Climbing at Skyline Buttress

Down to single figures today! Only a meagre eight degrees up at the Skyline Area of the Llanberis Slate Quarries! Belay gloves were even required!

The forecast afternoon of blue skies never quite materialised, so at least my new Rab Jacket got some usage. It's a Vapour-Rise Guide Jacket, and today, its best feature (apart from being lovely and windproof) was the fact that it has a big, fleece lined hood - perfect for while sat belaying at the exposed top of the cliff.

The route we did (Ruby Marleene, 6a), is one of the longest pitches in the quarry and used the full 50m of our ropes by the time I'd stretched over to find the bolt belay at the top. Great climbing too. A bit of trad to start, then loads of bolts all the way to the top, with the hardest moves, just by the final bolt!

The sun is staying lower in the sky now and did try its best to come out, but we retired back to the comfort of The Cottage for a thaw out instead of exploring further into the quarry... I've just heard that the mountains in Scotland have just had their first snowfall of the season too!

Skyline Buttress, Llanberis Slate:

- Ruby Marlee Meets Dr Hollingsworth, (F6a)