The turnout for a club climbing night increased two fold when four of us made it to Scugdale on Tuesday (me, Peri, Simon and Carmen). We were rewarded with excellent conditions: warm enough to be in T shirts but cool enough for good climbing and enough wind to keep away the midges. Although all of us have been to Scugdale many times, we all managed to tick routes we hadn't done before.
Me and Peri warmed up on The Mantelshelf (HS 4b) before going back and repeating Pingers (VS 5a) (just to check it wasn't a fluke last time). Simon and Carmen arrived and decided having 3 bouldering mats was going to be their best ever shot at doing Pingers so also had a go. In the end, both decided to use it as a warm-up exercise by hanging from very small holds for a very long time before eventually jumping off, saving it for another day. Simon then got majorly sandbagged on Pluto (HS 4b) while me and Peri threw ourselves at Pingers left hand (VS 5a or 5b). Peri eventually getting up while I ripped a nice circle of skin from my finger.
Me and Peri had a good squirm up Plumb Line (S 4a) while Carmen led Pet's Corner (HS 4b). Lots of other routes done on the night, culminating with me losing my bottle one move from the top of Corner Direct – left (S 4a). As I contemplated my impending fall onto an uncomfortable looking boulder, Peri coaxed me into reaching for the top where, as promised, there was an uber jug. With adrenaline supplies running low, we decided to call it a night.
On the drive home, someone seemed to have transferred all their livestock onto the lane to Swainby. First we came across a calf which we herded for about half a mile before it scarpered off up a track. Next were two sheep standing nonchalantly in the road eating the hedge. Finally, we waited while a hedgehog very slowly crossed the road in front of us.
No pictures unfortunately.
Pingers reminded me that I DO NOT LIKE BLODDERING!
the highlight for me was carmen's Calamity Jane impression as she got out of the car and attempted to shoo the errant calf out of the road, cowgirl stylee!
rockfax gives Pingers Left Hand 5b. I wouldnt argue with that – I thought it was definately harder than Pingers.