Trip Tales: November 2010

Desertscape - home for next wee while

A while since the last post, and a lot has changed! Now in the United Arab Emirates, working with the local military and providing adventure training in the desertish landscape. Currently two and half months into an 8 month stint, back in the UK at the start of May, where hopefully there will be plenty of dry crags to be climbed. Winter will be missed this year, but it's a nessesary evil...

Before heading out here at the start of September, a wee trip to the Alps proved entertaing. Main objective, 'The Cassin Route' on the Piz Badilie, was too snowy at the top to go for, however, there is plenty of alternative entertainment to be had in the Alps!

Motley Alps crew

Pitch 3 Steinfresser - an amazing E2 5b/F6a/b

Piz Palu col

Bivi spot

John descending from Flatiron

Smithy

Terry coming up Flatiron

Obglitory broken down car

Moody Bregalia

The Flatiron

Descent from Piz Palu

Approach to Piz Palu

And plenty more.

Also managed to get some nice trad trips in before heading to the desert. Highlights had to be the Bullroar on Ben Nevis, a great adventurous route climbing Carn Dearg in 12 pitches, and a few days in Reiff and the north, getting some great late summer sunshine..

The Bullroar pitch 4, Ben Nevis

Reiff village

Reiffscape

Which leads on to living in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Plenty of loose sketchy rock out here, some ok sport routes, and enough scrambly/trad to last a lifetime, which may not be a very long lifetime if your not carefull with the rock...