McLovinMountains.com

Climbing mountains or climbing the walls

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Scottish based aspiring mountaineer always on the look out for some new adventure that will stretch and develop me. One half of a husband/wife Alpine adventure couple.
  • Climbing Partners

    Climbing Partners

    Who is your main climbing partner? An old friend? A new friend? A group of friends? Internet meet ups? Or maybe you’re lucky like me and its your “better half”.

    Why do I say lucky?

    I don’t always climb better when I’m with Sam (although often I do) , she allows me to be scared and back off if I’m being weak or genuinely tired – so its not about that. She never judges and she always helps me see the positives in failure, and I do the same for her I hope. It is about that.

    As a married couple I really do treasure that we can enjoy these adventures together. We get to experience the truly magical elements that the mountains offer together.

    On the odd occasion when I climb with my friends two things happen.

    Yes, I think I climb harder (and further) with more  bravado to quell my fear but I also start to wish that Sam was here to share it and by then end of the days climbing I’m really missing her. What magic is this !?

    Do I think Sam and I will conquer giant peaks together? No.

    Do I think we can conquer life by being together on the peaks? Hell yeah!

  • Dreams of Chamonix

    Dreams of Chamonix

    While we did have a few days in February and loved that time we didn’t make it to Cham this summer like we did the last 2 years. Each June for those 2 years we’d spend a week under the expert guidance of James Thacker , well known Alpine Guide, awesome climber and altogether very good skier (broken ankle aside).

    We gained so much in those  short sojourns in terms of skills, experience, and most invaluably; awareness of ourselves . We awed at the vista’s, struggled with the altitude, reveled in the nightlife and celebrated our achievements (pedestrian as they may seem to some).

    Sitting in a bar in Cham , listening to our friends talk about their achievements, goals, failures and fears I also learned the hard way that we need to accept a few things in life.

    There isn’t time to do everything.

    We aren’t good at everything. Not everyone likes the same adventures. Unless you are a full-time alpinist you simply aren’t going to achieve everything you aspire to ( or maybe its about resetting my aspirations?).

    And I learned , most agonisingly that – it’s ok for all that to be true.

    We set such high expectations on ourselves and it can be a catalyst for others expecting a lot of us (in our minds anyway). That pressure can steal the fun.  Life is about balance . Mind, body and soul. We need a stop by the roadside sometimes to appreciate the view and remember why we are making the journey.

    I didn’t make it to the alps  this summer and I truly miss it . But you know what. That’s ok.

    P1200467 (1)

    Photo copyright of James Thacker, Aguille d’Entreves
  • Cogne Ice – no walk ins?

    Cogne Ice – no walk ins?

    The Alps is a playground for adventurers of all kinds but in Feb we were hunting Ice . You can ice climb in Scotland of course but be prepared for long highland walk ins with a heavy pack. My wife – she doesn’t love it ! So off to the Alps for some fun based in Chamonix.

    Cogne was our target and we got some cracking climbing done but sadly conditions meant the mythical roadside routes were gone so.. yep.. walk ins. worth it ? Oh yes ! This pic is of James Thacker , leading off on the Lilaz Gully

    Picture taken Feb 2016

  • Start of the route.

    Start of the route.

    4 years ago I wandered up my first “hill” , all full of motivation, trepidation and to be honest, as it was raining and cloudy more than a  little consternation but hey I was a hillwalker! It’s all part of the fun, right?

    Like alot of “outdoor folk” I found the mountains by accident as a by-product of another event, in this case a charity walk up Ben Nevis.

    My cousin had, at a very young age of 21, been diagnosed, suffered from , fought and we are so very glad to say recovered from Leukemia. A terrible, terrifying disease that no young, beautiful fun-filled girl should need to face – but face it she did! and with the help of the wonderful people at the Teenage Cancer Trust kicked it’s ass, and then some.

    So, here was me trying in some small way to show support and help raise money for them along with a bunch of my work colleagues. We walked, we rested , we walked more and finally we reached the summit – all the rocky, misty goodness laid out before us, we sat and ate our sandwiches and we turned around and walked back down .

    And we loved it!

  • Best days of our lives

    Best days of our lives

    This photo, taken by my climbing partner for the day Davy Wright, is one I love because it’s  just after summiting my first day of leading in Scottish Winter. We are in Coire an t-Sneachda in the Cairngorms after climbing on Alladins Direct, IV and then descending to take a winding line through ice , snow and rocky ground to give us 2 routes for the day.

    Beautiful blue skies, stunning white snow and a rising cloud inversion hiding the huddling misty town of Aviemore below. Snatching a Friday off, setting out at 5.30am, driving two and half hour’s – worth it?

    Only those who climb get to see these views. I’ll take that any day!

    Picture taken March 2016.

  • Tourist Trap?

    Tourist Trap?

    Cambodia.  Home of the killing fields and Angkor Wat. But what else ? In 2010 we went to find out and were both amazed and humbled by a truly awe inspiring country and its people.

    Cambodia has been empire and slave in its history. Its vast cities (only now being found far beyond Angkor Wat) and ancient culture sits weirdly comfortably beside its cosmopolitan resurgence and its groeing popularity as a playground to backpackers and the wealthy alike (not to mention a lot of very dubious characters).

    Siam Reap has French haute Cuisine, a Victorian era Raffles Hotel and late night BBQ grasshoppers all within streets of each other. Phnom Penh has nightlife like any modern city but also a very uncomfortable vibe , a residue of the horrors it suffered under the Khmer Rouge in the 70’s.(their children and grandchildren are still the “rich kids”.

    This photo is of a small number of the over 500 soldiers and their families stationed at the Preah Vihear Temple on the Thai- Cambodia border. Technically they are still at war but some cigarettes, sweets for the kids and friendly smiles got us a ride in an open pickup up a mountain and  a tour of one of the worlds largest , but least known Hindu (latterly Bhuddist) temples.

    No other tourists and lots of ammunition on show. Tourist Trap? Luckily not!