NOT QUITE - TOUCHING THE VOID

Sunday, 1 February 2015

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.

Sunday, 18 January 2015

Scottish Winter Conditions - The Cobbler (Ben Arthur), Chockstone Gully, 18th January 2015.

Wishful thinking, a complicated forecast and difficult snow conditions led us to decide to try for Chockstone Gully on the north side of the North Peak of The Cobbler. We had hoped it was north facing enough to be blasted by the wind, but when we finally got to see it from below, it wasn't looking too promising as it was getting cross loaded. However, i was an enjoyable wander up though the heavy snow. Even with teams in front, the strong winds were transporting snow around, quickly filling in a lot of the trail.

Atmospheric, stunning and very windy!

The south side of The Cobbler. Some teams turned back from some routes on this side due to dodgy snow conditions. Those heading for the buttresses, ploughed on!

The main buttress of The North [Peak, split by Great Gully. Chockstone Gully is around to the right and a little lower down, not really visible in this picture.

Jimmy and Ian taking a break.
After gearing up and debating the conditions and whether to even bother looking at the gully, we decided it just wasn't worth it. So we had a wander through the boulders in the hope of finding some safer, broken ground to venture up on. However the snow was suspect in a lot of places higher up, regardless of the aspect, so we called it a day and had some lunch!

Willy and myself sheltering from the wind.

A very quick. crude test, showed how loose some of the snow was.

Willy and jon posing.

The afternoon became a sociable walk back in the winter sun.

Back to the car and a beer, sorry shandy now, in the pub!

Sunday, 4 January 2015

Scottish Winter Conditions - Twin Ribs, Coire an t-Sneachda, 4th January 2015.

Myself, Jon and Willy had a great day on Twin Ribs with me making it much harder than I had planned with some mixed moves that were well over our level! Luckily it was well protected, and after some grunting and swearing we all got over the hard bit!
Bad weather coming in for next weekend which should bring some badly needed snow. Jacobs Ladder was ber at the top, but most of the Tridents looked thin but complete. Fiacaill Couloir was snow free at the chockstone.