The new season is upon us.

Hi and welcome back. 

My last post back in April does seem a long way off even though its only been 7 months.  I had no idea when I embarked with the blog that time between seasons would become shorter.

I also had no idea that the conditions we would encounter would provide such interesting and amazing climbing conditions,  so many new new routes and provide so much energy in North Wales winter climbing.

I do hope that this is the case this winter. If this proves to be,  then we are in for some really new hard routes. The approach to training in view of new routing in N Wales, as ever, is on the move and hopefully those climbers will reap the benefits. 

I have to pass on a huge thanks to all those that have supported the blog, the thanks I have received off so many climbers and the way  that climbers have used it to move Welsh winter climbing onto another level.

It brings me to say,  that the blog , as you know it, is to cease this season.  Why ? you may ask when we could be on the brink of another great season. A very good question, the answer being the time it takes up and the mental energy it takes out of me.  

The success of the blog and its associated areas, means it takes over a lot of my mind in the winter months. Combine this with my own desire to get out, put new routes up, keep track of the all the action means    I find it a constant pressure. Yes,  self induced I admit and a pressure which I find extremely interesting,  exciting and fulfilling  However, after 6 or so years I need to ease off. 

That is the issue, easing off. Not something I am good at. So its all or nothing and I am afraid its going to be nothing this year.  

So I offer my apologises if you will miss the blog. However, I hope you all have a cracking winter here in North Wales. 

Finally,  I thank Mountain Equipment and DMM for their support.   It has helped towards its success and help provide so much information. 

Maybe next year 2014-2015 I will be back.

Cheers Baggy 

Live The Dream-Last Post of the Season

I am afraid to say, that this will be my last winter post of the 12-13 season. I do hope the postings have been of use and I am sorry for the lack of posts / condition reports at various times.

This winter has certainly been a good one and many new routes have been climbed, the ice has come and stuck around and I am certain many of you have had some great days out.

The day after our ascent of Idwal Stream with Michael ( aged 12 - see a few blog posts earlier ) his dad decided to take him to have a wee celebration of Michael's first ice climb. They took a visit to Tremadog and have a brew at Eric's cafe. His dad was kind enough to treat him to a copy of Eric's Eiger Solo film, as this is a classic piece of filming and was such an achievement at the time ( and would be today ). In addition to this they brought a couple of post-cards. Just as they were leaving,  Eric came in, so Michael asked Eric if he would not mind signing one of Michael's post-cards for him as Michael had just done his first ice climb. It was magic, Eric  started asking Michael about the conditions on the Idwal Stream and if there was any water running under the ice. 

The Eiger and Idwal Stream then shook hands with mutual respect.

Just about sums up what this game is about and what a great ending the young and more weathered climber meet .

Michael pleased as punch in Erics cafe

A range of pictures from the Idwal stream day.

Filling in the Gaps under everyones nose

It might be thawing here in North Wales, but reports still keep coming in regards a variety of excellent new routes. Not many gaps left up here ( Grib Y Ddysgl )  but Gaz managed to claim the last few.

Some write ups below for some new routes up on Crib y Ddysgl

Pope's Nose IV,5 * 75m

Varied climbing and something of interest on each pitch.  Start below the snowy groove just right of Gargoyle Route and to the left of a small overhang.

Pitch 1, 25m: Steep initial moves lead into the snowy groove. Head up and right on easier ground to belay on the first rock encountered below the overhanging chimney.

Pitch 2, 20m: Turf and rock steps up and right lead to a snowy ledge below a shallow chimney. Interesting moves and spike belay on left at the top.

Pitch 3, 15m: Step back right and positive moves over the jammed boulders and spikes, ledge then up and right again until below a steep headwall. Easy traverse left to boulder belay.

Pitch 4, 15m: Climb the slab up and right until final moves lead onto the arete. 

Gaz Davies and Will Oates 19/03/13

Tick Tock Tick V,6 * 92m

A direct line up the crag. There are two grooves to the right of Three Cave Gully Start on the slightly more open second groove.

Pitch 1: 25m Follow the groove for a few moves, step left on the ledge and continue up the groove system. Belay on the ledge below a steep sweep of rock.

Pitch 2: 20m Step left and make some steep moves into the continuing groove line. Spaced gear but positive climbing leads to a ledge on the left and belay.

Pitch 3: 22m Step back right and follow a couple of steep steps until it flatens out onto easier ground.

