Swinhope Boarding 31st Dec

More fresh powder at Swinhope today. Excellent off piste, and almost had the place to ourselves, with only about 20 people there.
Road had just been cleared of snow when I drove over the top of Edmondbyers Moor.

Bowfell 29th Dec

We had a walk up to the Bowfell area this morning. The weather started good, but it soon deteriorated with gale force winds.
So finished off with a walk down to Hell Gill.. but no ice.

Raven Crag 28th Dec

Lots of snow in the lakes, but surprisingly very little to climb.
6 of us walked into Raven Crag for a look at Raven Crag Gully III ***
With just enough rotten ice and unconsolidated snow we all managed to get up.

Stunning views made it worth being out, what ever we did.

Stopped at John's Cottage to round off a top day out.

Weardale Boarding 26th Dec

Joined the Weardale club today, and its been worth every penny (£35) for a season pass - Bargain.
The button tows are a bit exciting, but they have some excellent varied terrain. Pisted runs, gullys and a few natural kickers etc.



How it looks on a sunny day!



John having a lazy boxing day!



The Club House



View - top of the first button lift



John off a kicker



John - top of 2nd lift



View - up first lift

Gorms 24th Dec

Dashed up to Aviemore last night, in the hope of some fresh powder.

Very cold night. -12°C south of Drumochter on the drive up, but warmer at the Cairngorm car park -6°C

On the slopes at 08:30 this morning. From the top I could see into Coire an t'Sneachda and everything looks buried in snow. Think any good climbing will be out west for now.
After a number of runs on the White Lady, M1 and Traverse I started to get bored, so spent the rest of the day off piste in excellent powder down the M2 and east wall.

-9°C south of Aviemore at 15:00 on the way home.

Lets hope for some fat Creag Meagaidh and Nevis Ice.

Gable Crag 20th Dec

With heavy snow in the east on Saturday afternoon, our trip over to Borrowdale took (3hrs) twice as long as usual.
After a few beers in the Scafell Hotel we headed up Honister pass in icy conditions, and parked at the mine for the night.

Sunday morning started clear and cold. But by 8am the snow and wind had started.
By the time we reached Gable a couple of inches of snow had fallen.
We decided to give Engineers Slab VI 7 *** a go. Nathan taking the first pitch, but with worsening weather and spin drift covering every crack and ledge he cleared, we decided to call it a day.
At least 4/5 inches of snow had fallen in the few hrs we were up there, with drifting on the way out of 2/3 ft.

The Crux of the day was getting the car back down Honister Pass. Fortunately we had the snow chains, but it was still scary on the steep bits, with a deep ravine to our right.

Top day out. Back out later this week.

Borrowdale 13th Dec

Coffee and mince pies at the Borrowdale Hotel this morning, before heading up to a dry Shepherd's Crag.
Had the crag to ourselves until late afternoon. Me and Graham got started on Black Icicle E1 Karl and John started on Monolith Crack HVS.

Routes climbed :-

Black Icicle E1 **
Monolith Crack HVS **
Thin Air HVS *
Black Sheep E2 **

Excellent day

Ben Nevis 7th Dec

The walk up the Allt a' Mhuilinn was hard this morning, due to drinking way to much beer after Saturdays comp. I felt sick and Steve actually was.
Upon reaching the CIC hut, neither of us felt much better, so hopes of a hard route went out of the window.
We headed for Ledge Route and it turned out to be in good nick.

Great day.

STS Comp 6th Dec

7 of us travelled to Kinlochleven on Friday night, for the last round of the tooling series.
It was a great day with some good problems.
I finished 2nd on the day and 2nd overall in the vets series.
Nathan finished 2nd overall in the adults series.

Roll on the 2010 series.