The
BMC International
Winter Meet runs all this week in the Cairngorms,
with British climbers playing host to 40 international guests
from 27 countries and with daily updates being posted on the BMC web
site.
The hosts include top climbers
like Dave MacLeod, Simon Richardson, Zoe Hart, Alan Hinkes and Ian
Parnell, who are all experienced Scottish winter mountaineers.
Having said that, participatns come from right across the grades with a
mix of hard routes and relatively easy ones being tackled according to
ability and experience.
On Day Three of the meet, for example, while Zoe Hart (USA), Ian
Parnell, Simon Richardson and Maxine Turgeon (Canada) climbed a
three-pitch new route named Big Wednesday (VI, 6) - see pic, Parnell - Col. HS Chauhan, the
Secretary of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation did his first Munro -
Brynach More - in a snow storm and bitter gusting winds.
On Day Two, climbers headed across to Ben Nevis in search of ice on the
higher routes while others climbed in the Northern Corries of
Cairngorm. Good to see the BMC introducing those pesky furriners to the
delights of Scottish winter mountaineering, though it's a shame that
things are rather warmer than they were a few weeks ago.
In advance of the meet, Nick Colton, BMC Deputy CEO said:
“BMC International Meets always spawn some fantastic
mountaineering achievements as well as foster great friendships between
climbers of all nationalities. We’re looking
forward to welcoming our international guests and introducing
them to the delights of winter climbing in Scotland.“
More information at
www.thebmc.co.uk
