Cumbria and Lakes conditions 22~25 April

Frost on the car and blue skies today.

Weather looks good for Thu, Fri, Sat with cool nights and dry days across Cumbria & Snowdonia.

Warmer at the weekend. If you're planning to get out in the Lakes or Wales this weekend then Saturday should be the better day as rain might arrive on Sunday morning.

I'm busy on Saturday - Paula has booked another fun trip. It's wonderful when clients either progress through their climbing/scrambling/navigation, or try different areas and actvities. Over the past 2 years with Paula's family and friends I've;

Taken her husband & friends scrambling & wild camping weekend including Scafell Pike.

Family weekend with their 2 children scrambling & rock climbing, including Crib Goch and Snowdon.

4-day winter skills trip for 5 friends, enjoying winter conditions in the Cairngorms, Aonach Mor, and summitting Ben Nevis.

Supported their charity walk of the Yorkshire 3 Peaks (Ingleborough, Pen y Ghent, Whernside).

Saturday will be another day of adventure with 5 ladies (they've promised to behave.... a little bit) we've planned a ghyl trip followed by a scramble and some short rock climbs. Suncream, water, rock, and great laughs.

I'm Available for Climbing, Scrambling, or Navigation on Sunday

Borrowdale - Black Crag - The Shroud (VS) & something dirty & green!

Troutdale Pinnacle

A dry but but chilly forecast, following some dry & warm days in the Lakes, means drainage lines should be dry, but head for low down crags until it gets warmer again.

We arrived at Black Crag before 9.00 to find a party high up on the crag and another pair at the bottom who shouted "Hey is that Roger"... It was Henry who'd been in Tien Shan with me a couple of years ago (see old Blog).

AVOID - Gleaned Grooves(VS) on the right of the crag (and Holly Tree Corner) as it's very mucky. We  were forced to join the crowds on Troutdale Pinnicle by the incredible amount of moss and dirt - a route for plant enthusiasts.
Next I led Steve up The Shroud - a recommended route.

Henry - belayed on the penultimate stance - Troutdale Pinnacle

Tom about to step across & up - Troutdale Pinnacle

RECOMMENDED ROUTES

1. The Shroud, VS 4b, 4c, 4c is very good, the upper 2 pitches haven't seen a lot of ascents but you can string pitches together into 2 long ones (bring lots of extenders).

2. Troutdale Pinnacle, S (but not recommended as a first Severe lead, it needs an awareness of protecting traverses and has some invigorating moves).

Cumbria & Lakes conditions 20/21 March

Sorry no photos today!

It's turned warm here and winter climbing & mountaineering conditions are disappearing.

I think if you get out early Saturday morning there should be a 'window' of nice weather, but get down for coffee and cakes early before a band of rain hits.
Sunday should be good later in the day so a lay in bed could be on the cards.

I've not been booked (yet) for any scrambling, climbing or mountain navigation work so am considering climbing some Classic Rock routes on Saturday morning, maybe followed by a scramble. Then Sunday morning at the indoor climbing wall before working on overdue paperwork.

Hope you get out and have fun.