Brown Cove crag mixed conditions

Was on Brown Cove crag below Hevellyn on Sunday 21 Feb. Mixed conditions were quite good on the buttress, but would avoid the windslab easy gullies. Turf was very well frozen all the way up, with a few ice moves lower down. Did Right Buttress (start at lowest toe of buttress trending vaguely rightwards) with a variant more direct line. The normal route traverses back towards the gully about half way up (pitch 3) to avoid a tricky rock band. We went up a vague groove line more directly through the band which gives about 15m of grade IV mixed climbing (well protected). Very alpine feel to conditions.
Martin Roberts