I had a fantastic weekend playing in the swarve weather. Saturday involved some great mountain top bouldering at Sampson’s Stones, of Great Moss Eskdale. Although, the trip to the crag wasn’t without incident as some extreme 3-point turning on Hardknott Pass was needed, after a detouring frozen stream thwarted our ascent around 80m from the top! Once at the crag we toured the circuit and climbed all day, powered by the finest conditions I’ve had up there, in some of the best scenery the UK has to offer.

Also of note; despite the sun melting off much of the winter stuff on the Esk Buttress side of Scafell, there still appears to be a couple of great consolidated gullies on the west side of Bow Fell (facing Great Moss), these both have clear snow-free approaches.

Sunday was spent at the contrasting but equally good St. Bees Head – South, where all the team were on fine form, and no one had anything but a great day - mopping up desired ticks and old foes in formidable conditions. More of the same next week please…

The Asteroid with Esk Buttress in the background.