Fresh from a fortnight of sunshine and shiny bolt clipping, what better antidote to the “Back in Blighty Blues” than a dash to the Lakes with Stan and Paul? The forecast was for 12C in the valley and our “local expert” issued the sage advice: “Everything bone dry here. Probably not a day for going too high as temps not too great…”

It was with some surprise, therefore, that I found myself traipsing up The Band on the way to Neckband Crag. North facing and at 550m asl it is described as a “…cool haven on a hot summer’s day”.

Paul had his comeuppance when he volunteered to lead Mithrandir. In fairness, it was mostly dry (the green oozing slime was DRY green oozing slime!) and he at least had partial feeling in his fingers for the first half of the route.

A brave lead and one I think he was quite happy to have survived.

My suggestion of making it a two-crag day met with surprisingly little resistance, so we retraced our steps and set off for the short but gruelling stomp up to White Ghyll. 1,000ft lower and west facing – could somebody please remind me why we didn’t go there in the first place?

We did three outstanding and contrasting E1s. Man of Straw (balancy and thin moves on tiny features), Waste Not Want Not (glorious line up inverted diagonal fault), and The Palestinians (tricky start to access imposing but surprisingly amenable roof).

What a grand day out 🙂

… Now, where’s that Kalymnos guide…