They might be small but The Lake District has excellent crags and mountains

With my planned winter work well out of the way I'm now looking forward to the transition into the summer season.  With winter still stubborn in the mountains I will still be carrying axes and crampons on some of my objectives.  No light weight summer bag just yet.  I have been looking forward to 2016 I turn 30.  As do several of my friends and between two birthday weekends last month, one at a beer festival in Stuttgart and a surprise party down south, I have been trying to regain some rock climbing fitness, see friends and family and do a little exploring.  Whilst being in the Lakes we managed to get some days climbing at St. Bee's, Langdale, Borrowdale and near Thirlmere.  The nice weather has been surrounded with wet days so I have made use of The Ice Factor, Kendal Wall, Keswick Wall and Ratho.  Unfortunately, I'm weak as a kitten after winter.  The new wall opening in Fort William might help build up a little strength for the coming climbing projects this summer.

Can't go to a German beer festival without wearing a Leiderhosen and drinking a few Steins

Another course done, another signature in the book

Whilst in the Lakes, I embarked onto my first training course (after the inductions) to become a IFMGA Mountain Guide.  The course, Rock One Training, focussed on all aspects of British summer mountain guiding.  It was a great week with a wide range of fellow candidates, some with instructing and guiding backgrounds and some new to the concept of managing and guiding novices.  I have been asked to write a course report on the week which will be put on the new British Mountain Guide website soon so feel free to have a read.

Mountain cragging on Pavey Ark

We had fantastic weather

The milestone of turning the big 30 this year will be marked with some interesting climbing trips with friends, family and clients, both old and new.  I hope we all have dry rock and full chalk bags.  I left my camera up north so only have a couple of picture of my phone.

Bouldering ayt St Bee's whilst the crag dried

We were pretty lucky with the weather

Got very close to this little fella

Today was the best forecast so we headed into Langdale for a look around a couple of crags.  We started off at Raven crag and climbed the uber classic Pluto (HVS 5a) which has 3 brilliant, contrasting pitches, a great little expedition.  I find that Raven crag has a bit of a grade gap (Not many E1-E4) so we headed over to White Ghyll which has heaps of E1's,2's and much more.  We started off on Do Not Direct (E1 5b), then hit White Ghyll Eliminate (E2 5c) which is fantastic and finished off on Feet of Clay (E1 5b).