Its taken a while but its finally arrived. The hills are white, barren and empty and my mind fills with dreams and aspirations. The only thing is, life seems to be in the fast lane and catching success is about as easy as damming the tide. Conditions change on a daily basis but then again so does motivation. My alarm goes off every day, its devoted to its job. Yet my desire to react positively waxes and wanes in an impossibly unpredictable manner. The mountains are worth it though. However, this year is different. Global catastrophe envelopes everything and the government says we must stay away from the hills at all costs, mental welling included.

The mountains have always brought me peace but loosing ones self in a life with them just over the horizon is easily done and to think otherwise is folly. Its said they stand on the horizon waiting our return, if / whenever that may be.

Muilio pulling through the crux overlap on the 3rd pitch of Crest Route (V,7) in Glencoe

Ben on the first pitch of Western Chimney (V,7) on Church Door Buttress in Glen Coe

Rob pulling through the final bit of steep ground on Western Route (IV,6/7) in Coire an Lochain

Looking up the main pitch of Flake Route (IV,6) on Church Door Buttress

The Ben, with winter mode turned up to 11. You can just about see some climbers high on Orion Direct

Looking up a well iced Minus 3 Gully (IV,5) on Ben Nevis. Let the fun begin! 

Rafe seconding good ice on one of the lower ptiches of Minus 3 Gully

Seb climbing up below Italian Right Hand (IV,4)

Seb following the main pitch of Italian Right Hand on great, sticky ice on a wild and windy day. We also climbed Vanishing Gully (V,5) which was brilliant. 

Looking back across Tower Gap after a solo of Tower Ridge (IV,3), my last outing before COVID-19 brought the season to an early close.

The winter battle in the hills is a purifying experience. Focus and concentration starve the mind of its usual eddies and chasms providing a distraction second to none. For now these places are out of reach and my head drowns in its idle thoughts.