Forecast was great so Will and I headed back to the Peak, a bit later than hoped as I had some teaching to do. We parked at the top of Froggatt this time and walked along the flat track, fearing crowds as it was a Wed afternoon (=stooodents) and quite a few cars. A spot of drizzle also arrived at the same time.
But where was everyone? – a few people and mutt (more later) and a team on an E2 and that was it. Straight onto Green Gut for gear lacing practice, then an enjoyable uneventful Chequers Buttress – followed by ab to try, unsuccessfully, to extract an abandoned cam in Chequers Crack. We headed for the slabs area.
Will laced Trapeze Direct and tried a dozen different sequences before grunting up it. We soloed a few of the really nice easy routes, and had the place to ourselves – very unusual.
Next a two pitch route. Valkyrie, steep jamming leads to a lovely traverse and awkward stance (overhead 2.5 cam to back up thread). Will arrived puffing a bit (after throwing cams down the face – he forgot I might need it later). P2 is a wonderful pitch, well protected – but extend everything, the bulges are much bigger than they appear. An awkward mantle was a bit rushed as the drizzle looked to be coming in. It was cold and windy on top – and an abseil retreat from a ring-bolt (horror).
As Will finished I noticed Dave S, Al & mutt wandering along the path, so we went and chatted to them before Will romped up Terrace Crack, another gear swallower. It was about 6.15 by now and the drizzle which had enveloped the far side of the valley (and only kissed us occasionally) still looked threatening.
On the walk out we stopped to watch Dave on Strapiombante – short and steep. Dave did it in typical style, resting on a cam when he looked comfortable and crushing on the crux in one quick burst.
Dark when we were back at the car – thankful of the easy flat – good day
Valkyrie is an excellent route, did you find the 'hands off' on the mantle.
no ( i presume a knee bar) I found it quite hard as I was getting nervy about the incoming rain (which held off), but got a wire in – bloody rope drag wasnt' clever. Will just walked up it after having a bit of an epic retrieving nuts from the vertical crack.