Two Thousand and Twelve

2012 has been a fine year. I didn't do everything I wanted, but I climbed some cool routes, in some cool places with some cool people.

Here is photographic evidence of the high points, the low points, and the utterly hilarious points with the occasional bit of waffle thrown in for good measure.

A weekend hit to Lochnagar: driving through the night from Wales. L to R: Livingstone, Monypenny, Burrow and Me.

Livingstone dispatching the rather awkward flared crux of Parallel Buttress, which I conveniently built a stance below.

Welsh winter - Livingstone chilling on Manx Wall.

Duncan after having just snapped the rope on the bridge swing...

An unproductive day at Porth Ysgo...

Climbing on a bone dry Lliwedd in a tee shirt in March... WTF?

Tall Mark climbing the utterly brilliant Jelly Roll on Cloggy, also in March, also WTF?

Duncan climbing the hidden gem Hiddenite at the unsung Iron Crag.

Leading my first Extreme Rock route Grey Panther with Dunc and Jimmy.

Duncan passed his driving test, god knows how!

Watching Gwen float up the Assassin - this would be a three star route on other crag.

Getting dragged gibbering and shaking across the "dirty rotten chaos" of the Moon by Gwen.

After 'work' cragging with Ollie at Castle Rock.

Climbing Silhouette on Cloggy with Ollie the afternoon after my last exam.

Supporting Nikki on the Slateman, her first triathlon.

Making a two day ascent of the Cassin Ridge on Denali with Livingstone.

Totally wasted descending the West Buttress after the Cassin.

Getting back from Alaska and remembering rock climbing is way more fun: running across Dream of White Horses with Ollie.

The first rule of climbing with your girl friend: do not have epics when climbing with your girl friend. It started to rain three quarters of the way up a bold HVS slab route in the stunningly beautiful, but rather wet and cold Lofoten Islands. We got back to the car soaked to the skin at 1am.

Low point: Being rescued after getting benighted in Gideon Quarry when it rained and got dark simultaneously. A big thanks to Llanberis Mountain Rescue for hauling us out.

This photo doesn't do the route justice. hauling my way up some improbably steep rock on some of the world's biggest holds: Rock Idol.

Vector with Ben: I climbed this route three times in 2012 and it never disappoints.

Ollie off to 'work' - this sure beats stacking shelves at a well known green super market...

Skiing in Les Arc with Nikki and my family over Christmas - a great way to finish the year.

Thank you to everyone who made it such a brilliant year. I've got a few trips up my sleeve that should make this next one just as brilliant. Watch this space...