Pitch 4: 25m Easy ground leads up to the remaining rock steps and Clogwyn y Person Arete. 

Gaz Davies and Matthew Hawkins 18/03/13

Matt Hawkins on Tick Tock Tick

Now for a even more rare posting. Due to recent conditions other areas have seen action 

Ffŵl Ebrill IV 4 180m

Just a quick description, not too sure about the grades, neither me or Martin have much experience at the grade, definitely felt harder than III. Pitch 3 had two steep steps first vertical on snow for 2m, after snow for a bit second step of about 2-3m vertical climbing up 3 overhanging 'cauliflowers', easing to belay. Pitch 4 easy snow, ice near vertical up corner for 13m??, easing again to snow slopes above. A cracking day out, proper adventure, seeing as looking at it I thought probably about a II (possibly I, possibly III), I had a bit of a surprise coming over the steepness on pitch 3 to catch a glimpse of the steepness above. Pitch lengths also a bit of a guess based on recollections of rope used.

Needs good hard snow, and well formed ice for the crux pitch, both rare commodities round these parts. It is situated directly west of the north summit of Moel Lefn, and south of craig Cwm Trwsgl. Start just left of a wall, immediately below the invitingly obvious gully, which cuts directly through an imposing buttress (about SH 548 487)

1. 30m 1 From a tree belay continue in the line of the gully, rock belay on left before first steepening as gully walls become more defined.
2. 25m 2 Follow the gully past two steepenings. Poor belay on obvious ledge below overhang to the left of the gully, before a steep step below the first deviation of the gully line to the right.
3. 35m 3 Climb the steep step to snow slope above and follow line up to the right to a second steep step in the corner on the right, before the gully opens out again moving left. Rock belay on left as gully walls once again become more defined.
4. 52m 4 Continue up easy snow slope to a corner. Tackle the steepness in the icy corner or possibly the rocky wall to the left. Eases to snow above, potential belays on rocks to the left.
5. 40m 2 Move right, back to the continuing gully line, which again becomes defined for a short distance, before disappearing onto the easing slopes above with a drystone wall and fence on the right.

Gerwyn Madoc Jones / Martin Bischoff  - 2nd April 2013

Paradise right here in North Wales

One of my clients Al, like many other climbers, has been keen to tick the 3 star classic Cascade (V) for many years. Al is quite a handy ice climber, but a lack of recent time on ice has meant this route is just out of his grasp to currently lead.

With this in mind, and that fact the route may not form for years to come (who knows?)  This week we managed to combine, time off work, conditions, and a slot for me to add this to our agenda.   Considering it was an Easter holiday weekend day, the forecast was excellent and it’s a route on many a climbers tick list I suggested an early start.

Walking away from the cars at 5.30am this morning with clear skies and a cool looking moon over Pen Y Pass our spirits were lifted.  Arriving at the crag we found two other keen bunnies. Well done to them for getting an even earlier start to us. They too were expecting the hoards.

The route proved to be sporty for Grade V, in particular pitch 3 and the other pair of climbers worked with us so that Al and I could progress up the route behind them without getting bombarded with ice. This meant we did not have to wait to start the route until they topped out. I for one, are not keen to climb behind others on ice, nature of the beast, ice will be flying down.  So thanks to those guys for being so polite and helpful.

Topping out into blinding sun with the mountains giving an Alpine feel was a perfect end to a classic climb.  We decided that would do us for the day.  Why not finish when to going is good.

However, back at the base of the crag the temptation to do Central Icefall was there, but we decided that the amount of water running off the climb might be tempting fate.

To our surprise we were the only 2 parties at the crag until the time we left and we did not see anyone walking that way on our way down. 

The walk in this morning 

Al  approaching two of the belays

The Early birds who beat us to the crag

Youth of today

Today was one of those days when I look back and think Wow, that was a top day. Being able to instruct and guide people on the mountains in winter is a real pleasure. I get the opportunity to see people develop as climbers and mountaineers and achieve lifetime goals.

However, today was a bit more special as Michael aged 12 was able to tick Idwal Stream (II) as his first ice route. Well actually it was his first winter climb. Not sure how many 12-year lads can say they have done that?

Accompanying him on this adventure was his dad Graham. I had taken Graham on a week’s winter climbing in Scotland a few years ago, so it was ideal to know I could focus most of my attention on his lad.

Michael climbed the route in real style, along the way taking an active part in belaying, tying on and sorting ropes out on the belay. We took a nice and steady approach to the day even having food and hot chocolate on one stance.

