Etive Slabs And Midges

Alison starting up The Long Reach ****

Alison Culshaw was free for a spot of climbing, so after catching up in a cafe, we got to Etive Slabs, wondering weather we would get a shower during the climb, or a horrific midge experience. We started off on The Long Reach. At the end of the first pitch, we thought maybe we didn't have time to finish the full climb, so we moved onto Spartan Slab - which is always great.

Alison on pitch 3 of Spartan Slab ****

Alison leading up pitch 4 of Spartan Slab

Alison coming up pitch 1 of Raspberry Ripple **

After getting off Spartan Slab, back at the bags, we realised we did still have some time, so we went off to find Raspberry Ripple. We found it in one guide book - and we think that's what we climbed! This is when the midges came out - and we pretty much ran back to the car to escape - midges always seem to win, and send everybody home. When we left, 2 other teams left at the same time - just leaving one team to enjoy the midges as they finished The Pause.

A great day on the slabs - although I was climbing with a midge net on at one point!!