While most people headed for Brimham, Carmen and I decided to take advantage of the fine forecast for some autumn climbing in the Lake District. On Saturday we walked up to Gimmer for some Classic Rock ticking, and despite it being colder and cloudier than expected, we managed to climb all three routes in the list – Ash Tree Slab, C Route, and Bracket and Slab. Though we avoided the Strenuous Chimney crux of B&S due to it being dripping wet, so we need to go back and do it properly sometime! Ham & Eggs in the Wainwright Inn provided a suitable end to the day.
Sunday dawned cloudy and got worse, with cloud levels lowering and drizzle setting in. Plan B was Castle Rock, but that looked damp as well, so we headed for the reliable fallback option of Armathwaite, north of Penrith. A fine crag, in the woods by the River Eden, it really deserves better than to be a rainy day option for Lake District climbers, but that seems to be its lot. Anyway, despite occasional drizzle and sandy holds due to Friday's heavy rain, we managed to get some climbing done. Glenwillie Grooves (HS **), was followed by the better-than-it-looks Ituna (S *), and finally the excellently named 
Wildcat on the Swallowtail Line (HS **). This is a new addition to the recent guidebook, despite have been put up in 1973. Unfortunately, a confusing description meant we finished up the wrong crack, so again we have to go back and do it properly – the true finish up a roof crack looked totally impossible for the grade!
Tags: Classic Rock, drizzle