John Chivall, Outdoor Instructor

I'm sorry that there hasn't been much activity on my blog in recent months. Work  and life has rather got the better of me! Since the last update, I have been managing to get out and play in between working for Ardmay House, Glasgow Climbing Centre, EICA:Ratho, Blairvadach and others.

Amongst other things, I had a couple of good days winter climbing, including a day ice climbing on a very busy Beinn Udlaidh at the start of March:

Organ Pipes, V, on Beinn Udlaidh

I also had a great day on Ben Ledi with TGO magazine's Cameron McNeish and my partner (and the magazine's new editor) Emily Rodway as they made a video for their "5 Minute Mountains" series:

Emily Rodway and Cameron McNeish filming on Strilingshire's Ben Ledi

I spent a lovely couple of days walking in the Cairngorms recently with Emily and some friends. We camped at the end of Glen Quoich and the next day walked over Beinn a' Bhuird and Beinn Avon. I got some great pictures, including this one of Beinn a' Bhuird's Garbh Coire, home to classic climbs such as Squareface and Mitre Ridge:

Garbh Coire seen from Beinn Avon

I've had many other adventures over the last few months, but the lure of the mountains is strong and there's never enough time to write about it all! I will, though, endeavour to update this blog more frequently again over the next few months!