Archive for March, 2015

Little Langdale March 13th to 15th 2015

Wednesday, March 25th, 2015

YAC Meet 13th to 15th March in Little Langdale at YRC Hut.
Those attending:
• Simon Caldwell
• Carmen Elphick
• Alan Kitchener
• Karl Claxton
• Donal Griffin
• Sarah Johnson
• Russ Walker
• Michael Brauss
• Michael Shaw
• Jamie Brown
• Dave Wiffen
• David Dickinson
Weather was good. 3 Shires pub nearby. Hut was good (with gentlemen’s observatory in separate room across the road).
Saturday:

Karl crosses the river

Karl crosses the river photo
• Main event. Karl drove his vehicle across the ford and was filmed doing so.
• Simon and Carmen went looking for snow on Great End.Simon and Carmen find snow
• Michael B, Donal and myself went for a walk up Wetherlam via a scrabble above the town of Coniston.
• Alan went for a run.
• Rest of team went climbing on Raven Crag in Langdale.Raven Crag
Sunday
• I went for a walk up Pike O’Blisco returning via an ancient monument marked on the map (I couldn’t actually find anything).
• Donal went mountain biking
• Simon, Carmen and Alan found snow in gulley on Helvelyn.Alan on Helvelyn
• Michael B went for a walk towards Ambleside and back.
• Climbing team went to Wallabarrow Scar.
And that’s it.

Posted in Weekend Meets | No Comments »

not-so-Psycho-not-so-vertical!

Thursday, March 12th, 2015

Ok, so I'm not saying the following account is in any way influence by my recent choice of reading material (Psychovertical by Andy K.) but three and a half hours and a lot of hanging on gear to climb an 18 m route is perhaps a little on the epic side!

Rob and I went to Brimham, I had my eye on Picnic Variation (HVS 5a), we romped up about 11 o'clock, geared up and I started the lead. the first few metres went fine, then I had to figure out how to climb the finger crack. This took the first hour and many many (perhaps all) combinations of moves!

Hour two was taken up mainly by me moving up through the crux to an airy traverse, back down again and finally hanging on gear. By now I was at least 4 m off the ground! But had climbed more like 40 m. Now it was well past one o'clock so it was time to break for lunch. Not having a haul bag to pull lunch up to me I opted for descending to the the ground.

Lunch finished, the last hour saw me complete the traverse, to the applause of a couple who were watching the theatre (of comedy or tragedy?) unfold. On a positive note, I didn't fall, the gear is great (well tested) and I now have all the moves nailed. Anyone for a trip to Brimham soon? I know a lovely little route I should be able to flash?

With a bit of time left we went to play on Kangaroo Wall (VS 5a), I don't recall who lead that one.

Perhaps I'll let Rob have the final say on this one "Dogging a route usually involves more climbing!!"

Posted in Climbing, Crags | 2 Comments »

400% success at the Red Goat

Sunday, March 1st, 2015

An impromptu session at the red goat (York's premier bouldering establishment) on Saturday morning had a good turn out by club members. After warming up on the yellows, some of which are quite stiff for the grade, and ticking off the remaining blues, still one to do that requires insane amounts of body tension to overcome a roof, we turned our attention to the green routes. 

Rob failing on the last unconquered blue at the Red Goat

After working the route on the slab for a while, plus a coffee break, the more working of the route, we managed to get up another green. That now makes four attempts on green for rob and four completed since the reset, 400% success – because that's how percentages work. Right?

Posted in Bouldering, indoor, Walls | No Comments »