Lakes Conditions, Dollywaggon and Tarn Crag. 28-02-13

Once again the weather spoilt us today,  surely its time for a bit of clag, wind and sleet?!  Blue sky and sun in soft-shell is getting too normal….

In terms of conditions there is still some great climbing to be had, the bright sunshine is still taking its toll on some routes and anything in the sun is basically in summer condition.  But out of the sun its a different story, the snow and turf is still frozen hard after another very cold night and there is still plenty of ice.  The rock is continuing to strip back and even out of the sun on Dollywaggon there was a bit less general whiteness than 2 days back, this said some routes were still in great condition.  I was out with Jill who was keen to have a look at a Cold Climbs route so having been up 2 days ago I new Chock Gully would be good.  It was definitely a case of keeping the faith as the crag looked sun bathed but once on the route and into the gully itself the route was in great condition, frozen solid throughout and with great ice on the main pitch.  A great route with interest on every pitch and tricky for the grade…  After that we headed to Dollywaggon and climbed Thrash Corner, another brilliant little route with good ice and turf throughout and a thin icy corner, its given IV/5 but is easy for the grade with the ice on the corner…

2 great routes and classics of the Lakes!

Chock Gully IV/4 (5?)**

 Chock stone after the main crux pitch down below this one…

Thrash Corner IV/5**

Pitch 1

 Crux corner