All Blog Posts (449)

This morning I travelled to Warrington, and then Manchester for a couple of Technical Adviser meetings.  I was finished a little sooner than expected, so met Elliot at Wilton 1 to tick a couple of routes.  Elliot is my man in the know when it comes to routes that have been cleaned in the Bolton area.  The latest is the super classic Isle of White E4 6a***.  This is also on the UKC Lancs finest ticklist which I am close to completing, so I was psyched when I could pop in.  As the route…

Starting up the steep arete of My God Rides a Skateboard

I went to have a look at Honley Wood Quarry today, hoping to climb the main central crack line.  Unfortunately, it was still wet and seeping.  It does look quite a good…

I left Leeds at 1230hrs armed wi a 7.9 60m rope, bivvi bag and light rack. It want to long before i landed on the shores of Arran. After a walk i scrambled the lower slabs of the route hoping to climb the S-Crack and Y-Crack in the dark so i could Bivvi on the terrace above. However Darkness and a strong wind were more…

Moving across the roof of Angel Deelite

I had my first…

Dave relaxing after the hard moves on Crucible

The weather looked settled so Dave and I drove down to North Wales late on Monday night, Ynys was very quiet with only one other person in situ and he had turned in when we got there.

Tuesday we…

Pete on Blizzard Ridge…

Despite the weather forecast, Matt and I got out climbing again today.  I was keen to stop off at Mythom Steep Quarry to try and flash The Cat Test E6 6b**.  This is a route I had no knowledge until Dave Warburton cleaned and climbed it a few weeks ago.  I have been trying to get up to do it, but weather or lack of belayer has prevented it.  Matt was kind enough to hold my ropes today on our way to the Bridestones.…

First pitch the very pleasant Looning the Tube

The very impressive new slate guide recently published by Ground Up mentions several ‘Grand Days Out’ climbing, walks and adventures taking in the more interesting and curious sights in the Dinorwic quarries.

I had…

It was family day today, so we made a trip out to Wimberry to enjoy the sunshine, extreme pramming and some bouldering. It was a little warm on the sunny faces, but I still managed to get about 20 problems done ranging from font 3-7b. I have never been to Wimberry before, so was quite happy to start at the lowest boulder and try and tick all the problems (with the exception of the nails ones) before moving on.



The problems on the Sugar Loaf were all quite nice,…

After a visit to a wet Mythom Steep Quarry to look at The Cat Test, which looks a solid E6 to flash, I went for Plan B.  This was a revisit to the Hidden Boulder at Heptonstall to do Paul's problem Scar Chips V7. After a good brush the damp was gone and it was time to get stuck in.  I had tried this at the end of my last visit, but could not unlock the key to the big reach.  Armed with Paul's beta it was still a massive move, but after a few goes, success!…

After a morning of revising satellites, the sun streaming in through the window, tales of "nice warm conditions" from close sources, and a forecast promisng only grim weather for a while, enough was enough and I went down to daves cellar and declared my keen-ness for a trip out. With very little (no) persuasion, he was dragged from his studies.

A return to panorama crag was planned, it could only be a quick trip as me and rosie had to be back for a meal at half 7. Me and dave had been…

Hi has anyone in the Ripon/Harrogate area got a Neoair sleeping mat that i can try at home please. Would like to try before buying. It will be used at home on carpet.

Thanks, Rich

An early start saw us at downtown Braithwaite by 09.00 in bright sunshine, with unsettled conditions forecasted there had been much discusion where best to go finally we plumped for the classic Coledale round in the NW Lakes, the Wainwright baggers in the team swinging it.

As we started the…

Yesterday we had a family and friends trip to Stanage for a spot of bouldering.  After some extreme pram action, we found ourselves in the plantation, and despite it being a little warm, the friction was pretty good.

Zippy's…

The crux of Technical Dancer font 7a+

Going bouldering for an hour has turned into a military operation. More time is spent sorting things out to be ready for poo and vomit Armageddon , than actually climbing.…

This years York Alpine Club sun rock trip was organised by Dave D and CourtnAy who sent us to Calpe on the Costa Blanca. The weather slot machine was paying out, coming up with 9 big yellow suns in a row, so our main issue became finding crags with enough shade for a mid day siesta. We even had a poolside barbeque one night, eating the ridiculously cheap and fresh langoustines from the local…

Rose chillin' at home

Close to the…

A early start at the cliff led into a day of the up-most quality. Meeting up wi clarkson BMW Mckclimb un Dan Armalite Armstrong we made a start on the south face.

After some lead fall practice on Black wall Vs 5a we did Bird line traverse HVS 5a xxx then the awesome Black wall eliminate E2 5c xxx.

A short walk round the cliff lead to the mighty xxxxx HVS Great Western. That really got us going! Next we sent Grand Illusion E4 6a xxx then Great Western E3 5c xxx.

This…

Ah ha, forecast was such that an early start using an alarm clock as Aid was required. At Giggleswick south trad it was hot almost too much, no suncream and i was wearing my wooly hat to keep from getting burnt. 1pm and the showers arrived. Despite having caving gear in the car we did the classic searching for dry rock thin in the afternoon. Good day though. For anyone who would be likely to go to Pot Scar and feel the polish i recommend the routes at the right hand end of Gigg. Not much to…