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Have a look into our past here you will find what we have been up to and be able to see some of our thoughts and re posts of interest. 

Cumbria Bolt Fund

POSTED: 4th February 2010 BY: Dan
CATEGORIES: Bolting

I have been chairing the Cumbria Bolt Fund for just over a year with Ron Kenyon as Treasure |& Peter Latimer + James Bumbey helping out with access to re-bolt these crags.
If you have a spare moment have a look at the Cumbria Bolt Funds web site.

We are looking for keen local experienced climbers who have a practical mind and are happy with large drills and dangling...

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Lakes Conditions & Winter Skills Day

POSTED: 26th January 2010 BY: Dan
CATEGORIES: Technical Courses, Winter Conditions

Great conditions on the hill today.
The néve is well consolidated and the gullies have plenty in them, there is still ice around up higher.

There where several teams out behind Red Tarn climbing and chatting to them the routes seamed perfect.

Viking Buttress had a team on and there was even a snow hole occupied by a hound!

Today was the first time Alan and Loraine had...

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Winter Skill Training for Patterdale MRT

POSTED: 26th January 2010 BY: Dan
CATEGORIES: Technical Courses, Winter Conditions

This course was provided by Mike Margeson of Mountain Recreation and myself and was designed for Mountain Rescue Team by Mike and the team leader.
Day 1 - snow & avalanche revision, self arrest practice, snow belays, confidence roping and navigation.

Day 2 - rock belays, pitching, taking coils, short roping, lowers & abseiling steep ground, slope stability...

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Thawing Conditions…

POSTED: 15th January 2010 BY: Dan
CATEGORIES: Staff @ Play, Winter Conditions

Well all good things have to come to an end, valley ice climbing gone until it goes cold again.
Have a look at this… as a climber it has got to be one the most depressing things you could watch!

Fisherplace Gill Melting click here

On the bright side, as long as it does not wash away all the higher snow when it goes cold again we will have the best néve to climb...

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Grey Mare’s Tale

POSTED: 15th January 2010 BY: Dan
CATEGORIES: Staff @ Play, Winter Conditions

Well after a studdy of the weather reports during the day tonight we headed up to Grey Mare’s Tale.
With the van giving a temperature of -0.5 to 0 c the team of 5 made it to the top.

Large chunks of ice have fallen off the upper section however it was still fine to climb all be it a little wet in places!

Not just sure how long it will stay for looking at the huge...

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Cautley Spout – back again…

POSTED: 14th January 2010 BY: Dan
CATEGORIES: Staff @ Play, Winter Conditions

Well I first saw Cautley Spout when I was about 14, I had been rock climbing for a few years by then and was leading trad routes and done one winter ascent, some one pointed at Cautley when we where at Fell End cottage and told me “you cold climb that in winter”.
Many years later and with a few disappointed visits tonight Simon, Roger, Gareth and I got up...

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Tebay Ice

POSTED: 13th January 2010 BY: Dan
CATEGORIES: Staff @ Play, Winter Conditions

2 lads from the east have been at Tebay today.
They reported on it being a little damp but still holding in.

The top of the crag is a little loose in places.

The last time I was there, there was significant evidence of the odd lump or two that had come free.

Take care if you end up going and it is still in.

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Cautley Spout

POSTED: 11th January 2010 BY: Dan
CATEGORIES: Staff @ Play, Winter Conditions

Thanks to phil for this immage taken on Monday 11th.
It came into condition by mid last week and improved up until the big thaw (sunday).Heading over there really early tomorrow morning to see if it is still climbable. Tuesday @ 0600.

Updating this from my iPhone, the teperature is just too high to allow for a safe ascent!

Ended up on a smear of ice in a valley between...

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