
Shadowing/Observation/Being Scoped Out day with Mike Pescod from Abacus. Climbing with regular client Tommy Kelly from Jottnar. Walked in to climb West Chimney route, very busy day for Church Door Buttress, lot`s of teams about and some new routing action going on. The place to be.
Mike led first pitch up to below the crux (altered since rockfall, no through route). Mike then gave me the lead on the short crux pitch. Climbed with "style and aplomb", 15 mins, no twists/tangles, even styled it and cut loose at one point on the overhanging section.
After that Mike took over leading duties to the summit. Lovely day out, cracking little route with short lived difficulties that could be coached easily and good in situ belays for 1st 2 pitches.
Area :
Glen Coe, Ardgour and Loch Etive to Appin (winter)
Glen Coe gives a wealth of winter climbing opportunities of all grades and styles, something indeed for everyone. The cliffs are also, in the main, easily accessible which means they can become very popular. This area also includes the winter climbs on the mountains south of Glen Coe in Glen Etive, and on hills more southerly still but north of the A85 Oban road (notably Ben Cruachan). Also included are the hills of Appin and Ballachuilish, the dry tooling of Ballachuilish bridge, and the winter climbs in Ardgour (notably Garbh Bheinn).