Brown Cove Crags - Right Parallel Gully & Red Tarn Cove - Number 2 Gully, 15th February 2015.

An early start from Edinburgh and we had Brown Cove Crags to ourselves (one tent at the bottom of the cove- never saw the occupants). We took some gear and 30m ropes in case they were needed, but the rope got take for a walk!
We went up Right Parallel Gully, which is complete and straightforward. Left Parallel, Central and Broad Gullies are complete, except Broad is getting scrappy and thin about two thirds down. (we descended it on our return).   

Right Parallel Gully.

Looking down Right Parallel Gully.

Jimmy, myself, Willy and Ian ( the shadow!), heading over to Helvellyn, around Brown Cove, from Brown Cove Crags.  

Semi frozen Red Tarn and Striding Edge.

We descended to the "notch" on Striding Edge from Helvellyn and then down a little grade 1 slope/gully to Red Tarn and round to Number 2 Gully. 

Again, this was straightforward, and the rope never saw the light of day! 

A very enjoyable, faff free day out in stunning weather
 with an early finish - result!

Scottish Winter Conditions - Skiing at Glenshee, 8th February 2015.

Cracking days skiing at Glenshee. Pity not quite a full area and some queueing was needed, but nothing too bad. 

Scottish Winter Conditions - Chockstone Gully & Great Gully - The Cobbler, 7th February 2015.

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Lake District Winter Conditions - Brown Cove Crags, Central Gully - 1st February 2015.

Myself, Ian, Jimmy and Willy, had a brilliant day at Brown Cove Crags. Very busy, with queues on some popular routes, but all very sociable.   

Climbers waiting to get into Central Gully on Brown Cove Crags.

Broad Gully, with the alternative start that myself and Willy took (over into Central Gully) where the two lower climbers are stood. This was a little harder than Grade 2 I think!!!

Two climbers near the top of Broad Gully.

Plenty of ice if you wanted it. 

Willy belaying the final, straightforward slopes of Central Gully. 

Probably about midway up Central Gully.
On our way down back to the car by Thirlemere, we encountered the usual suspects in trainers and those hopeless little spikey things you can strap on to them (which seem to fall off). The Helvellyn path is fairly treacherous in places without decent/stiff boots and ideally crampons, especially in descent.