Stanage Evening

Me and Mick were the first to arrive and Mick duly led off on his all time favourite climb Central Trinity (VS 4c) and with his new slim line frame this was accomplished without difficulty.

Mick leading Central Trinity,.

  Jago and Nidal arrived and Nidal led Christmas Crack (HS 4b) for starters and Jago led Central Trinity.

Central Trinity: Jago leading Nidal belaying.

 I then led Right Hand Trinity (S 4a) and Mick led Christmas Crack. I finished the night by leading Via Media (VS 4c).

Clive on Via Media.

As I left with dusk approaching Nidal had just finished a variation on Narrow Buttress (VS 4c) with Mick and Jago queuing for a go.

Burbage North Evening

Once again I could not attend and once again we have no pictures, the following is gleaned from the reports of the attendees.
Christine, Paul, Mick and Nidal all turned up but as two separate parties who never connected on the crag.
Mick kicked off proceedings by leading Amazon Crack (HS 4a) a classic jamming crack. Nidal led Brooks Layback (HS 4b) another good jamming crack, unless you layback it of course. Nidal also led Greeny Crack (VS 4b).
Meanwhile elsewhere on the crag Paul led a variation on Ash Tree Wall at about VS 4c and Christine led First Crack (S 4a). Paul then finished by leading Farth Cake (VS 5a) a short but bold climb. Standards are slowly creeping up.

Rivelin Evening Meet.

I didn't manage to attend this meet so this post is cobbled from the reports of various attendees.
Paul led Christine on Wilkinson's Wall  (VS 4b) and the classic Altar Crack (VS 4c) with one leader fall but no submissions although apparently Christine hung about a lot. They followed that with Root Route a tough HS 4b which again Paul led..
Meanwhile Mick and Jago did Crack One (S) which Mick led then Jago led face climb No.2 (HS 4c).
None of the attendees took any pictures so there is no photographic evidence of any of this.

Wharncliff Evening

The evening climbing meets opened with the traditional visit to Wharncliffe Edge. The cold easterly wind had moderated and the weak sunshine made for good cool climbing conditions. Paul and me arrived early and headed for the Hell Gate Gully area where Paul led Hell Gate Crack (HS 4b). I followed up with a lead of Tower Face (S 4a) an old favourite with good open face climbing. 

Paul leading Hell Gate Crack

 A short walk down the edge took us to Himmelswillen (VS 4c) another old favourite and a classic of the edge which Paul led.

Paul leading Himmelswillen

 Paul had pressing business in the evening so we finished off with an ascent of Trapeze (HS 4a). On the way down through the woods we met Christine arriving after work eager to climb and it was with some disappointment she accompanied us back to the cars.

Buttermere

Colin had organised a working week-end at Buttermere to construct a new log store at Birkness the FRCC hut so me and Paul headed up there early to get a bit of climbing in and make a start on the preparation work.
The cold easterly wind suggested a low crag so Shepherds Crag was the choice for the day and we started with Ardus (MVS 4b). I led out the first two pitches to a belay in the corner and Paul led the final pitch across a slab and up a thin crack which felt harder than its grade with numb fingers and toes.

Ardus first pitch.

Ardus second pitch

Next we tackled Eve (VS 4c). Again I led off and belayed Paul as he combined the two upper pitches and again we suffered numb fingers and toes but didn't completely detract from the quality of the climbing.

Eve top pitch.

After this we called it day as far as climbing was concerned and called at the cafe for tea and cake before heading back to the hut. There we set about clearing the old log store ready for the construction work to start.
Colin, Bev, Christine and Nick joined us on Friday night along with several FRCC members and the construction began in earnest on Saturday supervised by Colin who had designed it and supplied the materials.
 

The new woodshed

Lakes in March

 The following was submitted by Paul.

Saturday at noon Paul, Bev and Colin set off from Uzzicar Farm and followed the miners track up Stoneycroft Ghyll to a cairn from where we climbed steeply up to the summit of Barrow.

The view wset from Barrow

Looking East from Causey Pike

 From there we headed west skirting Outerside rejoining the Miners track climbing up to Scar Crags along the ridge to Causey Pike and down the steep descent back to the road at Stoneycroft Farm.

Sunday dawned to gently falling snow but by the time we reached the car park at Whinlatter clear blue skies appeared promising good views from our target for the day, Grisedale Pike.

