With the forecast a bit unsettled we decided on a day out in western Lofoten yesterday and took the ferry (only one a day - climbing in here would need a bit of planning) for a quick trip round Rienefjord to get photographs for the new guide. There are some amazing peaks in there, the sort of things a child would draw for a picture of ‘a mountain’.
The most impressive is probably the charmingly name Brieflogtind (Wide Slab Peak apparently) - it is only 750 metres high (just a little higher than Kinder!) - but what a peak!
We also sailed past the huge shark’s fin of Seiltind (730m), of which the current guide simple says “first ascent unknown”. That presumably means the soaring faces are unclimbed!
Merraflestind (the third photo) is obviously so insignificant is isn’t worth of a mention in the guidebook or a spot height on the map! Despite this it is probably only a 15 minute walk from the pier and has some rather fine lines and currently at least ONE route!

The amazing spring weather continues, as does the galloping round to get all the required photographs for the up-coming volumes. It started Friday with a trip down to Willersley with Graham and Dan - the crag was bone dry and even catching the evening sun. Dan dispatched Great Corner then we move along to Cucumber Groove.
Next it was over to Harborough - Sara had just arrived and we tootled up to find Colin who had beaten us there by ten minutes.
It was a glorious evening and the crag was deserted, some pleasant banter and a clutch of routes, and of course the requist photographs. Then back to Willersley to collect the A team and a pint at Beeley on the way home - very pleasant!

The last full moon of our visit (and the night of the lunar eclipse too) persuaded us to head out to the Cabo St Anonio to watch it rise out of the Mediterranean. We were not disappointed, the sun sank slowly behind the Montgo lighting the clouds from below in a spectacular fashion. Exactly as the sun set, the moon appeared out of the haze hovering above the sea. A warm wind blew from the west and the whole experience had a magical feel about it. We popped over to the other side of the headland to take a few shots of Xabia as the lights came on all around the bay and the western sky still held the afterglow. By the time we got back to the car, the lighthouse’s beam was tracking out an arc across the water, the moon hovered silver in a black sky and the sun had disappeared far below the horizon.

A sunny forecast and the need to do the Christmas present run gave me the chance to sort another set of crag shots for the up-coming Northern England guide. An early start from Sheffield and we were in Coverdale by mid morning.

Despite the bitter wind the car parking was already just about full with a dozen or so vehicles, and it has to be admitted it was quite pleasant on the crag, its reputation for being a solid winter venue passed muster. I first visited the crag way back on 4th February 1967 and commented in my diary that we “managing “about 20 routes”, so really I should have known it would be OKay!

The various teams on the crag were engrossed across the grade spectrum from a couple spotting each other on a three metre Moderate to afficianos 0n Holeshot (V9).
Thirty minutes later I had cracked off 60 shots and was headed back to the car ready to complete our journey north, I vowed to get back to the cliff sooner rather than later.