The full winter experience was had, a cold wind, ice, neve, soft snow, rock, hot aches, apprehension, excitement, fear and that sense of achievement once topping out.

Idwal has a variety of routes in good nick, others are quite lean and some are not in.  Cannot really give you the low down  of each route, as I have not climbed them and it’s hard to say from a distance.

  

VIII-9 ? - To much temptation , So many new routes, So excited and a Twist to the Storry

I knew it would happen, once back into the mix, doing the rounds on the phone the excitement is just to much. I promised myself I would not be back so soon, but how can I resist. With so many opportunities available to me and no time at all to climb, the easiest option was to turn the phone off. However, once I decided to leave the dam thing on,  it was just a matter of time before the texts came winging my way.

Firstly,  its been a good bumper week here in North Wales for new routes. Mr Panton, I am sure will fill you in on more of the details  ( on the V12  news site this coming week ) However, seems Pete Harrison has great vision as he follows in my footsteps again and manages to finish off another of my attempted routes. Thing is this time, neither of us knew of each others plans/previous visits. 

Big news are 2 new routes by my good friend Rich Stone up on Craig Dayffed. Having to turn down his offers of teaming up I managed to avoid the full on fight of Bladerunner. Having discussed this with Rich over the last 12 months and looked at the line I knew it would be a battle. A quick look through the new winter guide and one will see that Rich has been an active climber on and around the Black Ladders for some years and he is no stranger to adding his mark on the Welsh Winter Scene. I know Rich will be pleased with these routes and will be quite interested to see what the grades pan out to be.

Bladerunner VIII 9 ***110m ( As Rich has stated - Grade will need verifying )

The pencil thin crack in the shallow V groove right of Samuel goes the full height of the huge block that forms an awesome wall. Ridiculously tenuous torques and layaways make this well fall-offable (7 falls over two seasons ) but strenuous to place good gear (small wires and blade pegs) render it a safe-ish, bullet hard test piece. Grade will need verifying.

Rich first tried this route back in Dec 2010 and took 4 falls, 2 from the lower part of the crack then 2 from the desperate last bit. Finally he got back on it this weekend after a period of indifferent climbing over the winter due to prolonged chronic fatigue syndrome. Through, logging, and stone-walling he got  fit enough over the last month and just in time. The route felt desperate and still took a further fall from the lower section followed by 2 from the upper before success. Its the hardest thing either Rich or Andy have done by quite a fair margin and thus Rich states is at the limit of my experience for grading, so it would be good to see what subsequent assentionist make of it.

P1. 50m 5 As for Samuel up steep turf steps to the ledge just left of the tooth / pillar.

P2. 35m 9 Above is the soaring crackline in the shallow groove. Initially scary pulls on thin turf lead to the crack. What follows is a relentless series of powerful but tenuous torques and layaways, passing a small overlap on its left then fighting on up the crack to a piss poor rest at a turf blob below a blackened slit. Pull past this to the obscenely thin continuation of the crack. A mighty heave and deft footwork (monopoints a must) followed by a landed fish flop and soiled trousers get you - sometimes - onto the decent turf ledge. Belay at the back.

P3. 25m 6 A brief but feisty struggle up the corner followed by a couple more big rock / turf steps which lead to The Trident shelf.

FA Richard Stone & Andy Humpheries 30-3-2013

After a bit of a session on the ale celebrating our days achievement Andy was dead to the world Sunday morning so I headed off alone up towards the ladders hoping to make the most of a beautiful day. Half way up the valley got a text saying 'wait for me,' from Andy- the Easter Resurrection. After catching up we headed up the cwm, solid 2 all the way up it was so banked out with neve and ice steps looking for the cracked arete that we vaguely remembered spotting back in 2010 and hence the resurrection was made manifest, a truly first rate climb and a clean ground up on sight flash. Mind you the last 2 days have took there toll a lingering sore wrist has developed into nasty ligament strain and tendonitis.

Easter Resurrection VII 7 ***110m

The arete to the left of the start of The Capstone Heelhook gives an awesome and quality outing with decent protection. Steep turf grooves followed by the mother of torquing cracks on the apex of the arete lead to a difficult V groove. Note : Capstone Heelhook V-7 by G Davies and Baggy 2011 has since changed due to a large rockfall in summer of 2012.

