Finished up college last thursday, after some physics exams which went fairly well. On the Friday morning met Ian and Barry after their maths exam and went to Ians to chill for a bit before going to Southport to catch one of the first showings of the new Indianna Jones movie. Seemed a little different to the other three, but maybe thats because they were made 2 decades ago... still a very good film, can highly reccomend it and a definite must for anybody who has seen the first 3, ties up everthing rather nicely. Came back to mine for a bit and watched some TV, including one of the Batman movies which we all agreed was definitely a low point in George Clooney's career! Guys left and I got stuck into that nights portion of revison...

Got up on saturday and did some more work before packing my stuff and heading off up to the Lakes with Emma and Martin. Attempting to tick off the climbs in the Classic Rock book by Ken Wilson so headed to Bowfell, to do Bowfell Buttress (VD) on Bowfell Buttress... original name there! Left mine about 7pm and got to the lakes just before 9, only to find that with it being a bank-holiday weekend Langdale was packed with all the campsites full. Contemplated our next move in the ODG carpark and glanced over the map to look for somewhere inconspicuous to camp. Decided on Blea Tarn up the road, so drove up, ditched the car and wandered down to the ODG to sup different ales, and flick through guidebooks until last orders, at which point we returned to the car, threw up tents next to the tarn and hot the sack.

Woke to a very nice looking but rather windy morning, quickly packed stuff and then breakfasted in the carpark by the car. Moved the car down to the ODG and then set off on the approach up the Band towards Bowfell. Took 2 hours to get to the foot of the buttress, about 10:30am. Geared up, checked the guidebook numerous times to make sure we were in the right place and talked Emma (Who, despite being a good climber hasen't done much outside and no multi-pitch) through what we were going to do and her role in it. I led the first pitch, a simple line up to a chimmney, brought up Emma and then Martin led through up the first difficulty which was a flared chimmney. We all go past this we reletively little difficulty. I then led up the 3rd pitch, a really nice face line which trended towards a large broken crack, found my self a nice stance and brought the otheres. martin then led thourgh to what was alledgedly the crux of the climb, the 'slippery chimmney'. According to the guidbook this was a highly polished chimmney at the top end of v.diff. I set off up this very stepp and imposing chimmney, from the bottom in looked a lot harder then v.diff and by the time I got to the top I knew that their was no way it was v.diff! Martins comment of 'And breath...' after I made the final move kind of sums things up!


it did twig with me half way up, the holds were in no way polished -meaning there had not been as much traffic as the guidbook said there had been, now I know why...Turns out we were on the wrong chimmney, which infact belonged to the neigbouring E3-, which that pitch having a technical grade of 4c! The other two eventually joined me at the stance, each having their own fun on our little epic stance. martin then lead up the penultimate pitch, which was stunning in situation, just 100m below your heels of thin air to the base of the buttress. I seconded and led through.


By now It had got really really windy with everybody getting very very cold... at several points it did cross my mind as to whether or not I'd get blown off the route. Spoke to Martin and decided to quicken things up i;d run the rope out ot the top of the buttress. Climbed quickly up the pitch and then onto the easier ground and got a below. The wind was getting so strong I was stuggling to keep a slolid stance, and to make things worse despite many should of 'Safe' martin coulden't hear me so was keeping me on belay. I tied of everthing andabbed down a short section of the rope until I could see them and signal that I was ready for them to climb. Later found out martin had even tried ringing me on his phone! Once the other tow reached me wwe roped together and moved together over the last section of the buttress due to the pounding wind, eventually finding some shelter near the summit and de-geared. Went up and bagged Bowfell and then quickly back down the band to the carpark. Fun had by all I beleive despite the blustery conditions, I believe it was afine introduction to multi-pitch climbing for Emma! Back in Martin's car and home for late evening.

Monday was more revison, as was tuesday until the afternoon when I got ready for the Runshaw Leavers's do. Met ian and Barry in teh Adeplhi before wandering up to 53degrees to be 'fashionably late'... unfortunately everybody else seemed to of had teh same idea as us and the place was still pretty empty, filled up after a while though. Nice to see every, good food and good music. Drank loads and then danced like a fool while simultaineously eating the buffet out of hotwings. Left about 1.30am, thanks to Ian's Dad for the lift home.

Wednesday I went with the family to the new Chill Factor palce in Manchester. Had a few hours skiing, very realistic although its quite a short run. For people that are used to big open pistes in the Alps, and especially compared to the big skiing I did in Greenland it was rather small and tame. However its still superb to go and brush up on skills even if you do find youself at the bottom after 2 turns! Bimbled round the Snow & Rock thats there in the afternoon and managed to pick myself up a new Rab Photon Primalift Hoody for almost half-price, should be really useful in the Alps this summer. Went over the Trafford centre and had a early tea and Nandos... mmmm spicy chicken. The home, did a bit of work in the eveing.

Thursday Friday and Saturday were all alike really, sat at my desk doing past paper after past pasper of physics and maths in preparation for my exams. Been reading up in the evenings on the Valais Alps the area i'm going to with Dave an Tracey in ym new guidbook - 'The 4000m Peaks of the Alps'.... very inspiring lots of aspirations now... did somebody say the matterhorn!?

Next week is full of exams as are the 2 weeks after, I doubt i'm going to see the light of day for physics textbooks... hey ho it will soon be over, and i'm hoping to maybe get to Wales for a day next weekend for Dave an Tracey's BBQ... but we'll see...