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| Name: |
Alan Mullin |
| Age: |
27 |
| Occupation: |
unemployed |
| Base: |
Strathconon |
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| Description: |
Alan quickly rose to prominence in the Scottish winter scene. During the past two seasons he has repeated, soloed and made several first ascents of what are undeniably some of Scotland?s hardest winter lines. Having concentrated primarily on mixed climbing in the Cairngorms, it is here that Alan has left his mark. His one day ascent of The Steeple Dusk Till Dawn - a staggering route which holds 2 pitches of technical 9, three of 8 and two of 6 & 7, giving an overall grade of IX,9, has been referred to as ?Scotland?s most sustained winter line?. He also made, what is without doubt, the most challenging winter solo by a Scot, when he back-rope soloed Rolling Thunder VIII,8 (Lochnagar) in blizzard conditions! In his search for the ?ultimate challenge?, Alan has climbed an impressive number of difficult lines, including the first ascents of; Central Corner (VII,8) on Beinn Eighe, Daddy Longlegs (VII,9) in Coire an Lochain (Cairngorms), and Evil Spirits (VII,8), a summer E2 on Hells Lum.
In the last year, the desire to become a better all-round mountaineer has taken him to the States, the Dolomites and Patagonia; the latter trip proved very successful when he partnered Kevin Thaw to make the 1st free ascent of the Czech Route on Fitzroy?s west face (VI, 5.11+).
Alan?s outspokenness, and (often-controversial) views on conditions and ethics in winter climbing, has attracted much reaction within the winter climbing scene. |
| Finest Moment: |
"Soloing Jacobs Ladder in Coire an t-Snechda in lean conditions (grade II). It was my first ever winter route in Scotland and I was so happy to have not died soloing it, as it was mental, and I had never climbed like this before." |
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