In reply to Mick Ward:
> Totally agree. It's a lovely route but what if the OP goes all that way, gets down there and finds out there's a big swell running?
Well that's why it is VS - I wouldn't want to be doing it any time between now and March (mostly to avoid getting chilly) and I've got a few grades in hand. However, if there is miracle resulting in a warm day with a pancake sea and some friendly tides, it could be a good move.
> (A little bit of mildly relevant history. I abbed down The Trap once - it was soaking wet - on a bitter day in January and got overtaken by a giant wave at the start of Britomartis. The world went green and frigid! Higher up on the route, one of my gear loops snapped (it was an old piece of cord from a cake tin my mum had sent) and all the right-sized gear went straight into the sea. So, no more runners! I squelched my way upwards, in a howling wind, just loving every moment.)
Sounds like a cracking day out!
> Lighthouse Arete might be another one maybe for next summer when hopefully the OP's going well and can enjoy all those other nearby routes. When things are right, it's pure delight down there.
> Mick