Tarn and Falcon Crags 20th February 2010

February 20, 2010

It was a fairly cold night and still -3.5 when we got into the car, as there had possibly been quite a bit of snow in the week we thought that we would see what condition the gills are in. We parked at Dunmail Raise and headed to Birkside Gill. It was frozen but no where near enough to climb. We carried on up the gill for a bit and then headed up to the ridge and Willies Wife’s Moor. We traversed round above Grisedale Tarn heading to Tarn and Falcon Crags. There was frozen snow and ice on the ground covered by a fresh powder snow. There were a couple of parties in number 1 gully so we headed for number 2 gully (grade 1). It was great – a bit trampled but nice and solid under the powder snow. We descended the same way hoping to have a look at number one gully but the two parties were still at it. So we started up number 3 gully (grade 1) towards the top there was some interesting ice which was in fact quite steep and interesting. The top became very interesting as the snow became sugary. We desended number 2 gully and as the two parties were now off the first pitch we had a go at number 1 gully. It had a small ice pitch which had lost most of its ice.

An excellent day.