I seem to have reached the age in my life where all spare days off either have at least one wedding, 30th birthday or a stag do. Don't people know I need to go climbing? So recent weekends off have meant: 1 day climbing, 1 day being a real person. I still like to try and get away.
Tremadog - North Wales
First up was a stag do in North Wales on a bank holiday weekend, this wasn't due to kick off till the Saturday evening. Time to cram in a short day at Tremadog, YES!
Running first pitch into second on Tremadog mega classic Vector*** E2 5c
We headed down on the Friday evening and after a few to many beers and sleeping in the van we awoke slightly fuzzy to a packed Tremadog. Working in retail means you rarely see busy crags! I paired up with Steve from the Calver branch and we set about the classics (that we could get on with minimal queuing!) The Fang (HVS 5a), The Plum (E1 5b), Vector (E2 5c) and Void (E4 6a) all made for a great, if rather short day and we headed to the stag do around 5pm for more beers. This was a first day out for a brand new pair of Sterling Duetto ropes. They performed brilliantly and we got loads of comments like "Nice ropes!" and "You can't miss them!". Bright is right!
Aiden happy with the ropes
Goat Crag - Borrowdale - Lake District
The next weekend i have off and this time its a wedding, but on a Sunday. This can only mean that climbing on Saturday and hangovers will have to be at work on Monday. This time I paired up with my normal climbing partner Aiden and we headed to Goat crag in the Lakes where we had never been before. Again it was a bank holiday so i excepted the worst, but even though the campsite was full the crag was abandoned.
Leaving the pod on Void*** E4 6a
Some of the steeper lines looked clean but this was a VERY dirty crag, which was a shame as the climbing was excellent. Praying Mantis (E1 5b), Tumbleweed Connection (E2 5c), The Voyage (E3 5c) and Alone in Space (E1 5b) were today's ticks. Some of the top sections on these routes felt pretty spicy with missing pegs and moss covered groves adding to the adventure (and fear!). Another great day and lets hope some time we will find time for a 2 day hit again!
Aiden off on a voyage (The Voyage*** E3 5c pitch 2)
James works at Outside Hathersage
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