Climbing photos

Creag nan Fitheach was an excellent crag. We'd been joking about the epidiorite before we got there, but once we were on it, it was no joke. Epidiorite is a truly fine medium to climb on. It is difficult to think of a better rock. If only there was more of it!

Czechmate: a deceptively tricky and good route on Creag nan Fitheach. Check out the perfect unclimbed epidiorite wall to the right. That's me up there!

The day on Creag nan Fitheach was really windy. After our first route (The Razor's Edge), we realised that we would have to temper our ambitions as the wind would not have been very clever on a delicate route. This was a bit of a shame as there were two E1s that looked absolutely fantastic. We had a great time on the VS routes anyway, so who cares?

Royston on The Razor's Edge. The wind is really taking the rope on this shot. 

South Ridge Direct is in Hard Rock. There are usually long queues on it. We had it to ourselves on an absolutely perfect day. There are a couple of hard-ish pitches (which we dispatched really swiftly) and the rest of it is alpine style mountaineering. The photo below is on the final mountaineering pitch. The position and the views down Glen Rosa to the south are really pretty breathtaking. I was well impressed with the Arran granite. I think it stands comparison with the best that Idyllwild has to offer (Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks). It is a really fine rough medium and forms some great slabs. I would like to do a lot more climbing on Arran granite. Come to think of it, I'd like to do a lot more climbing on epidiorite too.

The final pitch of South Ridge Direct on Arran with Glen Rosa in the background. Royston climbs.