24th March Lakes again

In search of the White Room

With the heavy snow fall of Friday and lots of wind blown slab and powder climbing was definately off the menu this weekend.

The Howgill Fells

The A66 was closed due to drifting snow so a very scenic diversion through the Dales produced some lovely winter images of the Howgill Fells before we arrived in the Lakes.
I was excepting to see  the Fells covered in a blanket of white,, but any snow on exposed areas has been stripped off by the ferocious Arctic winds that have been cooling off the mountains for the last week, and dumped into any gullies and hollows.

Robinson fron the Newlands Valley

Our aim was to get to Buttermere over Newlands Hause, but unsurprisingly the road was shut with drifts and the usual ice problem on the Buttermere side of the pass.
A quick (very cold) walk over Outerside and Stile End to have a look at the fells was enough to blow out any cobwebs!!
The paths are all still ok, but some patches of deep powder in the sheltered bits make the going slow at time.

High Spy from the Newlands Valley

Skiddaw from Stile End

Grisedale Pike from Outerside

The central Fells from above Stoneycroft Gill

21st March Lakes conditions

Into the Wildroom  

Even with blue skies and lots of optimism a trip up towards Brown Cove Crags proved to be fruitless. 
The wind blew harder as we climbed. The snow that it had picked up from the East side of Helvellyn  was coming down and forming loads of wind slab and filling the gullies with deep powder, so a tactical retreat was the best course of action.

Spin and wind blown snow on the path up to Brown Cove Crags

Spin and wind blown snow on the path up to Brown Cove Crags

Comb Grags

Comb Crags

16th March, Striding Edge

The White Room, and Striding Edge

Just when we all started to think that winter was just about over for another year we've been treated to more of the white stuff!!
The Lakes have been plastered with quite a bit over the last few days but its still very powdery and needs to consolidate before the gullies will be safe to venture into.
The day was marked  by its complete lack of any views, white conditions made it difficult to discern the difference between fresh air and powder snow. 

Ullswater

Brown Cove

Somewhere near Red Tarn

Striding Edge 1

Striding Edge with its full winter coat on, and in the cloud, doesn't come any more Alpine and challenging. 

Striding Edge 2

Catsty Cam

4th March Central Gully, Great End

The Last of the Winter Conditions?

A call to say this might be our last chance for a winter climb this season was all we needed to make the journey over to Borrowdale and get ourselves onto Great End for a climb up Central Gully.

The top of Ruddy Gill in the morning

 The cloud was down as we made our way up Ruddy Gill and it was quite nippy in the cool morning air.  As the cloud cleared we could see a couple of groups already out enjoying the conditions and Central Gully looked to be in perfect condition.

The start

 Conditions in the gully itself were good, the snow and ice were nice and solid all the way and we never felt the need to get the rope out.  We continued up the exit snow field to the small cornice at the top via the "Right Branch "finish,  and summited into a beautiful sunny day.

Another fantastic day out.

We descended round near Branch Gully and could see that the ice on Window Gully Icefall (wall and groove finish) and South East Gully looked to be in good condition, the snow underfoot was quite firm and if it survives the thaw may well be ok into next week.............fingers crossed

Far left Branch ? in the Amphitheatre

Window Gully Icefall (wall and groove finish)

South East Gully

Central Gully

2nd March Red Tarn Cove Helvellyn

A Quiet Day On Helvellyn

With the cold weather predicted to come to an end very soon, we expected the crags in Red Tarn Cove to be busy getting a final winter fix before putting the axes and crampons away for another year.
As we approached the bottom of Catsty Cam Gully one team were already on the snow getting ready for their climb, and others were crossing the fell below us heading for the gully.

The snow was in good nick for climbing, just firm enough to kick in the front points without sinking in.

We topped out to great views of Helvellyns' East Face,, which looked amazing, even from that distance.  As we crossed under the crags we were surprised at the lack of climbers enjoying such perfect conditions, ......only 2 other groups were climbing!!

The face was in perfect condition for climbing, hopefully it'll hang in there and last a week or two longer, ......fingers crossed.....

Catsty Cam Gully from Glenridding Beck

Catsty Cam Gully

Catsty Cam Gully

Catsty Cam Gully

Catsty Cam Gully

Helvellyn East Face from Swirrel Edge

Helvellyn East Face, No 2 Gully centre

PS in No.2 Gully

PS in No.2 Gully

Red Tarn Cove from Swirrel Edge