2012 Review

2012 was a busy year, starting with New Year in Chile and then on to Antarctica as previously covered in this blog. Here is a quick overview of the year from the end of my round-the-world trip.

February - Atacama Desert

 

A spectacular volcanic area at 4300m for a dawn visit.

March - Switzerland

After a month at home I was off to Bivio in Switzerland for a week of off-piste skiing.

Plenty of snow fell even if this picture does not look like it! Lots of powder but visibility kept the camera packed away for most of the time.

April - Scotland

Ski-touring above Loch Avon, Cairngorms. One of my few Scottish winter days last season but a stunning day.











May - Watkins Mountains, Greenland

Four of us, Graham, myself, Ewan, pictured here, plus Ian joined a trip to the Watkins range in East Greenland. Easy but expensive to reach as we flew into a glacier and camped where we landed. In addition to ascents of some unclimbed peaks we ended with summiting the highest peak in the Arctic, Gunnbjørnsfjell where this photo was taken.

June - Pre-Olympics

The Olympic Torch comes to Bridge of Allan

July -  Germany

After competing in the World Masters Orienteering Championships in the Harz Mountains in Germany I joined up with some friends to spectate at the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Hockenheim. Not the best practice day for Michael Schumacher!

August - Scotland

I spent August at home but attended quite a few events at the Edinburgh Festival including the innovative running show - "The Speed of Light"

September - Post Olympic Celebrations

Dunblane was mobbed when Andy Murray did a walkabout signing autographs and shaking hands. A couple of days earlier I was in Glasgow for a parade of Olympians and Paralympians.

October - Safari

 A fabulous visit to see the wildlife of Kenya and Tanzania. We saw the "big five" - Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Black Rhino and Leopard as well as Hippos, Giraffe, Cheetah, Wildebeest, Zebra and quite a few more animals. Also well over a hundred species of bird.

November - Scotland

The highlight of the month was the UCI World Cup Track Cycling at the brand new Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow.

December - Spain

My first rock climbing trip for a few years! I was mainly cycling around the Calpe area but did spend a few days climbing some single pitch routes. This route is at Montessa.