The omens were not good as we drove in the M1 drizzle & then more A625 drizzle as we climbed up the hill out of Sheffield.
Six of us sat glumly in the cafe, Jim was accepting calls from late starters & advising it looked like the climbing wall.
Instead of another brew we drive round to the Outside shop browsed then make the decision to call in at Lawencefield on the way to the Foundry.
At Lawrencefield we meet Matt & Steve from the Leeds Club they are starting Three Tree Climb as it looks slightly drier than the rest of the crag.
We quickly team up Jim/Kirk, Peri/Ewan & Tuze/Guido, Jim jumps on Pulpet Groove Vdiff another less dry route. Across to Gingerbread slab Snail Crack Vdiff is free, its very wet, greasy & difficlt, Team Peri/Ewan join us & climb the route next to us Nailsbane Vdiff.
It does not take long before we exhaust the routes doable in these conditions & decide to move onto Horseshoe Quarry.
Team Tuze/Guido arrive first and decide to pitch up at the end wall an area neither of us had climbed at.
Team Jim/kirk & Peri/Ewan turn up minutes later & are not happy with we the venue so they decide to go off to sample the delights of Stoney Middleton.
Within minutes of the others leaving, Howling Baboon turns up & so we are now Team Tuze/Guido/Baboon we all lead a great route called Excavation f5,its a very sustained, delicate wall at bottom end Hvs in uk terms.
Moving onto the main wall we do Schools out another class route 6a+ in some books 6b in others, this equates to a good E1 5b in english terms.
Its getting late now, Tuze is going to the Metallica concert in Sheffield & needs to meet up with friends, so we go down to Stoney to see the others.
As team guido/baboon arrive at the crag Elvis is entertaining the crowds.
My hands are shaky and my knees are weak
I cant seem to stand on my own two feet
Who do you thank when you have such luck?
Im all shook up
Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah!
Watch me watch me!!!!
With a great performance from Elvis, warm dry rock & quality climbing everything was right in the world – so right that we adjourned to the Moon to review the day.
Climbs done on the day(I think)
Team Jim/Kirk-Pulpit Route Vdiff, 3 tree route Hs, Parachute Vs, Gabriel Vs.
Team Peri/Ewan-Snail Crack Vdiff, Nailsbane Vdiff, Parachute Vs, Gabriel Vs.
Team Tuze/Guido-Snail Crack Vdiff,Pulpit Route Vdiff, 3 tree route Hs.
Team Tuze/Guido/Baboon-Ecavation Hvs, Schools out E1.
Team Guido/Baboon-Padme Hvs
I remember Excavator being a good route, but wasn't sure if this was just by contrast with the trauma provided by Trog just to the left. Possibly the loosest route I've ever done, Chris Craggs has suggested a trad grade of E3 4c 🙂
Good to see Peri's popped her Stoney cherry…
I liked stoney! had always imagined a dismal industrial style quarry with detachable holds and arm knackeringly steep routes. Instead of which the holds stayed attached to the rock and it felt like a natural ravine. And no mud or nettles!
Told you so!