A week of summer.

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The sun has shone all week in Cumbria and at last it's felt like summer. We've made the most of it!!!
On Monday and Tuesday we cycled after work and then on Wednesday evening we went to Keswick to pick up Alec - home from the USA for the summer. We had a quick walk up Latrigg on a beautiful evening and then went for Fish and Chips in the 'Old Keswickian'.

On Thursday after work I picked Jeff up and we headed for the South Crag of Castle Rock to climb. It was hot and surprisingly busy on the crag but we got 3 routes in - Via Media [S], Yew Tree Climb [VD] and Wall Climb [S]. It was then back to Keswick for more chips.

Castle Rock - South Crag on the right.


Jeff on Yew Tree Climb.


On the crux of Wall Climb.


On Friday evening we had tea at home and then drove to Crummock Water to show Alec a corner of the Lakes he'd not seen before - the Buttermere Valley. It was a stunning evening for a first visit. We climbed up the steep nose of Rannerdale Knotts and then walked it's ridge SE before descending Rannerdale back to the car. The views were fantastic.

Susan and Alec looking into the Buttermere Valley from the slopes of Rannerdale Knotts.


The view of Buttermere from near the summit - a great nicht to see it for the first time.


By the summit Cairn with the Red Pike High Stile ridge beyond.


Views from along the ridge.




In Rannerdale below Whiteless Pike.


The sun setting on the day before mid-summer.


We fancied a bit of scrambling on Saturday so headed for Stonethwaite in Borrowdale to climb Glaramara via Cam Crag Ridge [2] a route I've not done for 9 years. It was another fantastic morning as we headed up Langstrath for the start of the ridge. The start took a bit of finding after 9 years but we were soon tackling the crux corner and then enjoying the steep easier walls above. All too quickly we were on the top where we had a piece of tea loaf before heading to Glaramara.
On the summit we met the first group of the day but from here to Allen Crags it got much, much busier due to a sponsored walk {10 in 10}. Despite this it was another stunning day to be in the fells and it soon quietened down as we descend Grains Gill back to the car. The ice cream in Keswick tasted great!!!!

Heading for Cam Crag ridge up Langstrath.


Alec enjoying the crux corner of the ridge.


Great scrambling on superb rock.








On the summit above the ridge - what a day!!!!


On route for Glaramara.


Big sky and empty fell.


The scramble up up to Glaramara summit.


A new top for Alec.


Summer in the Lakes.


Looking towards Langdale Pikes.


Heading for Grains Gill with Great Gable beyond.


Starting the descent at the head of Grains Gill.


Stockley Bridge - they don't have these in the USA.


Today Susan and I headed out on the road bikes from home. We did a hilly 28 mile loop out towards Blake Fell to finish by lunch time. It was good to end the week as we'd started it. Long may this weather continue.

Enjoying the quiet backroads of west Cumbria.


Heading towards Blake Fell.


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