Caterpillar enjoying the sunshine
With the weather finally drying up, Karl, Mike and I headed to Slipstones for the first routes of the year. As usual I packed my downie and a flask of coffee, expecting to hunker down between routes. As it turned out, shorts and ice cream would have been more appropriate. Even the caterpillars were out enjoying the sunshine.
Despite only living twenty minutes away I arrived just as Mike and Karl were finishing off there first route, Jack the Lad, HS 4b in rockfax, but upgraded to VS 4c in the newer gritstone guide. Next Karl had a go at Trumps Right-Hand (HS 4b) but wasn't having much luck – I soon found out why when I took over the lead. A couple of seriously thuggy moves with nothing for the feet lead to an easier finish, not exactly the easy warm-up route I'd hoped for so pleased to get up it. I repeated Jack the Lad and Mike ticked off pretty much everything else on the Aces High block before relaxing in the sun with a spot of lunch.
Karl shows us feet are for wimps.
Aces High
Afterwards we headed down to Jenny Binks wall as there are a couple of VSs I fancied a rematch with having struggled to second them about 10 years ago. Mike and Karl headed up Tranmire Crack whilst I had a good look Easy Pickings, but by the time they'd finished I 'd completely psyched myself out (is that pocket any good? would that massive break take any gear? etc) so went up Barnley Wall instead, which proved to be another thuggy affair. Mike fancied a pop at Easy Pickings, which put up a good fight and after seeing the shapes he was throwing, I thought I'd made the right call to give it a miss. On second however, it went super-smooth so I've got no excuses for next time.
Easy Pickings
Some crazy shapes
The big finish
We finished up with a quick play on the excellent Tip-Toe, before grabbing a pint in The Black Swan in Fearby. All-in-all, a great start to the rock climbing season.
