Weekend Warriors.

20 December 2011

With temperatures steadily climbing and set to hit 7 degrees on the tops by mid week our flourish of winter is as usual rapidly disappearing. You'll still find enough snow and ice if you aim high and early tomorrow, optimism might be a usefull tool. I would head, to Cambridge Crags as it looked in good condition through the weekend with plenty of ice in the grooves and wasn't threatened by any soggy cornices etc. If you access it from the great slab you don't have to run the gauntlet of the Climbers Traverse.

Through the weekend there was quite a bit going on in the Lakes. On Saturday fresh from a slightly earlier finish to their day on Gable than ours Rich Cross and John Morgan climbed a new route on Scafell Pikes Crag. People steered away from Helvellyn, Paddy reported it being fairly quiet there which was perhaps a good thing as the top out under the big cornice didn't sound like everyones cup of tea. The routes were however in good condition.

On Sunday the weather improved and Bowfell  was on the agenda. Brian Davison, (complete with leashless axes), Paddy Cave, Tom Greenwood and myself headed up to check out a few projects. Paddy and Tom made a first winter asent of Moonshadow an impresively steep looking E1 summer line high on the left hand side of Flat Crags, at VII 8 it looks like it could be good value! Flat Crags corner also looked like it at had seen an ascent.

Rich Cross and an ever growing raiding party from Sheffield were in debate about what line to climb on Bowfell when we arrived. Rich eventually settled on the summer line of Rubicon Groove an E1 to the left of Central Route. Malcolm Rudge, Huw Davies, Mick Lovatt, Nick Wharton and  John Morgan and partner all climbed the classic Bowfell Buttress by various variations which looked to be in good condition. Brian and myself climbed a new line to the right of Bowfell Buttress which gave a really nice top pitch in a great position. It was a nice day to be out on the crags and even better to get off the hill in the daylight.

If you're out and about and get some good shots of your winter climbs in the lakes feel free to share them with us. e-mail me at steve@ theepicentre.co.uk

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Comments

1. Brian Davison goes leashless - it was a wonder to behold!

   Posted by Nick Wharton on 20/12/2011