Why xenon and the noble gases have a noble mountaineering pedigree

Why xenon and the noble gases have a noble mountaineering pedigree

There’s been some controversy in mountaineering circles about the noble gas xenon after mountaineering operator Furtenbach Adventures announced that they’ll be offering it to their Everest clients. It’s entirely appropriate that somebody has got around to using a noble gas to aid in mountaineering, for reasons I will explain.

Read more

Sgurr nan Gillean and Am Basteir: the Black Cuillin’s hair-raising finale

Sgurr nan Gillean and Am Basteir: the Black Cuillin’s hair-raising finale

We were facing a full day out in the Black Cuillin under sunny skies. Yes, that’s right. Beautiful sunshine in the Black Cuillin of Skye. I can’t believe I’m saying that. After two satisfying days on the ridge and another one to come, things were turning out well.

Read more

Peak bagging the Cuillin ridge on Scotland’s Isle of Skye

Peak bagging the Cuillin ridge on Scotland’s Isle of Skye

Our aim was to climb as many of the 11 Munros on the main Cuillin ridge as we could in a series of day hikes, including the infamous Inaccessible Pinnacle, the only Munro that’s a technical rock climb. But the weather forecast was dreadful, and I knew from experience that would make a big difference on these peaks.

Read more