Grisedale Pike

 Alas this was not to be as we reached the NE ridge at Sleet How the snow returned and on reaching Grisedale Pike full winter conditions were in charge.
 

Sleet How

On Grisedale Pike

 Not a good place to dine so we made rapid descent in deep snow back down to Whinlatter.

Aviemore

Clive, Jago, Nick and Christine attended the March meet in Aviemore. Nick and Christine's primary objective was to add to Nick's Munro bagging score, Clive's was to add to his Corbett score while Jago just wanted some quality mountain time.   
With this in mind Nick, Christine and Jago set out to do a circuit of Monadliath Munros on Saturday. Setting out from Newtonmore they climbed A'chailleach, Carn Sgulain and Carn Dearg. By taking an anti-clockwise route they avoided walking into the strong bitter cold north easterly that blew all day and enjoyed extensive views.

An icy A'chailleach Summit

Approach to Carn Dearg

Carn Dearg Summit

 Meanwhile Clive having been dropped off at Kingussie climbed Carn na Fhreiceadain which because of its rounded nature and shooters tracks right to the summit was easier to climb than to spell. However despite the aforementioned cold wind it gave a good short days walk  

Carn na Fhreiceadain Summit.

On Sunday while Clive and Jago headed home Christine and Nick climbed Geal Charn from Laggan to bring their total to four for the weekend.

Geal Charn Summit

The view from the summit.

Lakes in February

The following was submitted by Paul

An early Saturday morning start saw Colin ,Bev and Paul setting off  from Scawgill Bridge to climb a very steep hill to the summit of  Graystones.

Broom Fell and Lords Seat

 From there we headed east to Broom Fell enjoying extensive views west to the Isle of Man and north to Scotland. Good progress was made as the normally boggy ground was frozen solid.

Broom Fell

After reaching  Broom Fell we followed the ridge round over Todd Fell to the prominent cairn of Lord's Seat.

Lords Seat

We then headed down the hill past Aiken Plantation back to the car. The weather on Sunday was not as pleasant so the short steep ascent of  Barf was made.

Barf

Braemar Meet

Nick, Christine and Jago based themselves  at Braemar Youth Hotel for a weekends munro bagging. Nick and Christine headed for Carn Bhac from Inverie. Carn Bhac is a featureless mound in a remote area and is approached via Glen Ey and Alt Cristie Beag.

Looking towards Carn Bhac from Alt Cristie Beag.

The summit it was misted over and views were non-existent but nevertheless they enjoyed the day out.

Carn Bhac summit.

As Christine and Nick headed south Jago headed north from Linn of Dee his objective being Angels Peak via Corrour Bothy . White out conditions prevailed even at low levels making navigation difficult and it was with some relief that the bridge and then the bothy came into view,

The bridge and the bothy.

Corrour Bothy

After a refreshment stop in the bothy he climbed to the summit via Coire Odhar avoiding snow cornice formations on the way.

Jago with summit cairn behind.

On Sunday worsening weather conditions hastened the journey home over the Cairnwell.

Buttermere

Colin and Bev had arrived at our base in Buttermere with a plan to climb Crag Hill via Whiteless Pike and Wandhope. Jago, Christine, Nick and Clive having no real plans at all decided to join them.

We started out from Buttermere village and climbed steadily up to the summit of Whiteless Pike with views over the central fells opening up all the way.

Ascending Whiteless Pike

From the summit we took a the airy Whiteless Edge towards Wandhope. At the end of the ridge the landscape became more open and exposed to the keen wind.

The Open country before Wandhope Summit.

We continued round the edge of Addacombe Hole to the summit of Crag Hill in the bitter wind but were rewarded with extensive views over the lakeland fells.

Crag Hill Summit

From Crag Hill we crossed over Sail and headed towards towards Causey Pike by a raised path which added nothing to the aesthetics of the walk but presumably cut down erosion. Before reaching Causey Pike we cut down into Sail Beck where Clive left the others to take the gentle descent path back down to Buttermere.

The descent from Sail.

The rest continued over Ard Crags and Knott Rigg before descending to Buttermere via Sail Beck.
On Saturday night Steven arrived having completed a through route from Mosedale to Threlkeld mostly following the River Caldew.