Brad.

I've known Brad for over 30 years and we've had many climbing adventures over those years. This picture was taken on the summit of the Portjenhorn back in about 1986.

 We'd just done the Portjengrat (ridge) which maybe the best rock climb in the Wallis Alps, an area of mainly snow or mixed snow and rubbish rock climbs.

Brad hasn't been too well for a few years so I was delighted when he rang me to say he'd been on a sea kayaking course on Angelsey and has really enjoyed it. He came up to Scotland for a long weekend and we went up to Arisaig for some really laid back paddling.

Mixing it up.

Spent Saturday paddling down the Sound of Jura and out to the MacCormaig Isles. We somehow managed to stay dry whilst all around us were some really heavy downpours. After our visit to the Isles we turned up Loch Sween before stopping for a coffee opposite the castle and caravan site. There was a seal in the bay, a male. He had something it his flippers. At first we thought it was a seagull, then a plastic bag, but better quality field glasses confirmed it to be some kind of flat fish, a skate or something similar. (We've since consulted an expert who said it was probably a Thorn-back Ray). The seal was tearing off a chunk of flesh to eat then diving down to retrieve the ray for another bite. Then on the Sunday we paddled around the Fairy Isles where we came across an Osprey on it's nest and a Mink having a bad day. First it was beaten up by a huge raptor then just as it found somewhere to hide seven kayakers came around and scared the life out of it.

The MacCormaig Isles (from a previous trip).

These past few weekends I've been trying to mix hill walking and paddling a bit more, the aim is to get a bit fitter.So I've been out on Ben Lawers a few times on my own and with my brother Pete and his wife Ro. I've even managed to climb Curved ridge on Buachille Etive Mor.

 On Buachille Etive Mor summit.

Pete & Ro with Cassy and Billy on Ben Lawers.

A short walk.

Yesterday I went out for a short walk in the Ochils. It was such a nice day I just kept on going, I had no food or water with me but didn't worry about it. In the end I did 16 miles and 5175ft accumulated of ascent, I was a bit de-hydrated afterwards.

The weather for Sunday was for high winds and snow storms, but by mid morning the day was turning to a lovely spring day. I was just getting changed to go out walking when the phone rang. "You fancy a paddle?" Of course I did. We shot round to Loch Lomond.

A great three hours paddling with the Loch to ourselves.

Only been out paddling on the sea once this year, I've been in the pool several times but that doesn't count. I've been skiing twice, not bad considering the warm, wet winter we've been having. I had hoped for more but it doesn't look like it's going to happen. Hopefully if I can save up enough I'm trying to get a crew together for the Chamonix - Zermatt Haute Route by one of the harder more remote variations. This will be for spring 2013, until then I'm looking for mixed kayaking - climbing trips.

First ski of the season.

Last weekend was gloriously cold and sunny up here in Scotland, I headed up to the Ben Lawers group; always a good spot for some ski touring. As I walked in with skis still on my pack I saw these tracks, don't come out very well in the photo, but I'm fairly sure their cat. Thing is there's no houses for something like six miles from where I took this. Could it be a Wildcat?

I skinned up into Coire Odhar, quite warm in the sunshine. Beinn Ghlas in the background.
Looking back towards Loch Tay.
Beinn Ghlas from my high point. The snow was mostly windcrust but it held my weight and didn't collaspe under me. The ski down was a bit rough and jerky at times but it was good to be out once again.
I felt fine all day but as I drove home I started sneezing, by the time got to my house I'd developed full on flu. A week later and I still haven't shaken it off and the snows all gone. Oh well.

Out in my back yard.

I've not been doing much kayaking lately, I'm looking forward to hopefully getting some skiing in this winter. Yesterday I went for a walk with my friends Ray and Tracy along with Olly the dog. We drove to Dollar and walked back to my house via the Doller gorge, the Glen of Sorrows (how did it get that name?), Lord seat Hill, Andrew Garnell Hill, Ben Cleuch and Ben Ever. Lots of snow and a couple of squalls. A really good day out.

In the Dollar Gorge.
Above Castle Campbell.
The Glen of Sorrows.
Soup time
On Lord Seat Hill.