Classic mountaineering ground on Curved Ridge
January training has gone well. I'm very fortunate that my job as a mountaineering instructor allows me to spend the winter guiding in Scotland racking up more than 6000m of ascent a week, all in big boots with a heavy pack. I did the same prior to me successful Bob Graham Round in 2008 and am certain the hill fitness and endurance I gained played a huge part not to mention the psychological strength from being out on the Scottish hills in all weathers. I've managed 24 hill days in January and have shaken off the injury that plagued my Tour de Helvellyn before Christmas. Not quite the typical method of building a good base of stamina throughout the winter that most runners focus on but another couple of months of this can only be a good thing.
Trialling Everest kit on the Ben's Pony track
Descending off the Ben after Tower Ridge
Climbing Curved Ridge in great conditions
