Love Hate Love

The title of this thread sums up my relationship with Scottish winter climbing this last week or so. Having summoned up all the psyche and child care I could muster I've had two trips of 6 days in total over the last week during which time Ive made it up one route, I was rained off one crag, blown off by 95 mile an hour winds on another, failed on a future 4 star desperate new route and battled the big blizzard that has swept the country. Heres a few pics from the last two days climbing with Guy Robertson and Andy Benson.The Dubh Loch on Sunday with Aquaduct left and Labyrinth right beginning to shape up. This place looks promising as the week looks set to stay cold. Andy on the "moderate" pitch of the new route attempt i.e. solid grade VII, sandwiched in between Guys dramatic lead of the first pitch and my flailings on the crux as dark descended. Note the roofs in the top part of the picture.
Monday 2nd

The Central Buttress of Lochangar, very icy, very buried and very promising for the rest of the season, this could be the long awaited return of Lochangar as the jewel of Scottish winter venues.
Andy in full conditions i.e. Monday's blizzard on Footloose, a very sustained VII,8