One Day I Will Soar

Friday April 19th
Dexy's at the Duke of York's Theatre, WC2

She got a wiggle...
Worthwhile footage from the warm up show
 here

Another fabulous weekend with V&P

Look at that sky!

Life's begun!

Wild is the Wind

Tuesday April 16th
Borrowdale Multicrag
Once again resorted to ALT-Plan (3rd time in a row)
Way too wild to chance East Raven so headed for Borrowdale

Quayfoot Buttress
.... was in the exact opposite of this condition

So left it alone

Walked round to Woden's face.
Once the outdoor group had done with abseiling ventured onto Wimpy Way (S).

Wet at the bottom, and the top, avoided the worst using the left hand buttress to finish, good gear all the way




NB topping out in fine position.

Finished up at Shepherds.  Contemplated Ant Highway, but big gusts added to the intimidation factor and left it for another day.  Jackdaw Ridge in big boots - then a diretissima on the slabs in the glorious sun and a belay in the full force of the sou'westerly.

Looking across the top pitch of Donkey's Ears from Jackdaw terrace

Inspired by

Peak too soon

Sunday April 7th
Plan A - Peak
Badly misled by webcam at Grindleford - moors clear but edges all still holding snow
Curbar and Stanage snow bound, Burbage buried!

Burbage North

ALT-PLAN once again triggered - Almscliffe, very busy but pleasantly (almost) warm.
Usual circuit on Low Man plus a woofing Birds Nest Crack

BP sticking the jams

AT relishing some pedigree chum

The only way is Eppleby

First ride out
12.5 miles

Winter won't go

April 4th
Planned a day at Shepherd's Crag - NB came with ALT-PLAN for a new venue (Swirl Crag)
This was well above the snow line and in the absence of crampons, axes and the presence of a light but bitter cold NE wind went back to PLAN A.
Little Chamonix (NB,AT)
Brown Slabs Crack Original (MS - AT,NB))
Brown Slabs Face (NB)

Unknown Climber on The Grasp (E1 5b)

NB moving serenely up variation P2 Brown Slabs Crack

Sun shows up at last

Glarama plastered

Ready for pasting onto the Bludgeon

Home on the Grange

March 30th
Easter Saturday
Grange to Keswick - 10km

The snowy twin peaks of Blancathra  lit up by the cold spring sun

What's Going On?

March 23rd
Several inches of snow overnight
Drifting up to 40cm in the yard

Back to keeping the birds fed.....
Contrast with last years end March weather here