P1. 40m 5 Start 10m left of the bottom of capstone heelhook, below a turfy buttress that leads to an obvious arete with a crack in it. Go up the surprisingly fierce turf V grooves until there is a large spike belay on the arete where the turf ends.

P2. 40m 7 Directly above the stance a pristine torquing crack leads up the arete to a V groove above. Enter this with difficulty and fight on up using the crack at the back of the grove and a thin crack on the right wall to reach turf ledges on the blocky arete.

P3. 30m 4 A couple of steep pulls between ledges lead to easier ground and the finish of The Capstone Heelhook.

FA Richard Stone & Andy Humpheries 31-3-2013.

Not ending here, back to this Pete Harrison story. I get a text this evening off Pete, saying that he had just done a cracking new winter route, one of the best he has done this season. Its Adam Rib ( HS 4A ) and reckons VI-7 maybe VII-7. Pete's enthusiasm oozes out on this text and I had to call him back.

Pete, I really feel mean saying this but did you come across the tat about 10m from the top of the route. yes was the reply, we wondered about that. Well the thing is Pete, I climbed that route with Stu Stanley back on Jan 19th of this year, cracking route and we thought a classic. Well I say route, I backed off 10m from the top, due to very loose rock on the original finish and an alternative finish which looked loose and needed large gear, which we had failed to bring.
We had a good laugh about this and Pete was like no way, that is so weird we both thought about this climb.  Asking me why I had never mentioned this, I replied well the plan was to go and finish it off.

So 3 major new routes in two days, a variety of major new routes last week, Caff  ( James ) doing the Pass Challenge. What is that you ask ? Ah just 3 routes in the pass in one day ?  Easy you might say, well when Neil Dwyer tried it, climbing Right Wall brushing the snow of the ledges was a tad hard even for Neil. I will let you find out more.  Then Mr Emmett making a guest appearance and doing a torchlight Trio.

Phew what a week, I am so glad I have not been blogging all week, to much to keep up with, where will it end, no sign as yet. 

Keep on cranking boys and girls and remember no day out in the Welsh Hills is complete without that lovely Welsh Winter Climbs guide by Ground UP in your pack.

Briefly Back and West Face Tryfan News

It does seem slight strange writing this post, as conditions have been very good at times over the last 2 months and there has been a steady flow of new routes and I have been offline.  It was good to see Pete Harrison bagging Grey Ghost VI-6. When Toby Keep and I had first tried this line the slab had no ice and corner stopped us as it was to hard. I had mentioned to Pete some years ago, if he was ever up in that area to get the top corner climbed.  Well he and Rob Pitt managed to do one better they climbed the slab out left, very nice tick.

With recent conditions looking promising, after the last few seasons this winter is certainly living up to being one to remember with this late spell of climbing. Again, this shows that North Wales still has a lot to offer and there are plenty of keen bunnies out there.  Si Panton has been doing a good job on the V12 blog keeping us upto date with a variety of new lines being added to the Welsh Scene.

Hearing all the reports, looking at so many photos of quality climbing and speaking to so many climbers over the last few months it was hard to resist updating the blog nearly every day.  Regular users of the blog will be aware I went off line back in January. This was for a variety of reasons and I thank all the people who have let me know it has been missed.  I am afraid to say, this post is not a re-start of the blog on a daily basis.

My own climbing has been a real mixed bag, getting in new routes, failing on new routes, ticking some classics, failing on winter ascents of rock routes and even failing on the odd classic.  

This last week once the snow and winds had died down, I reckon there would have been quite a few climbers trying to decide what to do?  Avoid the crowds, take into account all this snow (none of which has not gone through a good freeze thaw cycle) not wishing for a wade fest and the ice not all being in great nick.  One things for sure, the ground was well frozen before all this snow fell. 

With these thoughts in mind I ventured out onto the  West Face of Tryfan. I had last been up there in Feb 2011 with Glyn Callund, where we did the first winter ascent of  Flat Iron Ridge ( VD ) . This gave a nice steady route at IV-4.  I was keen to go back up and explore some of the other routes up there and try some first winter ascents.  This area is never going to give stellar routes but it has a lot going for it. Short approach, away from the crowds, easier grades and a mixture and climbing/mountaineering pitches.

I hooked up with one of my new route partners, Gaz Davies, who I had not climbed with for over year. He was not feeling that well and I was dealing with an injury so another good reason for our chosen venue.

