Yorkshire Dales Meet – Hawes 15/16 Oct

A glorious sunny Saturday morning, great prospects for a mountain bike trek around Dodd fell.

Jago Christine and Nick were the meet attendees staying in Hawes Youth Hostel

Arrangements made to meet at Hawes car park 10.00am prompt or 11.00 if not! Obligatory café stop to fuel up for the ride and away we went; a circuit of Dodd fell approx 30k and an ascent of 650m. A steady 7k along quiet roads to warm up then the 10k climb up the Cam High Road, steady at first then steepening near its summit- excellent, we were all pleased with our efforts.

  

 

From this high point we dropped down to meet the road to Gayle. We soon meet our turn off and sweep around to the South of Dodd fell on a good track; the West Cam Rd. This then follows the Pennine Way where a bridleway heads North via a rutted track complete with deep pockets of standing water and mud!! ……………….. Christine seemed to take a liking to these!!

The track then descends passing between and over limestone blocks, Firm ground soon passes and we encounter the boggy moor waiting to claim its victims.

The final section lead down into picturesque Gayle and finally into Hawes where the café awaits for well deserved tea and cake.

– A cracking ride!

Spain, 30th Sept -8th Oct

Our Spanish trip to see Dave and Carolina.

After a steady days birding we had a days climbing at Alcalali, plenty of steady routes 4+ and 5’s to work up a sweat in the 30 degree heat!

Chris managed to second the thuggy 6a Stohlwitter – see below

2 days were spent at Sella. Our first day consisted of a walk up and along the ridge Penon de Sella, a circular walk from the village which took about 4.5 hours giving fantastic views.

It was fiesta week at Sella and we were rewarded with lots of fireworks, loud bangs, flashes, huge rockets and violent explosions well into the early hours-GREAT!

The whole village was out in force as the main square was taken over by 2 rival local Pelota teams. We could not make head or tail of the rules but it seemed all the village were out to watch and support. It basically involves one team serving a small leather bound ball -slightly larger than a golf ball –from one end of the narrow entrance to the square towards the waiting opposition, they have to return the ball which can come off walls roofs widows etc. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the game which went on for hours.

Our second day at Sella was spent climbing on the main local crags at the usual grades 4, 4+, 5; six in all, dashing for shade at every opportunity in between leads.

Returning back to Casa David & Carolina in Gandia we had a trip inland to the edge of the Steppes, an elevated area where cereals are grown on the fertile plains. Here we had great views of Little and Great Bustards, firsts for my Europe bird list.

Our last days climbing was on the Penon at Calpe. Our preferred route was Via Valencianos (5+) the classic and popular climb on the South face. We had hoped to climb partly out of the sun but as it happened there was thin cloud cover which made the temperature ideal for the duration of the route.

The route has a couple of easy scrammbly pitches then the awkward crux pitch, which is now polished to a glass like finish! Chris managed this with relative ease, unfortunately I managed to crush the camera and damage the screen-bugger.

3 more decent pitches followed of 4 and 4+ which lead to a magnificent position astride the ridge overlooking Calpe harbour and then the final summit push. A fine route to finish off.

A great week with special thanks to Dave and Carolina

Our Guides on the Valencia coast

Recent Events.

Just a brief note to summarise recent events. We´ve enjoyed a few evenings climbing on Gandia Crag which never seems to get any easier!...just that kind of place! Mountain biking is becoming more comfortable now that temperatures are dropping to somewhere near sensible, so recent trips have included a newly designed 70km route from home, over the mountains then up a beautiful narrow valley to the old town of Xativa.

Most of my time has however been spent on preparing the new business which hopefully should be fully up and running by November. The name of the business will be Nature Trail Spain. The key services will be Guided Bird Watching Trips, Guided Mountain Bike Trips and Beginners Skills Courses. I´ll be able to offer such as one-off day trips or part of a package deal that includes accommodation here in Spain.

My websites are :

www.valenciabirding.com

www.mountainbikingvalencia.com

Please feel free to pass on my details to as many people as possible...I need to start spreading the word!

Will write with more soon.

The following was submitted by Jago.

My friend Henrik visited the Peak for four days last weekend with his friends Ygge, Daniel and Peder. I’d warned them beforehand to bring their midge repellent and waterproofs and this proved good advice.

Peder, Henrik, Ygge & Daniel at Stanage

On Thursday they enjoyed a sunny evening climbing on Bamford until a hungry black cloud of midges descended and drove these particular Vikings back to their B&B in Hope. When I joined them the next morning the weather forecast predicted a blustery and wet day. However the weather proved to be better than expected and so we all enjoyed a day climbing at Millstone Edge. The Swedes bagged many of the usual classic VS routes.

