Today Dave and I headed up to Black Crag on the Pike of Blisco in Langdale. This small outcrop of Rhyolite reminded me of climbing in Skye. Not for the size and situation but the roughness of the rock. It is a single pitch crag so Dave and I decided that we would both lead every route we did. We started on The First Touch (E1 5b), Yellow Fever (E2 5b), Sleep on my Pillow (E1 5b), Pocket Crack (E3 6a), Dave's Arete (E1 5c)(solo), Glass Slipper (E2 5b) and Mind of Fixed Abode (E1 5a)(solo). The crag caught the sun all day but the like breeze kept the temperature perfect. A couple other teams at the crag and plenty of spectating walkers. A great crag!

OK, firstly I need to pack my camera more. Haven't had any photo's for ages. Anyway Cal and I headed up to Bramcrag Quarry down near Thirlmere for the evening. Two other colleagues of Cal's from Needle Sports joined us for a very sociable evening. Its a relatively newly bolted quarry so I don't have a topo or route names but Cal and I took turns leading up an E1 5b, an E2 6a and an E2 5c. The routes do have a couple of bolts but trad gear is also needed. The route's we did were really quality, each one worth one more star than they were originally given!

I headed up to Scotland yesterday for 3 days scrambling work. Today I went up Ledge Route on Ben Nevis with father and son combo Chris and Peter. They had never been on technical ground but have had their fair share of mountain walking. Unfortunately I had injured my knee a week ago running, I thought it had healed, it hadn't! So as we topped out on the route it was apparent I wasn't going to be able to do the next two days. Anyway I pushed on to the summit with the guys where it was very busy. I hobbled my way back down the mountain had a couple of sneaky beers to ease the pain. Back to the Lakes I think.

I met up with Johnny today who had just done a learn to lead course yesterday and wanted to get a bit more mileage. He was up for climbing some harder route and also some classic. We didn't have time to go up high and he wanted to get to know Borrowdale a little better. So we headed off to Black Crag but there was no parking, we went to Shepard's Crag instead. We started off on Jackdaw Ridge (D), johnny led 2 pitches. I then led him up Fishers Folly (VS 4c). We then went back to Black crag car park, still full. So off to Quayfoot Buttress (VD) where Johnny led all the pitches. Nice hot day and lots of good climbing.

This evening a crew of us went down to the premier bouldering destination in Borrowdale for beers, BBQ and some sore fingers. I had never climbed here and it is ace, a little polished in areas but some great problems. Lots of steep routes and a couple of easier routes to get warmed up on. I think I will be heading back down there pretty soon.

Today was a scorcher, apparently hotter than Ibiza! Anyway, I met up with Cal from Needle Sports after we finished work and headed up to Black Crag in Borrowdale. We thought it would be a nice idea to do a long route in the sun as it was setting in the distance. We went for a link up of Troutdale Pinnacle Superdirect (HVS 5a) and Raindrop (E1 5b). Cal linked pitch 1 and 2 together to get us to the base of the crux pitch, then I led on, linking the next two pitches to complete 120m of climbing. A great routes on a perfect evening.

Forgot the suncream and climbed at Raven Crag in Langdale. Not a good idea. I met up with Isi and Tom and spent the day ticking off more of the lines down there. Tom was new'ish to climbing so just followed us up routes and Isi and I swapped leads on everything. We stared on The Original Route (S) to get warmed up, then went onto Mendes (VS 4c) which is a great route and then we finished on Bilberry Buttress (VS 4c). A really hot day, quiet crag and a pint to finish the day off!

Today Alec and I went up to Castle Rock in thirlmere for a morning climb. Alc had never been to the crag despite driving past it everyday. Alec hadn't led for ages as well so we started off on Via Media (S) and then headed around the corner and climbed Zig Zag (VS 4b) which is a great route. After this time was up and Alec had to go and do some work so I went down to Ullswater Lake!