First off we looked at Columbyne (VD) Approaching this direct (this is not shown in the new Ogwen guide) via mixed heather, grass and rock gave a mixture of short steps and a few spicy moments, as we still had the ropes on our back III.   We took a new line on the top pitch climbing between the top pitch of Columbyne and Pierrot. IV-5.  From here we traversed over and above the Wrinkled Slab Buttress and then dropped down the gully to the right of this.

We then choose  Jamie’s Route (S)   Taking a new line approx just to the left of pitch one as described in the guide, gave what winter mixed climbing is all about. Great hooks, great kit, cracking moves, steep but not overhanging techy climbing. 3 stars,  but only 10ms long.  Grade ?  found on a more sustained route it would be at least hard V, but it is a short a pitch, so IV-6 is more appropriate.  This was followed by 100ms of varied grade III climbing over rocky steps, slabs and chimneys. By this time the sun was out on the ridge and it felt like we were in the Alps.

Like all of us, I hope this snow has chance to change to neve and hangs around for some time. This will give some cracking climbing conditions. My thoughts are we have new routes on the way. With so much snow, there just has to be lots of thoughts out there by potential explorers.  

Cwm Lloer has seen many repeats of established routes. The classic snow routes of N Wales I believe are going to give hard work, unless some kind person has put all the steps in.  The ice seems a mixture of good, poor and thin. There is ice where there is often just blank rock and many classic ice routes are not in nick/in poor nick. 

I hope all of you got some winter action in over Easter if you were in North Wales.  With such fine weather just being out in hills walking or climbing should give a few days to remember.

Finally take care, there is a lot of difference snow conditions around, it’s so easy to slip, slide or fall into a hole, take it easy and stay switched on.

Photos - before the battery ran out !!!!!!

Gaz – Powering up grade 2 ground  on West Face Tryfan

The boys at Liverpool

Simon and I looking a lot more relaxed than at the beginning of our lecture 

Just look at all that ice !!

Hi All

We are in the mix again here in North Wales and have been since early last week. Conditions have been very good in a variety of places and look like to improve. Its the best period for a few years.

There have been new ascents, major 2nd ascents and ascents of some timely classics within the last week.

I have had many pictures and updates over the last week and my thanks goes to all those who have taken the time to send that info over to me.  I do apologise for not making really good use of this, but I must mention Dave Gary's repeat of Pete Harrisons new grade 10. Wow !! good effort. full details on Daves Blog

I will do an end of season update, so please do keep sending info etc on new routes and second ascents

Last Thursday,  Simon Panton and I delivered a lecture in Liverpool talking about the development of North Wales Winter climbing in recent years and highlighted a lot of the key players. Apparently,  Simon and I did an excellent job, well thats what we got told, maybe they were just being nice !!! so our thanks goes to all of your who made the effort to attended and support the lecture.

I am sorry to say that this post is the last blog post  for this winter.

I Hope the conditions stay and that you all manage to  get some great climbing in.

As I mentioned before, I will do an end of season update, so please do keep sending info etc on new routes and second ascents. Thanks again for all of you that support and use the blog. Sorry the blog will not going whilst we actually have a decent winter this year.

Best Wishes and keep cranking on those axes

Baggy

Biggest News for years -Lateo X-10

I am able to give you further info on the new route that got done on Tuesday.

It came form Pete Harrison,  who many of you will know has added some quality and hard routes to the Welsh winter scene over recent years, including Wale's first grade X-10 some time back.  Well now he delivers another X-10

Thanks for Pete for sharing the info, as he had to be pushed, as he very modest with his achievements.  I just felt it was such an outstanding route and contribution then it would be a real shame not to share it.  With this in mind, this post is factual without any glam attached.

Pete is also keen to ensure the style of ascent is recorded.

Text below from Pete

The route took seven days spread over 3 winters. One of the main issues with the route was getting it into proper condition .i.e being properly rimed up.


On the first attempt yesterday I fell above the lip of the roof and, not being in the fittest condition, thought I'd blown any chance of doing it that day. Tom had a go and fell from the lip. After an hours rest I went again powered up with Rhubarb and Custards and this time hung on and kept it together. We climbed ground-up with no pre-inspection. On the second pitch Tom slipped barely 2 metres out from the belay, lowered down and went again only to slip at the same spot. He climbed the second pitch clean from there. He could have lowered the fully 2m to the belay to start again, but it doesn't make any difference to the difficulty. He still did all the difficult climbing on that pitch clean.

