Out Active: First Winter Climb - worst hot aches

Mark and I ramped up at CR for the first winter climb of the winter and found it in nice nick - plenty winter cold, snow under foot but no ice - a full on mix route today but great. We moved together mostly but pitched the first steep pitch and the pitch up to the open book corner. I had the crappest Mountain Hardware gloves on - going straight back to the shop - burst after 2 wears and waterproof as my £1 watch I got off the looky-looky man in Majorca! Anyway, had the worst hot aches ever after the first pitch as my hands were cold and wet - screaming in pain but they then warmed up for the rest of the day :) Got to the top in a white out and down into the tourist route corrie in dreadful, driving spindrift - great fun...what a great day :) Back to the car with my feeet screaming in anger at my ill fitting new Scarpas - need a new strategy to last the day. All in a fantastic opener to the season - two super-nice pitches to test winter skills and placing gear on front points on rock - always fun. Can hardly believe we saw no-one all day - where was everyone? Plenty of snow in the lee of the wind and the corrie down had bucket loads. Hopefully it all stays and consolidates a bit with the cold and more snow coming. Turf was only beginning to freeze high up where exposed - a real cold snap is needed to turn it into an ice fest for the harder routes. All in - smiles all round and another 5 star day. Bill enjoyed himself too....decorating :( Some pics - first is my favourite.