Adrenaline Rush - a poem

A poem about climbing and fell running feelings.

The Poem

Blumlisalp adventures, 22-30 July 2002

Doldenhorn via Galletgrat AD+, Blumlisalp - North face D, Blumlisalp - Morgenhorn traverse AD, with Graeme Walker

The contrasts of Alpine mountaineering can often be extreme. Fitness, acclimatisation, weather and conditions can all contribute to make for the most gruelling or sublime of experiences. In the space of one week I was reminded of this in the most poignant of ways.

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Blood on the Rope - a 2 hour dangle on the Dent d'Herens, August 2001

Dent D'Derens via SSE Ridge (AD), Andy Elphinston, Graeme Walker, Jeff Brand, Pete Burton, Martin Haywood

Andy Elphinston and Jeff Brand tell the story of a near tragedy on the Dent d'Herens

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A Miracle on Lochnagar, January 2001

Parallel A Grade (III,4) with Jeff Brand

Miracle is not too strong a word for what transpired on a fateful January day on Lochnagar. An ordinary climb became quite extraordinary by virtue of the circumstances and I still don't know how I survived a bombardment which should have knocked me off my perch as surely as a car falling on my head.Full Story

TaschHorn-Dom Traverse, 11-12 August 2000

Traverse of the TaschHorn-Dom (D-, with Andy Elphinston

‘One of the finest high level aretes in the Alps. The memory of razor sharp aretes, crumbling towers and the sense of extreme isolation … left an indelible mark. Under snowy conditions the rock ridges of the Pennine Alps become decidedly desperate. Their metamorphic strata are usually gently dipped to give easy angled but slabby ground. Presenting no particular difficulties when dry and warm, they become close to impossible if iced or masked by soft snow.’- Martin Moran, Alps 2000. So we found in heavily snowed up conditions on a 26 hour epic.


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Rime Stone Cowboys - a wild winter ascent of Tower Ridge, March 2000

Tower Ridge (III), with Graeme Walker

My third winter ascent of Tower Ridge, but the most testing in deep snow and winds which threatened to pluck us off the Eastern Traverse. Graeme Walker describes our blowy day out.


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Bernese Oberland Reflections, July 1999

West peak of the Mittaghorn via the East ridge from the Schmadri Hut. AD mostly III, Inner Rottal Ridge of Jungfrau. AD, II & III, South East ridge of Monch. PD II, Traverse of the Walcherhorn to the Gross and Hinter Fiescherhorner. AD steps of II, ice to 50+, Gross Grunhorn via SW Ridge of Grunnegghorn,PD+, rock of II, snow to 40

with Andy Elphinston

Reflections on a snowy and initially, eventful, holiday in the Bernese Oberland

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Close Enough for Jazz- An unplanned bivouac on the Mittaghorn, July 1999

Mittaghorn W Ridge, Bernese Oberland, Ungradeable!, with Andy Elphinston

A tale of a modest route which became an exploratory adventure of the highest order. Andy Elphinston uses musical analogies to describe a most uncertain traverse of a lesser known peak on the Lauterbrunnen Wall.

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An epic walk off Bidean, March 1999

Deep Cut Chimney, Stob Coire nam Beith (IV,4), with Alison Fleetwood, Andy Elphinston

This day was not memorable for the climb which proceeded smoothly despite driving sleet, but rather for the 10 hour descent in the most desparate of conditions. It was also notable for the remarkable staunchness of my companions in the face of darkness, abysmal weather, avalanche and raging torrents.


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