ice

After the 'experience' had at blawath crag and later raveswick quarry, i deiced that in these obscene temperature, that i should stay inside. But then, after watching the developments on the moors for ice and mixed climbing by some hardie soles, I felt psyced for some exploration on some slightly more local turf.

Please note: although much of this ice looks easily breakable, the pillars were infact about 1.5 foot thick in the thinest part and went upto 4foot thick and could easily take axes and crampons without breaking.

Then came a problem, to winter climb you need axes and crampons among other things, none of which i have. However, after hearing some of jake hampshires antics in a local wood with some uber ancient (posibly prehistoric) axes and walking crampons, i thought we should have a good look.

I remembered that the prvious year i had come across some ice on the cliffs (most of which fall down) in the woods after looking for rock climbing. (if you saw this, you would think whitestone cliff the safest cliff around) i then found some slighly more stable quarried limestone in the woods which had large ice pillars.

So.... of we went with wooden axe in hand, (bombproof) iron axe in other and crampons on feet to explore this local ice. The ice was in good condition and the routes ranged from around 5-8 metres and possibly higher and of probably about grade II - V, we had a go at some of the easier 6 metre falls which were about grade III or IIII? and then leaft the impresive wall and pillars which were a good green tinge indicating the ice was quite strong.

Then after a few days, the ice began to melt and collapse and so we will have to weight untill another cold patch to climb ice again :P mean while though, with temperatures pushing above 0 i think it might be time to have another trip of the rock :)