Plastic ice and crisp grit..

Despite an overcast start to the day, the weather proved to be excellent in the Peak District today. It definately feels like spring and plenty of folk were out and about enjoying the crisp gritstone conditions.

Burbage South was particularly busy with lots of people bouldering in the valley. Burbage North, Stanage Edge, Froggatt, Cratcliffe and Curbar were also popular.

Further north in Fort William, local Guide Alan Kimber described the conditions on Ben Nevis as "awesome". Over the last few days many of the classic grade V and VI's have been climbed such as 'Orion Direct', 'Point Five', 'Hadrians Wall', and 'Sickle' etc. In addition, Blair and Tony also climbed the rarely formed 'Riders on the Storm' VI,5 and 'The Great Glen' VI,5 on the 23rd of March. Both these routes don't readily form, as they require a prolonged ice build up. However, both routes received a number of ascents in the 2000,2001 seasons establishing them as modern classics worthy of attention.

Not wanting to miss the fantastic late season conditions Blair Fyffe and Iain Small also repeated the uber classic 'Stormy Petrel' VII,6. This thin face classic again needs very specific conditions and has only seen a handful of ascents since Cuthbertson and Kane first breached the big blank slab in 1983.

For those keen to take advantage of the conditions on Ben Nevis, Andy Turner is available for private guiding and instruction over the next few weeks. For details please visit the JTM Website.