The Ochils Mountaineering Club

Our weekend started on Sunday morning when we headed down to Borrowdale in the Lakes. There was perfect sunshine and a forecast of thunder did not deter us. However, a shower at the base of Quayfoot Buttress caused a delay and an Owls nest on the route would have rendered it an aberration to climb. Detouring via the Bowderstone to the car we spotted a crag, Woden's Face. The sun was out again, everything dry, and scorching temperatures (mid 20's) urged us to climb. We decided upon Woden's Face Direct and Jeanie led off with a clap of thunder. Rumbles accompanied her throughout the route and as she placed her final hex the thought occurred to her that she was in fact holding aloft a lightning conductor atop a crag during an imminent thunderstorm. Having arrived at the stance, Jeanie coiled both ropes in the time it took me to tie my shoe laces and we fled. Not a moment too soon as the heavens opened as we departed the crag.

Monday was glorious with wall to wall sunshine and roasting temperatures, another shorts & t-shirts day. Gillercombe Buttress proved to be a fabulous climb in a great setting. It's the second time I've climbed the route (first time with Iain) which proved usefull as we'd forgotten the guidebook. Mind you, on a classic rock lakes route the way forward is usually obvious - follow the polish!! We lounged about in the sunshine at the top.