Henrik & Ygge on Embankment Route 2

On Saturday morning the weather again looked doubtful. The Swedes opted for the British tradition of sitting in Outside’s cafe drinking tea until Della and I joined them just before midday. Naturally many in the party were keen to visit Stanage, but unfortunately as we walked up to the Popular End it began to rain. I then redirected them to Burbage South in the hope of better conditions.
At Burbage the weather remained showery but the rock was never really adversely affected and so the Swedes were able to enjoy ascents of Mutiny Crack, Pulcherrime, Knight’s Move, and at least more VS. My daughter Della (3yrs.) summed up Henrik’s heroic efforts on Mutiny Crack whilst observing from the comfort of a nearby boulder: “That’s silly - it’s just like going upstairs!”

On Sunday the boys enjoyed successful day on Froggatt Edge, including Henrik leading Chequers Buttress. On Monday I joined them at Stanage where they all ascended Christmas Crack, Via Media, Central Trinity, Hargreaves’ Original Route, and Inverted V before it finally started to rain.



Peder Leading Central Trinity 




Henrik & Daniel on Christmas Crack

At this point I left, however the conditions improved again later and further ascents were made at Lawrencefield.

Eskdale Meet.

Two weeks working in South Africa meant that I missed this meet based at Fisherground campsite so this post is based on reports from some of the attendees.
Christine, Nick, Paul and Jago attended and in the generally damp conditions they decided on Hare Crag on Saturday. This proved to be dry and provided a few climbs on the various tiers including Fireball XL5 (MVS), Jugged Hare (MVS), Slab Route (S) and Spiked Hare (E2 5c)

Sunday was wet so no climbing was done but apparently some cafes were visited.

Whernside

On bank holiday Sunday I joined Colin and Bev and the bank holiday crowds on Whernside for another recce for the three peaks.
The route up Whernside has changed since I last did the three peaks and now takes a long diversion north before gradually climbing up the north ridge to the summit. The new route is substantially longer but much easier going and passes a picturesque waterfall in Force Gyll.

Starting out.

The summit gave far reaching views from Morecambe Bay to the Lake District and Howgill Fells and in the other direction almost the full extent of the three peaks walk.
We continued down southwards from the summit before dropping down to Bruntscar farm where we left the three peaks route and headed back to Ribblehead via Gunnerfleet farm.  

Monsal Trail and Chee Dale

Jen and me decided to take a look at the new Monsal Trail which follows the old Bakewell to Buxton railway line. The line has been resurfaced and the tunnels opened and lit to provide a fine cycle track/walkway down the Wye valley.
We parked at Wye Dale and joined the trail at Blackwell, as could be expected the trail provides easy walking and give good views of the crags such as Plum Buttress. The trail was very busy particularly with cyclists but the walk was enjoyable nontheless.
We left the trail at a signpost for Cressbrook and took a narrow path along the valley side which gave excellent views over the valley before descending to Cressbrook.

Looking back to Litton Mill

From the renovated mill at Cressbrook we walked back via Water-cum-Jolly, Litton Mill and Ravenstor to Millersdale. After a refreshment stop we continued via Chee Dale to Blackwell where we had a welcome tea and pop stop at the new cycle hire shop.
The walk took longer and was more tiring than we expected but was enjoyable and interesting throughout.

Summer Afternoon at Bellus

Carolina and I together with our friend Nick and his family spent a lazy summer´s afternoon at a beautiful limestone valley near Bellus. Bellus is close to the historical town of Xativa, some 40 minutes drive from home (not far from Aventador for those who know the area).
The crag at Bellus largely comprises steep hard routes of 6a+ and above. There are however some good mid grade routes to be enjoyed by mere mortals such as I.

We began on a couple of 4+ routes named El Molino and Pera Pares.

Dave on El Molino 4+

Sufficiently lured into a sense of false security Nick then lead me up El Buitre Pescador, a sustained and thin 6a+.

Nick leading Buitre Pescador 6a+

Dave seconding Buitre Pescador 6a+

Having reached the point where finger strength was running out we decided to end the afternoon by having a swim in the river at the foot of the crag, followed by a coffee in the village.

Yarncliffe Quarry.

Only me and Christine turned up for the Burbage South evening meet and we decided to divert to Yarncliffe away from the strong winds.
I began by leading the aptly named Latecomer (VS 4b) with the bold but good left hand finish and Christine then led Ants Crack (S 4a).

Christine leading Ants Crack.

I then led Cardinals Arete (VS 4c) which starts with a big pull on good holds over the severely undercut start then gives some pleasant climbing.  Christine then led Ants Wall (HS 4a) which again has some good climbing. By now the midges were out but we were satisfied with four routes in the bag.

A Short Day in the Dales

Approaching Pen-y-ghent

Colin and Bev are keen on completing the three Yorkshire peaks so I accompanied them on a recce on Pen-y-ghent since rain stopped play on the crags.
We set out from Horton in Ribblesdale in cloudy but dry weather and climbed steadily up the fields noting that the classic rock route Red Pencil Direct was looking decidedly out of condition. We met Pennine Way, and a strong wind, on the south ridge where a short steep bit with some easy scrambling led to the summit cairn.
The strong wind discouraged dallying on the summit so we set of straight back down to Horton and finished in a sharp rain shower. Next time the three peaks?