to make the cross to the elevated eddy in the corner......

and exits again. :-)