“The Sun has been obliterated from the sky, and an unlucky darkness invades the world.”
Well that’s the way it feels, for tomorrow it’s back to work!

On Thursday Jon and I went to White Ghyll in Langdale and, despite the grey skies and light rain ( ), climbed the six pitch ‘variation’ (starting with the first pitch of The Veil) Variation Girdle Traverse (E1) of the main crag. An exciting and scary (especially with slick wet holds) right to left traverse “with space beneath your feet” almost the whole way. We agreed both leader and second earned more than their fare share of exposure and ‘E’ point tally.

Jon at the start of pitch 2 of the White Ghyll Variation Girdle Traverse

Pete sneaking around the final "loose" blocks.
The rain had stopped, the rock had dried, and it was all much more fun!

And finally, Jon and I finished our four week climbing odyssey with a trip to Burnt Crag in the Duddon Valley. What a crag – steep and tough – not the place for tired arms, bodies, and minds. Luckily Jon was only one of these things. Laetitia came along too, so we got some nice pictures…

Jon on the crux of the tricky SPC (E3)

Jon on the impossibly hard Burning Desire (E5)
What an amazing place!

So, what were the highlights of the last few weeks:

• Dramatic falls on Pavey Ark,
• A world-class E5; Right Wall on Dinas Gromlech,