Do you really want to hear this? No-one else has said what they have been up to for the record but Brown Cove Crag, Raven Crag Gully, Grey Mares Tail, Aire Force, some climbs near Tebay (Brian and Tony Stoddart) are just a few of the routes that have been enthused about since Christmas.

By a lucky chance, Phil and I had booked for Scotland just when some of the amazing lower routes were "in". Inspired by Tony Morley and Steve's experience of Eas Anie, near Tyndrum, we spent a night at the Wigwams and rose very early to be first on 3 beautiful  pitches of good solid ice. We knew from meeting delayed climbers from the previous day that internet info had increased the popularity of a lovely climb, accessible without a huge walk up to it. We captured the Corbet above, Ben Chuirn for good measure and met folk on the way down who had only managed pitch one because of the queues and envied our early start in the dark.

A Trek in the Drakensberg

If you're looking for the video of Julie's bungee jump, it's on YouTube.

Ever since we had decided to visit South Africa, I had known that the highlight of the trip was, for me, to be an expedition into the Drakensberg Mountains. I had seen pictures of the soaring spires of basalt rock, deep, forested valleys and abundant wildlife. I'd read of the difficulties of climbing here; long, multi-day walk-ins, loose, chossy rock and the altitude. This was to be my first real wilderness experience, totally self-reliant, taking with us everything we needed for 4-5 days out. I was not disappointed!