With rain forecast for Friday night and more on Sunday, Saturday promised a short good weather window in the Lakes, so Maria and I headed for Grey Crag (on High Stile, above Buttermere). We'd never climbed there before but it turned out to be a very nice spot with a few great routes. We linked up three routes - starting with the first two pitches of Mitre Buttress Direct (MS), then the crux pitch of Ribbon Wall (MVS) before returning to Mitre Buttress Direct for its final pitch. After a lunch stop we then continued up the final two pitches of the day - Oxford & Cambridge Direct (MS) - before wandering along the ridge over High Crag, and back down to Gatesgarth for some ice cream.
The weather was generally pretty good, apart from a couple of very light showers on the walk-in, and the rock was excellent. Unfortunately the crux of Ribbon Wall was damp in places, making it feel pretty tricky, but still good fun. All in all a good day out!
Grey Crag (view from the ridge between High Stile & High Crag)
Mitre Buttress Direct - 1st pitch
Starting up Ribbon Wall
Ribbon Wall
Oxford & Cambridge Direct - 1st pitch
Oxford & Cambridge Direct - 1st pitch
Oxford & Cambridge Direct - 2nd pitch
Oxford & Cambridge Direct - 2nd pitch
