I’m out with Zoe and Kerry these next two days for some advanced scrambling. It’s been wild in the mountains so we have stayed low in Cwm Idwal. We went up Idwal Buttress into Idwal Staircase and then down Seniors Gully before climbing the Direct Start to Seniors Ridge and then descending Idwal Staircase right hand 😀

 I left home at high water yesterday morning on a flat calm sea and with no wind. I motored to Beaumaris where the wind picked up and I sailed down to Menai Bridge. The main aim of the day was to navigate the Swellies at low water so I sat on a mooring bouy for half an hour to get the tide right. Neap tides and the high pressure system meant a tranquil ride through. By the time I reached Felinheli I was scotched so a couple of hours in the pub was justified 😀 A lovely sea breeze got me most of the way home where I picked up a couple of hitch hikers 😂

 We’ve had a couple of recovery days after our big day on Monday so today felt good to be back in the hills. Claire and I made a conscious decision to not climb the Southern end of the ridge in our one day weather window so we headed that way today. It was pretty grim so we touched the top on Sgurr Dubh an DaBheinn and satisfied ourselves with that. Not much in the way of views but great to be moving and we enjoyed Orchids and Eagles on our way back. 

Congratulations Claire! A big day yesterday traversing from Sgurr Alasdair to Sgurr Nan Gillean on the Cuillin Ridge on Skye. We left  Glenbrittle at 5:00am and headed up Sgurr Alasdair from Coire A Ghrunnda. 12 hours of some of the best scrambling in the world saw us at the other end on Sgurr Nan Gillean. Conditions were perfect with good views, light winds, dry rock and cool temperatures - Claire obviously has friends in high places. An awesome day to make the most of a narrow weather window, thanks very much! 

 A dry day out today and Rob, James and I climbed the East Ridge of Y Garn and Idwal Staircase to round off a great week of scrambling. Ace!