It's been one of the best winters for years, yet it seems that very few new routes have been climbed in The Lakes this season.
30 years ago, there were several activists, Andy Hyslop, Brian Davison, Dave Kay and myself who were all battling to ascend new winter routes. Then along came the next wave, Steve Ashworth, Paddy Cave and Dave Birkett took up the mantle of front line activists, with Brian Davison becoming the Grandfather figure. (Apologies to those keen lads and lasses who I have missed).
But where are the new generation of winter activists? Has winter lost it's appeal to the younger climbers? Or has The Lakes become so unpopular that it is now ignored?
Have other areas of Britain seen a general downturn of activity, or are there still some mad kids out there finding their way up the white stuff?
I hope so.
Cheers, Al