Dave MacLeod Climbs New E8

Dave MacLeod has recently climbed a remarkable arête located in Torridon in the North West of Scotland to give Kolus, E8 6c.

According to his blog he received a tip off about the route from Dave Cuthbertson who had tried the line in the past but been unsuccessful (testimony to the routes difficulty - Dave Cuthbertson was Scotland’s best climber for much of the 80’s and 90’s).

MacLeod was highly impressed with the quality of the Torridonian sandstone and the climbing on the route, likening it to the best that the fabled Grit or Northumberland sandstone has to offer.

The climbing of the route went smoothly for MacLeod despite some apparently very fierce/baltic winds and despite snapping a pebble on the route. The pebble was snapped whilst top roping, before the lead and if it had gone whilst on the lead would apparently have led to a very different story.

According to his blog there is potential at Seana Mheallan (where Kolus is located) for more hard projects, potentially an E10, so keep an eye out for more hard Scottish ticks here later on in the year.

For the full story of the first ascent of Kolus vist Dave MacLeods blog.

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