Couple of other things - in terms of difficulty I think it's solid at the grade. However, I can only compare to other routes I've climbed or attempted. 

Lateo   X 10   ***  85m

An independent winter-only line tackling the compelling 'come-and-climb' me crack leading directly to and out of the sentry box belay of Stratosphere (E3), before joining Travesty at that route's mid-height steepening. The first pitch blasts directly up through the steepest part of the cliff giving a brilliant strength-draining pitch. The second pitch is more technical and no pushover. A route of the highest quality, solid at the grade.

22m  10  Climb turfy ledges and a corner until below the roof. Arrange gear and move across rightwards to a ledge at the top of the rock fin. A stein-pull gains the lip of the bulge/roof where things quickly turn difficult. Make hard moves leftwards along the lip to reach a vertical crack which is followed to a belay in the sentry box. Sustained.

43m  7  The diagonal crack which leads out leftwards from the top of the sentry box isn't as easy as it looks. Join Travesty just below the mid-height chimney and climb this and the gully above to a belay below the final steep wall.

20m  5  The steep final wall of Travesty.
Pete Harrison, Tom Livingstone 15.1.13


Photo by T Livingston

Photo by Rob Pitt

Topo showing the line. ( Topo by Pete Harrison )

MINT

Have been out on the hill today and conditions for rocky mixed climbing are mint, actually perfect. In addition to this, there will be plenty of turfy/rocky mixed routes in perfect nick also.

Today

Good covering of dry rime, which is easy to brush off.
Dry cracks
Solid turf
Nothing covered in vast amounts of snow
No snow ploughs to get to routes
Nice and cold
Freezing level at 200-300 ms
Top that with no wind today

Will get some pics and more info on later, just got  back off hill. See how kind I am !!!

Also, if your in the Liverpool area this Thursday evening then you might decide to come and have a listen to Simon and I talking about Welsh Winter Climbing

Check out for details

Arch Gully on Glyder Fach was done in great nick and people reported great winter sport on Bristley Ridge , see Dodie Palmer in photo below.

Few pics for today

Craig Daffyd and Black Ladders

Oh its big news

More details to follow, but today a major new route was put up and its a beauty and its hard. A fantastic effort

On top of that, its been a cracking day and now that we have some good weather we can see that conditions for mixed are very good higher up.

For a summary of  conditions you might as well go to here, let the fun begin, hip hip hooray. 

Its come back for the mixed action and building for the rest.

This morning it was warmer than they had forecasted. It was one of those damp, cloudy days and the snow level had risen to about 700m. Even then it did not look like there was a good covering. The crags at around 700-800m in Ogwen were black, to cloudy to see higher up. But for example,  Tryfan was bare.

I took a few snaps of Ogwen this afternoon, but an hour later it started to rain and hail at sea level. So those pics are out of date. We will have to wait and see what the morning brings. But it is a good sign and the warmer temps this morning will have helped soften Sunday's snow up, ready for it to freeze.

Snow is falling

This afternoon the snow decided to show its face. We had flurries down at 100m but that did not stick. However, what I can see of the hills from my house, the lower 200-600m  is they look a lot more white than this morning.

I would think higher up, the ground will have more snow cover. This will hopefully mean that the mixed routes should hopefully be worth looking at.

Shaping up nicely

With cold temps for the last few days , a clear sky this evening and cold weather forecast for Sunday, this has given the ground time to freeze before any snow comes are way. Hopefully this will happen Sunday eve/Monday.

No snow on the hills today, all very green.

No snow on the hills today, all very green.

Friday 11th jan

It has been a cracking day here, but no snow has arrived ( 6.00 pm )

Reports from the tops is that the ground is not really that frozen, often boggy and soft in many places.

However, verglass around

Might get snow overnight and it looks cold for a few days

Could this be the beginning ?

Is this the beginning of the next spell of winter. It does look some what promising looking at the forecasts.

Time will tell.

Time to get that winter kit sorted.

Mountain Equipment Randonne Glove

Well, this weather is certainly not what we wished for or what the long term forecast was suggesting back in the Autumn.  Quite frustrating that it’s often wet and windy on top of no climbing conditions.

I keep on seeing the same familiar faces at the climbing wall and out on the bike. There should be a few fit folk out there if winter does come back.

In the meantime I will take this opportunity to highlight a product that I have been using for the last 6 years or so.  The Mountain Equipment Randonee Glove. First time on this blog for a product placement.

