AMI Shortroping, Karabiners, Mazeno, Trango, Charlie on the rocks and the Loch Oich Loop

Big congratulations to Sandy Allen and Rick Allen on their successful full traverse of the Mazeno Ridge including summiting Nanga Parbat. Back in the early 90s my second expedition abroad included a solo crossing of the Mazeno Pass just because of what I'd heard about this enormous ridge with numerous 7000m+ summits along its length. A real epic feat of endurance and determination. http://www.thebmc.co.uk/sandy-allan-and-rick-allen-complete-mazeno-ridge .

A nice wee piece on Karabiners from the BD QC lab: http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/journal/climb/all/qc-lab-choosing-the-right-tool-for-the-job--carabiners?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter .

Good luck to Tim Emmet and his team of flying head cases in Pakistan: http://daily.epictv.com/trango-air-wall-begins/

Lots of people will have seen this but... at least he felt he had to give it a try: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9409200/Charles-becomes-Prince-of-Walls-as-he-tries-his-hand-at-climbing-at-school-in-Jersey.html

I had a great 50 mile plus ride from Corpach up the Caledonian Canal to Loch Lochy, along its east side, then east of the canal on the old rail track (mistake this... at least 20 trees down, mud and deep water meant 2 miles of lifting bike over obstacles) until back on the Great Glen Way (great this, root but dry and fast but fun) up the east side of Loch Oich, round the head of the loch and steeply up and then down the single track to Invergarry (superb), steeply up again on the forestry road before the fast blast down for a break at the friendly Well of Seven Heads shop then along the single track road back to Loch Lochy and the reverse of the route out up and down along the shore, on the road and single track from Clunes to the Canal and then fast as you can to Neptune's Staircase. Just the odd shower and a good ride.

Finally today I have had 4 trainee Mountaineering Instructors out for the first day of a weekend Association of Mountaineering Instructors short roping workshop. We spent a dry and only slightly midgey day on Lagangarbh Buttress on a busy Buachaille Etive Mor. We spent the day looking at the judgement and systems involved in protecting students in ascent and descent.