Dave MacLeod and Malcolm Smith have climbed a pair of desperate boulder problems. MacLeod in Glen Nevis and Smith at Dumbarton.

Dave Mac, 'Big Long Now' (Font 8b?) - Glen Nevis:

From Dave's Blog:

"The massive 50 metre horizontal trip across the crag is now 'Big Long Now' and Font 8bish although a highly unusual one and quite hard to grade. Certainly the hardest link I've done on rock anyway... ...I see some of my problems at Dumbarton are receiving some upgrades with repeats. Perhaps this could be harder than V13? It's certainly much harder than A Muerte at 9a which would make it V14. I lose track to be honest. Anyway the vid of it will be in Echo Wall so you can see for yourself its the brilliant climbing that stands out here. Because this was my endurance training project for Echo Wall it's a nice feeling of completeness to finish it for it's own sake and also in time to make it into the film."

Malc Smith, 'Gut Buster' (Font 8b+) - Dumbarton:

From Scottish Climbs:

"Start as for 'Serum of Sisyphus'. Make hard moves to join 'Perfect Crime' and follow this to an ab sapping knee bar rest in the niche. Finish up 'Sanction' then wander up the easy arete to the top of the boulder. 8A/+ then 8B = 8B+? Breaks new ground in Scottish bouldering."

Thanks to John Watson of stonecountry.blogspot.com for the excellent photographs.