Crow Chin

 The sun was shining and Bev wanted to climb some slabby routes so we headed for Crow Chin on Stanage, an area often neglected. One group of climbers climbing as two pairs were already established on the crag when we arrived. Paul and me climbed Kelly's Eliminate (HS 4a) for starters while ring rusty Colin and Bev eased back into it by climbing October Crack (D). Paul then led Feathered Friends (VS 4b) which gave some good moves.

Bev on October Crack

Paul leading Feathered Friends

I then led October slab (HS 4b) while Colin led Kelly's Crack. Paul then upped the stakes by climbing Jim Crow (HVS 5a) which felt more like 5b to me.
By now this normally quiet area had become quite congested so we moved on to Stanage end which was slightly less so.
Here I led Crab Crawl Arete (VS 4c) and Colin led The Crab Crawl (S) before we called it a day.

Colin Crab Crawling.

Ogwen Meet

Five members attended this meet based at Helyg the CC hut in Ogwen. Saturday dawned with a strong wind and heavy rain making the welsh ponies outside the hut look decidedly miserable. 



After a morning spent humming and arrhing and spotting birds round the hut we decided to try our luck at Anglesey. South Stack was in brilliant sunshine to our surprise albeit with a strong wind still blowing. Paul and Jago immediately set of for Holyhead Mountain and me Christine and Nick followed after a bit more birding.

Paul and Jago were on Uhuru (VS 4c) when we arrived and we selected Teaser (VS 4c) which I led and Christine and Nick followed.



Clive leading Teaser



Paul and Jago then climbed Nuts (HVS 5a) before we all called it a day.

The weater on Sunday morning was very much like Saturday so we had another trip to Anglesey but this time the weater there was almost as bad as in Ogwen so we scooted off home.  

Scottish Trip

The following was submitted by Christine and Nick.

Our week should have started on the Arete meet to Duddon Valley but we had a set back with the 12v functioning or our campervan fridge. We therefore had a late start on Saturday afternoon and decided to head straight to Scotland.

We managed to get the last ferry to Mull and camped at the side of the ferry port. We had mixed weather for our first munro of the week up Ben More. The views were intermittent but good over Loch Scridain and the Ross of Mull.

Ben More

We had good views the following day of Sea Eagles fishing and a Golden Eagle before the ferry across to Ardnamurchan and a night by the lighthouse of Scotland’s most Westerly point.
We had great scenic views the following day during our drive around Ardnamurchan peninsula and up to Mallaig via Lochailort. After the ferry to Skye and drive up to Skye bridge we reached Glen Sheil and the campsite at Morvich.
We did two munros from Morvich. The first was A' Ghlas-bheinn from which we got good views of the surrounding munros.

Ascending A' Ghlas-bheinn.

We then climbed Beinn Sgritheall reached by an impressive drive over the Ratagan Pass.

Beinn Sgritheall

We had a further day birding and were lucky that a Common Rosefinch (which is not common at all in Britain) had a decided to turn up at Nethy Bridge.

Oh No...

....another Cragging Day Gone West.
Three bad decisions....
1. To go to Stanage on a Sunday.
2. To take my car.
3. To go via Sheffield intead of taking the Strines road.
As me and Paul approached Burbage Bridge I slowed sharpish because a bloke had slowed to turn into a parking space when an almighty bang announced the presence of a Land Rover Freelander in my boot.

As you can see a beautiful day went begging because the hatch door was insecure so the car could not be left unattended and we both were suffering a few aches and pains.

One week on the aches and pains have almost gone and I get my car back on Wednesday.