The DMM Spire ice axe is refreshingly no-frills ... The pick is optimised for snow rather than ice, but I had no trouble climbing a 45° gully of hard névé. This is helped by a good balance ...

James McHaffie has made the first repeat of The Big Bang 9a at Lower Pen Trwyn, first climbed in 1996 by Neil Carson. DMM climbing reports that James McHaffie has carried out the long-awaited first ...