Secret Stanage Evening Meet

I arrived at the crag to find Mick retreating from Parallel cracks a steep but well protected VS 4b. This was the start of several set backs on the night. Jago then led the climb and Mick followed without too much difficulty.

Jago leading Parallel Cracks.

The action then transferred to Titanic Buttress where Mick attempted Lusitania (S) but had to retreat again. Christine took over the lead and after some to-ing and fro-ing managed lead it.

Christine starting the crucial section of Lusitania.

Mean while Nidal's attempt on Titanic (VS 4c) fizzled out at the first difficulties. As I left Jago and Nidal had stripped the route and joined the queue to second Lusitania.

Nidal's high point on Titanic.

Stanage Evening Meet

Jago, Mick, Nidal Christine and Paul gathered at a breezy and chilly Stanage Popular End on Tuesday evening. Several old favourites were climbed, Jago led Heather Wall, and Gargoyle Buttress.

Mick following on Heather Wall

Mick following Gargoyle Buttress in the gathering gloom

Mick led Manchester Buttress. Nidal led Crack and Corner, Sociology and Castle crack with Christine seconding. Paul looked on and cast an ethical and no doubt critical eye over the proceedings.

Easter Round-up

Jago spent Easter in Wales at Cwm Glas with fellow CC members Andy and Astrid.
On Friday he and Andy escaped the rainy Llanberis Pass and climbed Creag Dhu Wall (HS) and Mensor (VS)at Tremadoc. On Saturday while Andy took over the baby sitting duties Jago and Astrid headed for Tremadoc again and climbed Oberon (S) and Merlin (VS).
Christine and Nick headed for the sunshine in Spain and climbed on Font d'Axia and Montessa in between Mountain Biking, Birding and walking

Font d'Axia

Montessa

On Font d'Axia they completed five routes of grade 4 to 5 While on Montessa they completed a full Ganley at 4+ to 5+.

NZ Sailing Trip

The following was submitted by Rob in New Zealand
In March 2012, the summer veg having been brought to a sudden and premature end by a massive hailstorm, and the goats no longer needing daily milking, Jan and I took our boat to Lake Te Anau.  A lake it may be but at about 60km long, with fiords branching off to the west for about 25km, there's plenty of room.  The fiords are almost the mirror image of the coastal fiords of Fiordland, though not on the same scale.

After a dreadful summer in which very little was done by anyone in the mountains, we were very lucky and hit the first good spell of weather of the year, enjoying a week of sunshine.  The down side was that
there was very little wind for sailing, gentle wafting along on the anabatic winds being the best we could do.  We usually tied up for the night where rivers drained into the fiords, and the main excitement of the trip lay in avoiding trees which had been washed down by the river and lodged on the lake bed near its mouth.  Having fortunately  seen the 'African Queen' in my youth, I knew to hop in the water when the obstructions
became to numerous, and wiggle our boat through them to find a tie-up spot.

A stressful Moment

Washing Day

It was the time of the stag roar, and hunters were out in some numbers chasing them, so I wasn't inclined to venture far inland.  The bush is impressive and appears very healthy, but we found it distressing how little bird song there was to hear.  Captain Cook apparently reported the birdsong to be deafening in Fiordland when he was there, but rats, stoats, cats and ferrets have taken a huge toll, as the native birds have no defences against them.

We were on the lake for a week, but there are a couple more weeks' exploring to be done there, at the speed which we operate.

Rob

Rivelin Evening Meet

The midweek meets season started at Rivelin Edge where Paul, Jago, Mick and Nidal gathered. Nidal hadn't quite got into the swing of outdoor climbing as he turned up with only his climbing wall gear.
Jago began by leading Face Climb No. 2 (HS 4c) and took the first fall of the season before completing the climb.

Mick following Face Route 2.

 Mick led Davids Chimney (VD) and Paul led Spiral Route (VS 4c) on the pinnacle to finish the evening.

Langdale

Up to Langdale with Paul, Colin and Bev, Paul was recovering from his hip operation and I was still waiting for my knee op so short walks were the order of the day. On Saturday with mist shrouding the higher fells we decided on Lingmoor via Side Pike the summit of which could be reached by a scramble. We set out from the cattle grid at the top of the Blea Tarn road and ascended by a series of scrambles which took us right to the top of the Pike

We carried on the easy ridge to Lingmoor and descended directly to the road to finish with a walk round Blea Tarn.

On Sunday we drove over to Little Langdale and climbed Holm Fell in warm sunshine the only disappointment being that our intended scramble was closed due to bird restrictions.   

 

Haweswater scramble & Fairfield round 23&24th March

A short trip to the Lakes with High pressure in charge! A last minute decision saw us stopping at Beetham cottage in Patterdale for a couple of nights.
Friday was fine and sunny with the occasional haze throughout the day. Our objective was to drive to the car park at the end of Haweswater and head up to Blea tarn where a scramble leads from the lake onto the summit ridge of High St.

A pleasant walk up the valley leads into Blea Water Combe where we saw our first Wheatears of the year.

