Mastodon
West Coast Mountain Guides Blog
by Dave Fowler
1y ago
Visit me on Mastodon The post Mastodon appeared first on West Coast Mountain Guides ..read more
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Last Winter’s TikToks
West Coast Mountain Guides Blog
by Dave Fowler
1y ago
From now until Winter proper, I will be posting some of the TikTok clips I published last year, some will be just for entertainment and others like this one are a short instructional clip. Can you build a Bucket Seat in under 3 min? Lucky for me it was soft snow. We still have lots of availability for Private Guiding and we have several partially filled courses, please see dates and trips below. Get in touch either through here, our website or email info@westcoast-mountainguides.co.uk Courses to fill Winter 2023 12th to 15th December Winter Mountaineering 16th to 20th January Winter Mountaine ..read more
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Last and First Aonach Eagach
West Coast Mountain Guides Blog
by Dave Fowler
1y ago
Dave: My last day guiding was a traverse of the Aonach Eagach and my first back after some trips away. What a day for my first back on the Scottish Hills. Jonathan and myself had a brilliant day, cold air helped keep us cool as we moved quickly and the rock started to dry on the South side but overall the rock was slippery. This didn’t stop us from enjoying moving efficiently and swiftly, we were both keen to get down before the weather turned and we completed car to car in 4 and half hours. I look forward to getting out in winter and on the Cuillin with Jonathan. Check out our Aonach Eagach d ..read more
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Solitude on the Aonach Eagach
West Coast Mountain Guides Blog
by Dave Fowler
1y ago
Dave: Today was my second day with James, unfortunately we were unable to rock climb due to damp conditions, but it didn’t stop us from having an adventure. The Aonach Eagach is always an adventure and the andesite (my least favourite rock) when wet is something to respect and be cautious with. No surprise that with today’s forecast of medium winds and heavy showers we didn’t see anyone until the last Murno. James is a competent scrambler and very fit which meant our traverse was 4 hours and 27 min which included a lunch break and some slow rope work, I think this is fastest time I have had gu ..read more
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WAG Bag (Waste Alleviation and Gelling)
West Coast Mountain Guides Blog
by Dave Fowler
1y ago
Anyone who has been with me on a Cuillin ridge traverse knows I talk about sanitation and the importance of keeping our water sources clean. We talk about options of burring, frosting and dispersing, burning the toilet roll to the best of our abilities and how we shouldn’t use any wipes even if they are said to be bio-degradable. My preferred side for all sanitation is the Courisk side as this is away from all the regular water sources climbers, walkers and locals rely on. The system across the pond where they can’t rely on the constant rain to wash away and dilute waste is WAG bags, often rea ..read more
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Desert Towers
West Coast Mountain Guides Blog
by Dave Fowler
1y ago
Climbing in Scotland we love to climb stacks and pinnacles, we do have some of the best sea stacks in the world. But there are so many stacks around the world which are iconic for all climbers. From a young age I’ve dreamed of going to the deserts of Utah and climbing some of the most famous stacks in the world, these are Ancient Art in the Fisher Towers and Castleton Tower. Some could call this continual professional development or just “a busman’s holiday”. if you want to climb Scotland’s Iconic Stacks and Pinnacles next summer. or ? Or an ascent of Inaccessible Pinnacle? What’s on your “Buc ..read more
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Equipment maintenance
West Coast Mountain Guides Blog
by Dave Fowler
1y ago
After three weeks of climbing in the deserts of America my climbing rope has dulled in colour and after any abseiling it leaves hands black with dirt. It has made finding the ends much easier as these are the only section which is still light yellow, but for the longevity of the rope it needs a wash. Below is my process for cleaning a rope. Daisy chain the rope from the middle mark making it much more manageable Rinse in warm water getting any easy dirt removed Soak in warm water with Tech Wash. After 5-10min start rubbing the rope together and plunging into the water aka hand washing Drain th ..read more
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The Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) is the representative body f
West Coast Mountain Guides Blog
by Dave Fowler
1y ago
The (AMI) is the representative body for professionally qualified Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors in the UK and Ireland. Our members work in a wide range of environments from indoor climbing walls to sea cliffs and mountain crags and are experts in their craft. By hiring one of our members, you’re ensuring your instructor is professional, passionate and a committed climber whose depth of experience and expertise will give you the very best chance of achieving your goals. You’re in good hands! #Lookforthelogo The post The Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) is the represent ..read more
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Drier than expected
West Coast Mountain Guides Blog
by Dave Fowler
1y ago
Big thanks to one of our team Iain Powell for guiding Dave Wakelin today on the Inaccessible Pinnacle, they went up with an open mind to see what conditions were like, fortunately the conditions were better than expected and they got some views and were dry. They made swift work of multi-pitch climb to the summit and abseiled off, with plenty of time left in the day they traversed the ridge to Sgurr Mhic Choinnich and descended into Coire Lagan. Lots of folk may think it’s too late in the year for the Cuillin and Lochaber Scrambles but the weather is often no worse than the summer we have just ..read more
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Are you Psyched for Winter?
West Coast Mountain Guides Blog
by Dave Fowler
1y ago
Here is a little video of me Guiding Orion last year, climbed during our CIC hut trip, thanks to Ken Priest for the footage. Winter 2023 we have decided to not increases our prices, but we are increasing what we pay our instructors/guides. We have made the decision to decreases our working ratio on our mountaineering courses from 1:3 to 1:2, this is to offer you the best opportunity to learn in a safe and supportive environment. We can still work higher ratios on bespoke itineraries. We have several partially filled courses which we would love to see filled giving us piece of mind for the sea ..read more
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