Scot a lot going on

Wednesday Nov 10th

Diaries and forecast in conjunction so the omens looked providential for a late Autumn outing.  The drive in featured deteriorating conditions and the windscreen wipers were doing their thing when we parked up at;

Scot Crags Scugdale

Air was dry on arrival at the crag itself, the rock however was pretty damp.  A few easy safe leads at the right hand end established the prevailing rubber to rock coefficient, so we kept going in the mild and still conditions.  The forecast sunny spells appeared but only in the singular, nonetheless as the day progressed conditions proved perfectly reasonable and a worthwhile day completed.  Mr P arrived to make it a three so plenty of material for the record.

BP checks out the various friend options in the break on Pet's Corner.

Moves up in fine style

And leaves the gear behind on the first lead in a few months.

 Shapes galore

The next route (Supine VS5a) goes up the arete to the left

A good lead by CB

The crux holds above are somewhat snappy to say the least,

But they all stayed attached.

AT below the crux moves

BP above them

AT tempted by Woodpecker Wall but succumbs to the call of Wolf Whistle

A wobbly wire gave some reassurance higher up.

But not much, a friend was the way to go.

CB led one more and the followers played nicely. 

BP showing off some handiwork

All in all a decent day crow-barred in, despite the recent windy weather and the future low pressures coming along.

Lakeland Autumn Gold

 November 4th

A rare wall to wall forecast out over the other side, had to get over there to make the most of Autumn's best western rays.

Swinside parking, Catbells road and back via the grey beach.   Lingholme overloaded, Strawberry Cafe in Keswick the perfect option.  The usual Horse and Farrier finish.  A brilliant outing.

Grey Beach Multitude

Fabulous clear air and lighting.

Wonderful day out one of the best

Alpenglow on the Pennines

Autumn Lunching

 September October 2021

Making the most of the Indian Summer with a series of getting it togethers!

September

Picnic on Beach

At Natasha's and Mike's before lunch in Penge.

October

Kirkby Lonsdale with Norm and Grace

Plus a break for ice cream on the walk back.

Oh ands a swift half at the Pheasant!

Fill yer boots!

Family Sunday dinner special at BW

Fabulous lunch at the Fox Hole with the Dyes.

Coffee and more chat at Briar

Still half of October left to go!

Whitestone Wash Out

 Tuesday 12 October

It's been on the list for a LONG TIME.  Finally committed to getting onto the classic "Nightwatch"  .  

(VS 4b or HS for the traditionalists)

"Packs a quality experience for the grade - quite exciting for a VS but with big jugs. Take plenty of slings and dust off those hexes."    (H Barrett UKC)

"Just fantastic. Adventurous feel, but surprisingly solid rock and loads of gear and holds, both inside and outside of the crack. Must do route"  (J Jones UKC)

© BStar

UKC

With thanks

But this was the scene from the car as we approached

Grim

Drove 20 miles west to Slipstones.  Arrived at the same time as the rain.

Climbing aborted.

Moors Return

After a few weeks travelling around various far  flung venues, time to squeeze in a short session at;

Scot Crags, Scugdale

Sun briefly broke out of the swirling atmosphere before being engulfed by the low cloud, mild on the crag, breezy on belay.

Climbers on Remus

CB fiddling some gear in on Oak Tree Wall

AT managed to get up Saints Wall - unlike the` big struggle last time

Photo from March 2018

Coller Heugh

 Wednesday 22 September

Back from a week away on the south coast so time to make the most of the ongoing Indian Summer.  Travelled way up to the far north of north east Northumberland on a return to the various buttresses of Coller Heugh, more commonly known as;

Kyloe

AT made short work of the mostly easy angled  Christmas Tree Arete.

NB's image has somehow time travelled from four years back to point out the smeary jamming slopey undercut sandbagging start of this very pleasant Diff.

Then CB jumped 5 grades up onto this side pulling shocker.  Wilfred Prickles now lacking the eponymous tree but still full of stress and strain and worth the HVS it gets on UKC.

CB just flew up there.

After a promising start AT flapped at it like a raven with a broken wing. There's no success like failure. And failure's no success at all.

AT found the start of Deception Wall (on the left) too pokey and left it to CB to sort out.  

CB tackles it's big brother in a fine position.

Looking back down this compelling line, displaying a range of possible climbing styles.  Good value.

After a couple of leads at Severe and a bit, AT hands back the lead to CB.

The padding up the slab went v well on second.  But hand seizures rendered the wall finish into a dog's dinner for AT.

Moved along onto Cloister Wall

Opted for two pitches as shown in this montage.

All pixels there on the day. But not necessarily in this order.

Hanging belay - felt adventurous

An actual photo.

AT  just managed to follow P2 without rests despite cramping hands.

Previously led in 2018 with NB.

Happy Days

Various classics from this selection

The Distant Sky

 September 11th

Took a trip in a Gemini spacecraft

310 miles south to the coast at Hove, where the skies are forever and the light is a flood.  

Swimming with the mermaids 6 days of 7.

Out with Pete and Vikki Sunday and Friday.  The usual daily promenading.  

The local boys are there at the edge of the water where the stones meet the sea.

Later that evening

Birdland

Beachworld

Mermaids

Way down low

Visit with Lilleys

Hare Krsna

Krsna Krsna

Hare Hare

Beach Dazzle

Searching for the morning dolphins.

Adventurous beach sport

Wind planing

A great week in an Indian Summer.