The scramble is Blea Water crag gill grade 2** we omitted the 2nd pitch which would have been very wet and greasy but everything else was passable.

Overall it is a worthwhile outing lots of scrambling in the gill and its subsidiary overflows.

At the top of the Gill there is a short rocky ridge section to finish off the route. A further 20mins or so took us to the summit of High St and lunch.
Our next objective was a descent of Long stile ridge which overlooks Riggindale, which is famous for holding the only English Golden Eagle!
After plenty of stopping and scanning of the valley we were fortunate to disturb the Eagle from a rocky outcrop which gave us fantastic views down to less than 50m as it flew out into the valley.

Once back in the valley we had afternoon coffee in the Haweswater Hotel.

Day 2 took us round to Grasmere, we had decided on a route onto Fairfield via Stone Arthur and Great Rigg

Fantastic weather and views to match.
From Fairfield we dropped down to Grisedale Tarn and decided to include Seat Sandal as our final summit.

A steady ridge decent took us back to the A591 to finish another cracking weekend.

Kinlochleven 2

I decided to test my knee out by doing a Corbett while the others bagged more Munros. Garbh Bheinn was situated right behind the hut and appeared suitable for a one and a half legged ascent. I decided to climb the hill by the eastern side so that I could approach by the west highland way and use that route as an alternative walk if the knee gave out. I left the path at its highest point on the eastern flank and made my way slowly via steep grass slopes and some wet rock scrambling up until the ridge became more defined and the NE summit came into view.

Towards the Mamores

Towards the Glencoe peaks



The East end of the Aonach Eagach Ridge

 I had run off a few pictures but at this point my camera decided that it was too cold and stopped working which was unfortunate as the views opened up at this point. Anyway the way was clear to the summit which I reached four and a half hours after leaving the hut. This was down to general unfitness as much as my dodgy knee.
I descended by the west ridge which is the usual way of ascent and gives a decent ridge walk over rocky outcrops with short scrambles if desired.
On reaching the road I was pleased to be offered a lift by the Munroists in the party.

Kinlochleven 3/4 & 5th March

Friday afternoon of 2nd March heralded the now familiar drive to the Highlands, arriving at a more sensible time of 9.00pm and not 1.00 am!

Team members included Jago,Clive,Chris and Nick.

Saturdays forecast was for a mix of cloud, rain, occasional bright spells and Windy! - The usual Scottish outlook!?

Clive wanted to test his knee out and decided on an ascent of Garbh Bheinn which overlooks the hut to the South. Being 867m high its not an insignificant challenge and no doubt Clive would need all of his 45 years mountaineering experience to get him through!

The munro baggers objective was Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill from South Ballachulish.

Conveniently there is a car park in the forest, from here we headed South and Up!

Good tracks lead through the forest but beware stick to the main waymarked routes the forest is dense!

We adopted the directissima approach, straight up the steep slopes to the first summit of Sgorr Dhearg .

Once on the ridge it was apparent that the wind was howling from the South and the ridge descent from the summit was buffeting.

After a brief sheltered lunch stop we ascended the fine ridge of Sgorr Dhonuill with the wind still attempting to disrupt our progress, but to no avail as we bagged our second summit of the day.

We descended without difficulty until we entered the 'Dense forest' where we fought our way through until finally reaching the main track and back to the car.
A fine day out.

Heading back to the hut along the road we encountered a lone hobbling walker, Clive had successfully negotiated his objective and gave his knee a good work out with some positive feedback.

On Sunday Clive and Jago headed home and Chris and Nick travelled round to Fersit to do the pair of Munros West of Loch Treig, Stob a' Choire Mheadhoin and Stob Choire Easain.

The ascent was straight forward in fine weather.

It had snowed overnight and there was a thin coating to add further interest to our day.

The weather closed in at one point with a fall of snow/hail but soon cleared to give spectacular views from both summits.

We descended from our second summit into the Coire Laire where we had noticed a dismantled railway track from the abandoned aluminium works.
We eventually reached the track and followed it back to our start point.

Another 2 Munro's off the list, well off Nick's list and onto Christine's 2nd round list!

We decided to stop another night in the hut and do another Munro on our way home on Monday.

Our objective was Ben Challum near Tyndrum.

The weather was fine with clear skies.

It was a straight forward ascent, generally following the fence line until the ridge headed North.

Spectacular views all round with snow covered peaks.

Another great day out to finish off a great weekend.
Cracking!

Thurgoland Boundary Walk in Black and white

5th Feb another late entry-
After abandoning the meet to Aviemore due to a poor weather forecast (justifiably so!)
Chris and Nick embarked on the Thurgoland boundary walk on a snowy Sunday morning.
Leaving the car close to the Monkey pub we set off across snow covered fields, through woods and along lanes and bridleways with spectacular views.


Romticle Viaduct

Following the Don passed Cheese Bottom and through the Romticle Viaduct then along Old Mill Lane and then a welcome food and drink stop at the Bridge Inn.




Homeward bound

 Continuing on passed Clappers into Crane Moor then the final pull across fields back up towards the Monkey



The End