Heavy snow in The Highlands has forced the cancellation of this weekends meet at Roy Bridge. Both the A9 and A82 heading North are blocked by snow today, Thursday, with more snow forecast for tomorrow and although it looks as though there will be little fresh snow over the weekend fairly strong Easterly winds are forecast so drifting is likely to be a problem for driving. The SAIS forecast for the weekend is not in the Black yet but is forecasting that avalanches will occur on south through westerly to north facing slopes in all areas.

However we have been able to rebook for the weekend of Friday 12th to Sunday 14th March, I have spoken to most people and most are able to transfer to this alternative weekend and I have now confirmed the dates with Ian at The Little Houses. As of today the new list for the weekend looks like this;

John Holden, Dorine Tinnion, John Moore?, Steve McDonnell, Martin and Harmony Smith, Sue Greenwood,Phil Wilkinson, Peter Sowerby, Tim Millen, Dennis English, Daniel Bulman, Dawn Jardine, David Hall, Peta Barber, Stewart Herbert, Tony Morley, Dave Ferguson, Ray Cassidy and Joe Miller.

I would be grateful if folks will reconfirm with me that they are going...and particularly if you cannot make it, either by phone, text or e mail and, assuming that all above come, we have four places left for what could prove to be a fantastic weekend when all this snow has consolidated.

Folks who cannot make the new date but have already paid will be reimbursed.

Since their relocation to Gooswell Farm, the Keswick Climbing Wall have been working hard to get the centre up and running, and developing a programme of events and competitions to draw people into the centre. As part of this, they have introduced a series of dry-tooling competitions.

With all this snow and ice around in the Lake District this winter, you may be forgiven for wondering why you would want to spend time indoors on a climbing wall with your ice axes. However, like any indoor climbing (in my opinion!) if you're wanting to improve your technique outdoors, then time spent 'in the gym' indoors, can be well spent.

It looks really mad, but whether you're wanting to improve your technique and strength on steep ice, or hard mixed routes, or simply try it out as a new facet of climbing, then it's definitely worth giving it a go. Debbie at the centre says it's open for anyone, so even if you've not tried it before, just turn up and thwack those logs!

Well the winter continues to be kind to us, members have been out individually all over the Lakes and some have made regular forays into the Scottish Highlands, notably Phil and Sue who disappeared for about a week and knocked off a number of outstanding ice routes, well done them.

Jan 29th to 31st. Newtonmore, Cairngorms meet.

Our annual Cairngorm weekend was dogged by a poor forecast for much of the week leading up to the trip, with heavy snow forecast in strong Northerly winds. True to form this arrived on the Friday, blowing out John's day working in Aberdeen and making it impossible to get up to Elgin and Inverness for his afternoon appointments.

Meanwhile, over in Aviemore, Dan Bulman, Pete Sowerby and Martin Smith made it up by lunchtime and spent the afternoon, in a fine ‘ Sneachda, enjoying a quick solo of Aladdin's Couloir, and bumped into Tim (The Terminator) Millen who had just popped up to solo Red Gully, The Runnel and Aladdins Mirror Direct, his first Scottish grade IV! And so, the theme was set for the weekend.

The Big Freeze became the Big Thaw by the time this meet arrived. Any thoughts of ice climbing were shelved as the streams flowed freely through the valleys. What little ice remained in the gullies although looking pretty, was pretty awful to climb on. Snow conditions weren't much better...heavy wet snow making progress slow when breaking trail.

With hindsight, perhaps a run up Latrigg would have sufficed but committed to a look up Deepdale, we decided to enjoy it anyway.

The sensible ones, probably knowing better how to enjoy a good walk, set off up Hartsop above How, heading for Hart Crag. The team comprised Jackie, Dorinne, Lynne, Jane, Dennis and a welcome new member, Pete from Stocksfield. The reckless other lot got going at a good pace up the path to Link Cove, by-passing the routes on Greenhow End which were in poor shape. Latching on to another team's tracks ahead gave some relief from the problems of going, sometimes thigh deep in soft snow.