Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everybody..

This is usually the place to tell you what's going on in the Peak District, but it appears that the alps is the place to be just at the moment!

Having just been away for a week or so skiing, I can say that western alps are in desperate need of some fresh snow. However, the benefits for climbers are obvious, with easy approaches and descents to most routes in the Chamonix area. Rob Jarvis and Mark Thomas took advantage of the prevailing high pressure to climb both 'Fil a Plomb' and the 'Supercouloir'.

A day or two earlier Andy Houseman and Neil Brodie made the third British ascent of the highly respected route 'Omega' on the Petite Jorasses. This uber route from the late 90's only received a free ascent from a British team as recently as 2004.

At a similar time Dave Hollinger and Rich Cross also climbed the 'Raie des Fesse', a classic couloir on the north face of the Pic Sans Nom in the Ecrin.

In the Peak District there has been some more rain today with many of the more popular crags appearing to be quite wet. The lower venues such as Stoney Middleton will most likely be climbable..