UKC Forums - route history, astral highway', anyone?

route history, astral highway', anyone?

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AlXN 01 Oct 2007

please can someone remind me of the first ascentionists of astral highway on the orion face of the ben.

I'm also intruiged about the name - details, anyone, apart from its obvious relevance to the buttress on which it is situated?

many thanks

Norrie Muir 01 Oct 2007

In reply to AlXN:

Con Higgins and Alan Kimber. I never asked Con why it was called Astral Highway. The next time I see him, I'll ask him for you.

Tom Ripley Mountain Guide 01 Oct 2007

In reply to AlXN: Dunno, looks a belitng route though.

Winter of '76 if i remember correctly. Email Alan he'll know!

Andy Clarke1965 01 Oct 2007

In reply to AlXN:

Alan Kimber, Con Higgins from memory, i remember because i soloed it as a lad, Stella route !!!??

OP AlXN 01 Oct 2007

In reply to Norrie Muir:

thanks Norrie, I'd appreciate that.

cheers

Astral

James Thacker 02 Oct 2007

In reply to AlXN: Great route! Alan still raves about it now..

Norrie Muir 02 Oct 2007

In reply to AlXN:

One unusual thing about Astral Highway, it was put up early in the season. So much for the Ben being a late season venue.

paraffin 02 Oct 2007

In reply to Conquistador of the usless:

i remember because i soloed it as a lad

Gulp. That's impressive. Balls of ...

paraffin 02 Oct 2007

In reply to AlXN:

28th December 1976

Sir Edmund 02 Oct 2007

In reply to parafinn:

It's a great route.

Climbed it in March '85 or '86.

We soloed up Orion Direct to the basin then did alternate leads.

Well I say alternate leads as there was no gear and no real belays.

Probably the scariest route I've ever done!

Also probably the best.

Andy Clarke1965 02 Oct 2007

In reply to parafinn:

I was there to do it with a loon from Glasgow, ihr of waiting at the CIC, George comes hobbling up to the hut, having twisted his ankle in the treacherous Mhuillin bog, i was so driven i just went straight for the route, it was not in great nick either, virgin and quite rippy in places, i was glad it was over to be honest.