An Evening In The Sun

The recent spell of warm weather is most welcome. On Wednesday, the hottest day so far in Cumbria, we were working underground all day at Nenthead with a group of adults from the North East. Emerging from the mine into hot sunshine soon led to conversation as to how we might be able to use the rest of the day, a journey home and quick turn round saw us heading out to a favourite local climbing spot - Headend Quarry.

It was a beautiful evening, still 21 degC at six thirty, with big views south into the Lake District and north across the Solway Firth.

We had the crag to ourselves and rigged a couple of climbs for top roping, nice and straightforward on warm rock.

Now I haven't done any lead climbing since Graham's fall & injury over 18 months ago. So the return to leading was very gentle! However, it went smoothly and it felt good to top out and climb out of the increasing shade into the bright sunlight at the top of the crag. Marion seconded the climb, hitch free, and at turned nine o'clock it was still warm in the sunshine. Save for three folk coming up to admire the view and take photographs we saw no one all evening.