The Cause

I've been meaning to start this thing for a while, well, since the accident really. Unfortunately, and maybe unsurprisingly, motivation has been low. I suppose I should start at the start.

On 31st of January this year, on the way home from a couple of awesome day's climbing, I was in a car crash. Pretty bad one too.

Me and Neil had gone gone up to the Lost Valley in Glencoe to have a look at Neanderthal, classic steep mixed route that we'd wanted to do far a while - no luck on this occasion, too black was the verdict, so we did Barbarian instead. Nice route.

After quickly nipping up Minor Issue, we started back down to the car, on the way we came across a gaggle of folk around a female casualty. She must have slipped on the icy snowpack and looked like she had a few injuries. Since there were plenty of people on the scene, it was decided that we'd be more useful as runners, so run we did. Well, run Neil did, as I gave up about half way as my knee was packing in. Again.

So, Neil got in touch with the mountain rescue to make sure they new about the accident, which they did and that was that. After some food in the Clachaig Neil headed home and I went to Fort William to catch up with Andy.

On Sunday we went up to Creag Meagaidh as there were rumours of classic routes in good condition. We guessed it would be busy so headed up the hill early, second team on the hill. As we practically had pick of the routes, we went for Smith's Gully, apparently one of the hardest of the Scottish gullies. It all went well and we got off the hill pretty early, just after lunch. Maybe not one of the hardest in the condition we found it, but certainly one of the finest.

Three routes in the bag and the season is only looking better and better, until it gets worse. A lot worse.

On the way home I was involved in a pretty brutal crash. Some of you know what happened, unfortunately, I can't post any details at the moment but all will become clear in time.

Next post, the (mis?) diagnosis.