Knoydart Paddle May 2012

 Sean Mulligan and I warmed up for our Shetland trip with a wonderful trip around Knoydart.

 Launching at Kinlochhourn on the north side of the peninsula.

 Paddling out past Corran and Arnisdale and Beinn Sgritheall.

 Camped on the outside of the peninsula with stunning views of the Cuillins of Skye.

Launching on a perfect morning from Western Knoydart.

 

Wild goats take a Sunday stroll on Knoydart.

Calm reflections to Rum and Eigg, Inner Hebrides

Samalaman Paddle

  

Started at Samalaman beyond Glenuig and crossed to the  northern shore.....

Before heading round Ardnish to this stellar beach

.........of perfect signing sand

Visited the vitrified fort on Eilean nan Gobhar

Revelled in the views to Eigg and Rum

Looking from Eilean nam Gobhar to Roshven

 Finishing at Samalaman Bay

River Garry May 10

 Great paddle on Garry today, slightly more water than usual.  Above surfing the cool wave on rapid above White Bridge and below on the "Brave Wave" in the same rapid.

End of Ewan's second round of Munros - Schiehallion 22 April 2012

Joined a few of the Argyll MC, of which I was the founder, for Ewan Lyons' last of his second round of the Munros.  a four hour ascent, there and back in lovely weather with fine views over snowy hills.  Drank champagne on the summit.  Well done Ewan.  Toasted his mum Gill Lyons on the summit also, who was one of our founder members.

Spean Gorge 21 April 2012

Ran gorge with Oskar Methold just below 0 on gauge.

Nice sunny evening, one portage at Headbanger which continues to open up as a siphon.

Beware.

River Garry 12 April 2012

Run on the Garry at a nice flow level, which was very busy again,

Paddled with Oskar Methold in his new Mamba.

River Spean with Stewarts 10 April 2012

Guiding Alan and Duncan Stewart from Bridge of Weir on the Spean for the day.

Nice water level, 1.5 on gauge at Spean Bridge.

Above, Chris landing the drop at Railway Bridge Falls nice and flat whilst below, first Duncan and then Alan set up their boofs, hoping for the same result.



Duncan lining up for a clean run through Headbanger.

.....and making the boof over the right hand fall at Constriction.

A really nice level for the river........the tree sieve at Fairy Steps was looking very threatening at this level.

Findhorn Easter Saturday

Chris running through the river wide roller in Dulsie Gorge

Great day at the Findhorn with Sean Mulligan and Oskar Methold.

River was high with snowmelt and I started by running through Dulsie gorge and then we went on down thru Levens Gorge to Ardclach. Findhorn really is a classic run at higher levels.

Spean Gorge Easter Monday

Took Oskar Methold (14) thru Spean Gorge today. One on the Spean gauge. A nice trip with some sunshine and powerful water. The tree below Fairy Steps was giving a large party some problems, but Oskar paddled it very well and under control.

At the base of Headbanger.

Slipping over the fall at the Constriction.

Pool below the constriction.

Floating through Boil Alley.

Spean Gorge Good Friday 2012

Nice solo paddle down Spean Gorge after lunch on Good Friday. Slight increase in flows overnight after snow started to melt. The new trees jammed at left bend after Fairy Steps make for quite a potential sieve if a swimmer were pinned there. Worth being cautious when flows are above low and if in doubt inspect first. Even a swimmer could swim by if they knew ahead about the hazard, but if a swimmer got caught here it would be difficult to deal with....beware.

Oddly at the time I went through I saw no-one paddling, despite huge numbers in the area.
There were however a group of about 6 paddlers lowering three boats down towards the pool below the constriction....a rather strange entry point and activity. Their cars were all parked miles above on the road. :-) Interesting way of passing Good Friday.

Last of winter - Ben Nevis 4 April 2012

The sudden return to winter, prompted a solo trip up Ben Nevis today.

There were a few remnants of old frozen snow and a wind blasted coating of new stuff.

Unexpected winter view out across Fort William and Loch Eil

I climbed up into South castle Gully on great neve, but there was a thinly iced chockstone pitch that was too thin to justify....so backtracked................

after a wee feel of the brittle ice on this lean pitch

Climbed up into North Castle Gully and the chockstone pitch was bare with a nasty hole behind the old snow right below any mistake. Ended up retreating again and traversing out right onto the crest of Castle Ridge. Finished up the crest. One or two interesting and exposed mixed moves. A nice way to round off the winter. This view is of Loch Lochy and Spean Bridge, where we are lucky enough to live.

A fine view from the top of Castle Ridge through Annat Narrows to Loch Eil.

South and North Castle gullies with Castle Ridge taking the right hand "buttress".

Open Canoe to North Sea March 2012

Wonderful open canoe trip through the Great Glen.
Started at Gairlochy, after a kayak descent of the Loy with Callum.

Sail rig all organised for a sowester!!

A lunchtime fire on the wild east shore of Loch Ness.

Sailed clean through Lochy, Oich and into Ness.

Urquhart Castle passes by in a force 4-5

Last morning is warm and flat calm......March .....eh???

Inverness town centre swings into view as I paddle down the Ness

............ and hit the North Sea at Kessock Bridge, finishing at North Kessock.
The canoe sail really came of age on this trip. 6-8 kms/hr at times!!