Climbers and walkers can spend much time hunting out the best glove for the job in hand ! One thing to remember is that no one glove does everything. However, I personally feel that this glove comes close, as I have found it to be a great for climbing, walking, mountaineering and skiing.  

To back this up, it is the only glove I have worn since I first got my hands on a pair all those years ago. I have used them to climb ice, mixed and turf, skiing, whilst winter mountaineering and while working in cold and snowy conditions. They have been used In the Alps, Scotland, Wales and Alaska.

They are not perfect, but what is. I am after a glove, which is snug fitting, I am able to climb in them without my hands freezing within minutes, are dexterous, do not have all that spare room at the finger ends and have some good warmth properties when damp and wet. I tend to only use gortex gloves when its going to be wet, as I feel, gortex gloves are offer less dexterity than these, and the gortex is not long lasting. 

The key to this gloves success is firstly,  the snug fitting and secondly that good old material fibre pile. How many modern gloves use fibre pile as a liner. Well they should, this liner is well suited to climbing as once its wet/damp it still retains lots of warmth compared to other material often used to line glove.  If it gets really wet then just wring them out. 

The only possible downside to these gloves is that they are not quite long enough for everyone’s tastes.  I use mine with a thermal that has thumb loops, before that my fleece jumper/jackets had thumb loops that I used. By using thumb loops then that keeps your wrist area covered which in actual fact is very important in keeping those fingers warm.  Or use some wrist warmers? Not seen these, then there is a picture below

They are not going to keep your hands as warm as some big chunky glove, but they are not designed for this. However, they will do a very good job at keeping your hands a lot warmer than you may think. Many gloves have poor linings offering very little warmth if you get them damp or are not moving.

The palms and fingers actually take quite a bashing, mine have been used on many a mixed and turfy route and hold up well.  You will get the obvious signs of wear on fingertips if they are used to scrape / rub snow off rock looking for gear placements. Even then applying basic glue will do the job when they start showing signs of wear.

So that is my take on these gloves. I am happy to say even if you buy a pair of these and they are not what you really wish for as a winter climbing glove, you will not have wasted your pennies. They will be a very useful glove to have on the hill. That I am certain of.

If deciding to buy some try and get them so they feel snug, even a little to small feeling as the fibre pile will mould around your fingers and hand and will give you a really good fit.

 What do the reviews have to say ?

Exceptionally warm and water-resistant soft-shell glove.

There is hardly an environment or situation where these gloves do not excel

This is a super warm version of something like Terra Nova's Guide Glove or Rab's Baltoro and easily warm enough for winter climbing in Scotland, Wales, Alps and even Alaska. It’s also great for skiing and winter mountaineering. Although not fully waterproof, its tough and water resistant outer will keep damp snow and melt water at bay, and it can be wrung dry in horrendous conditions and should keep on working when your climbing partner has donned their spare emergency pair.

Schoeller® Dry Skin® Extreme with 3xDry finish is water resistant, exceptionally breathable and hard-wearing.

Pittards® Amortan Goatskin leather palm.

Fibre pile lining throughout is warm even when damp and quick to dry.

Shorter sports style cuff fits easily under outer layers.

Precurved, anatomic construction with roll-tip fingers for a precise and comfortable fit.

Soft nose wipe area on upper thumb. Hypalon® reinforce velcro cuff closure.

RAPIDLY BECOMING THE MODERN GLOVE OF CHOICE FOR COLD WEATHER MOUNTAINEERING, CLIMBING AND SKI WORK

I just cannot get enough of these. 
The red ones are 4 years old.

Showing the two types of palms available

The fibre pile ( warm )  liner and you will be amazed at how such a good fit and deterous they are if  they suit your hands. These are not as bulky as they look in the photo.

In use and before those pesky leashes went to the scrap box. 

The picture below shows the only possible fault I can find with them. If your jacket is short in the sleeves and your thermal/jumper/jacket  is not long enough you can get a gap on your wrist. However,  sort this out and they are fantastic gloves. 

The positive side to this, is you do not have a big cuff on the glove to deal with and no bungee cord as a velcro strap closes them. So that is another positive point of these gloves.  It makes them less bulky and less restrictive.

Talking of keeping the wrists warm and hence helping out the fingers staying warm. Have you ever tried wrist warmers ?  They are tops and make a big difference.

These are a picture of the ones I used before using a thermal / fleece jacket with thumb loops.