Last year was a year which was dominated photographically by snow, this year is unfortunately the polar opposite as winter never really turned up in the UK and weather didn’t allow us to spend that much time high up in the Alps in the summer. Despite the lack of snow it was another excellent year, with plenty of good walking, good photography, ski touring in the alps and excellent scrambling, via ferratas and climbing in the Italian Dolomites.

Winter

South of the border there was even less snow than in Scotland, however we were fortunate enough to make good use of the one snowy weekend with a walk in the Brecon Beacons. Other than the lack of snow we were lucky to have some excellent walking conditions while we were in the mountains, the highlight had to be walking up to High Raise from Grasmere in the Lake District.

Becky on Fan y Bîg, Brecon Beacons
Walking into Cwm Eigiau, Snowdonia
Sugar Loaf and the Black Mountains
Sunrise over the Cat’s Back, Olchon Valley and Offa’s Dyke
Becky descending towards the Black Mountains
Panorama of the Black Mountains and Sugarloaf
Panorama over Crinkle Crags, Bow Fell and the Landale Pikes
Bow Fell, Gret End and Seathwaite Fell
Evening light on the Black Mountains, Wales
Panorama Llangors Lake and the Pen y Fan Massif

Scottish Winter

We had a week booked in Scotland with the Avon Mountaineering Club, and there was absolutely no snow below the highest tops. Thankfully the lack of snow was made up for with a week of excellent weather, which allowed people to get out on summer rock routes.

We enjoyed a lovely day with a stunning sunset in the far north west of Scotland before the trip, and on the day the trip started had a long and remote day in Glen Strathfarrar. Unfortunately I pulled my calf muscle badly and rested it for the rest of the week so that it would definitely be better for ski touring a week later.

Fishing boat outside Ullapool
Becky looking out over Stac Pollaidh and Achiltibuie
Becky on the descent from Cùl Mòr
Sunset over Suilven, Quinag and Canisp
The Affric, Mullardoch and Skye from Strathfarrar
Descending towards Sgurr Fhuar-thuill, Strathfarrar
Beautiful light while leaving Glen Strathfarrar
Looking south over Loch Shiel

Alpine Winter

For the past 4 years I have really wanted to get out to the alps to go ski touring and this year finally got my act together and booked in a week with Adam. We had a wonderful week with excellent snow conditions, excellent weather, wonderful views and brilliant skiing. Apparently it isn’t always like that!

Skinning up to the Wetterkreuzkogel
Descending towards the Heidelberger Hütte
Beautiful evening light from the Heidelberger Hütte
Skinning up in front of the Fluchthorn
Amazing view down towards Ischgl
Skinning up to the Spi di Ursanna
Cornices on the Spi di Ursanna
Amazing descent from the Spi di Ursanna
Looking back to Ischgl while skinning up to the Breite Krone
Looking back to Ischgl from the Breite Krone
Panorama from the Breite Krone

Spring

As winter drew to a close we started to try and get out and enjoy the warmer conditions. This year we did a cycle tour from Ilfracombe to Plymouth which was fun, but challenging at times with the weight of tents etc. We then proceeded to have a wonderful week in Scotland and managed to get out every day thanks to some weather chasing.

Cycling towards Barnstaple on the River Taw
Becky on Dartmoor on the Devon C2C
Short-eared owl in the Peak District
Becky at the top of Jack’s Rake
Biking at Glentress
Us on the eastern summit of Suilven
Looking back towards the eastern summit of Suilven
Wall building on Suilven
Getting wet cycling into Seana Bhraigh
Atmospheric conditions while climbing Seana Bhraigh
Looking towards An Teallach from the Western Fannichs
Descending from Sgùrr nan Each, Fannichs
Descending from Sgùrr nan Clach Gela, Fannichs
First major outing for the new bike
Beautiful views cycling into Derry Lodge, Cairngorms
Looking back down Glen Lui while climbing Derry Cairngorm
Becky on Ledge Climb, Bosigran
Enjoying the view while climbing Stob Ban, Scotland
Quantock Hills MTB
Quantock Hills MTB

Summer Alps

Our plan for our summer trip was to spend some time in Austria and then to possibly head for some higher mountains. However the weather in the alps was very mixed which forced us to retreat to the Dolomites to enjoy some sun kissed rock, in stunning surroundings.

The trip was extra special for us as on the summit of the Wildspitze I proposed to Becky, and we are now planning on getting married in 2020.

Stuibenfall Klettersteig, Sölden
Stuibenfall Klettersteig, Sölden
Breslauer Hütte Panorama
Sunrise over Talleitspitze and Hintere Schwärze, Austria
Wilderness on the Rofenkarferner, Wildspitze
Summit proposal on the Wildspitze
Emerging from the tunnels on the Giovanni Lipella Via Ferrata, D
Stunning view at the tunnel exit on the Giovanni Lipella Via Fer
High above the valley on a big traverse on the Giovanni Lipella
High up the impressive final amphitheatre on the Giovanni Lipell
Amazing scrambling on the Tomaselli Via Ferrata, Dolomites
Becky on the Punta Anna Via Ferrata, Dolomites
Becky in front of the Falzarego Pass on the Punta Anna Via Ferra
Us on Punta Anna Via Ferrata, Dolomites
Descending from Tofana di Dentro, Dolomites
Sunset panorama from Rifugio Dibona, Dolomites
Emerging from the corner on Diedro Mazzorana, Monte Popena Basso
On the summit of Monte Popena Basso, Dolomites
Descending from Monte Popena Basso, Dolomites
Me on the summit of Via Lusy Pompanin, Cinque Torri, Dolomites
Exciting abseil from Via Lusy Pompanin, Cinque Torri, Dolomites
Beautiful morning light on the walk in to Torre Wundt, Dolomites

Autumn & Winter

This autumn and winter was dominated by mountain biking, which has been great fun and provided an enjoyable way to spend time outside in a season which I often struggle to be that motivated about.

We did have a very cold but amazing long weekend in Scotland at the start of December.

Climbing away from Pen-ffordd-goch Pond
Wonderful riding descending back towards Pen-ffordd-goch Pond
Mountain biking in front of Sugarloaf, Wales
Becky on Verderners, Forrest of Dean
Descending from Skerraton Down, Dartmoor
Becky on Weacombe, the Quantocks
Interesting geology on East Quantoxhed beach
Descending towards Llanberis on the Snowdon MTB loop
Climbing on the Doethie Valley, Wales
Beautiful singletrack in the Doethie Valley, Wales
Sandymouth Beach, Cornwall
Sandymouth Beach, Cornwall
Looking down Glen Kinglass, Scotland
Descending from Stob Ghabhar, Scotland
Sunset on the descent from Stob Ghabhar, Scotland
Becky on the steep ascent to Beinn Tulaichean, Scotland
Becky on Beinn Tulaichean, Scotland
A cold morning with the sun rising over Stob a’ Choire Odhair, S
Hercules flypast climbing Beinn a’Chreachain, Scotland
Stunning panoramic views over Rannoch Moor, Scotland
Us on Beinn a’ Chreachain, Scotland
Becky descending from Beinn a’ Chreachain, Scotland
Warm evening light looking down Gleann Achadh-innis Chailein
Becky nearing the summit of Beinn Achaladair, Scotland
Stag in front of Buachaille Etive Mòr, Scotland
Frozen trees near Loch Bà, Rannoch Moor, Scotland
Christmas Day walk near Castle Cary
On the Black Darren Ridge, Black Mountains
Becky in front of Yeoman Hey Reservoir