A gloriously sunny day on tuesday brought the climbers out in droves. Me Pete E, Simon Carmen DaveD and GordonT all came along from YAC, plus two non-YAC mates of mine (Andy and DaveS) decided to grab the good weather and joined us at cubic block, determined to get some routes in while the sun shone. As the evening went on Cubic Block became almost crowded with other climbers on a similar mission.
For the first couple of hours we had perfect conditions – early evening sunshine, warm and balmy air, and just enough of a light breeze to keep the midges away. Simon and carmen went on a mission to tick every VS and under route on cubic block they hadnt yet done, carmen leading Square Root HS 4b, and Cubic Corner MVS 4b, Simon leading Shorty's Dilemma and packing in solos of Little Corner(D) Idle Slabs(M) and Green Crack(VD) into the bargain. Pete and Andy shimmied up Rough Wall (Andy had the bad manners to make the lead look easy) then went on and did a couple of routes round the front of the block. Gordon and DaveD did various routes up the front of the block and Cubic Corner. In fact I think we all had a go on Cubic Corner at some stage -its a lovely route, listed as P2 but with good gear where you need it. I continued in my cunning plan to get other people to lead Rough Wall (Dave S this time) so I could practice the crux move (I have run out of excuses now and will try to lead it next time). But meantime the sky was darkening… as Dave S was starting up a HVS and Carmen topped out on Cubic Corner it all came to an end. One big fat raindrop was followed by another and then several million of its mates and soon all those able to retreat were scrambling for shelter, leaving only Simon obliged to continue up Cubic Corner in the bucketing rain to recover his and carmen's gear.