Today Dan G and I went out to Swindale (near to where I used to live) up to Gouther Crag. Dan hadn't been climbing outside this season so let me do all the leading, which makes me happy! We were going to start on The Fang (MVS 4a) but we let a team who were at the crag already go on it first. So we started on Kennel Wall (MS) which I did in just the one pitch. We came down and then went up The Fang. After this we had time for 1 more so I went up Bloodhound (E2 5b) which is pretty bold but has excellent climbing on. A real 3 star route I think! Great afternoon climbing on good rock. I'll be going back there soon!

Today Dan and I headed up to Carrock Fell (between Penrith and Keswick) boulders for an evening of finger ripping, quartzite pulling. I haven't been up here before so it was good to look around. Some really good problems around on really good rock.

Today I met up with an old client from The Ice Factor (I took him ice climbing) who I had bumped into in Keswick earlier in the week. The skies were looking pretty grey and wet all day so we held off until the afternoon then headed to Shepards Crag. We had a nice new set of Dragon cams to test out. The did get a good testing too! We started on Little Chamonix (VD) as Dean had never done it, he fell off on the lead on the first pitch and landed on a cam, it held! (Test number 1 complete). He was fine and we topped out by swapping leads. I then really wanted to do the Bludgeon (E1 5b) so Dean set off on the first pitch and then I took the second. Unfortunately Dean was unable to second through the crux so he pulled on the cams I'd placed (test number 2 complete!), he finally got to the top. Dean was super pumped so we had to head home. A wicked route though!!

Today Dan and I set out for a long ride on the mountain bikes but we also wanted some technical sections to ride. We opted for Ullswater Single track and more. We parked at Sandwick and rode around Place Fell to Boredale Hause, this section was really good (I fell off), quite technical and quite quick. Dan got a puncture on the way down. From Boredale Hause we went along to Hartsop, rode up to Hayeswater (I got a puncture) and pushed up to Rampsgill Head (792m). From here we rode over High Raise (802m) and over onto High Street. We rode all the way along to The Cockpit and then turned and headed back down above the lake to Howtown and back over to the car at Sandwick. A great day, In fact the best days riding I've had in a long time!

Today I was due to meet up with a mate for an evening climb at Castle Rock, unfortunately he didn't show so I was stuck with a spare hour in the evening sun. I took my shoes up to the crag (and all the rack and ropes, just incase he was there!) and soloed Yew Tree Climb (VD), Via Media (S) and finished on Direct Route (VS 4b). A nice evening with a cool breeze. Sounded like there were a couple of teams on the North Crag. No surprises as its a great evening west facing venue.

Today Al and I went down to Grizedale for some biking action along the tracks. I wanted to climb Totalitarian (E1 5c) at Raven Crag but unfortunately there were bird restrictions. So back to the car and we headed for Castle rock. Al suggested doing some biking instead so I agreed and we drove to Griesdale Forest and did 2 circuits of the North Face Route.

This evening I met up with Sean and Rowan and we headed out to Brown Crag at Shepard's Crag. Rowan hasn't climbed for a looong time and Sean wanted to see me manage 2 seconds. So I took them both up Brown Slabs Arete (D). We did the route in 3 pitches with the guy's coming up in parallel and walked down from the top. I was really keen for another route so Sean held my ropes on Conclusion (E1 5b), I topped out, abbed down and stripped all my gear. Both routes were really good, polished but interesting.

Today I was climbing in my belay jacket! I thought that after winter I wouldn't be needing to do that. Nige and I were at Quayfoot Buttress for the afternoon and the wind was strong and cold. We started off on Irony (HVS 5a), then went onto The Crypt Direct (E1 5b), then The Go Between (E2 5c) and then finished on Mandrake (HVS 5a) which is a great route. We started off with the crag to ourselves but teams turned up and climbed Quayfoot Buttress, Aberration and a few others.