Wales - Welsh 3000s

Benny and Chuck B set out on their Welsh 3000's mission at 5am from Pen y Pas.

Snowdon Summit by 07:30, via Crib Goch.

A brilliant attempt but bad weather forced the girls to bail to Ogwen Cottage rather than continue battling the rain, wind and 50m visibility over the Glyders, Tryfan and beyond. 

Tiddles, Cups and Luke W got rained off and bailed into the mines at Llanberis!

Wales - Idwal Slabs

Idwal slabs was our climbing venue of choice today in glorious weather.

There was certainly a need to get suntan creamed up!

We decided on a through lead ascent of Original Route (D*). Chuck B set off first on the first of three 45m pitches.

Pitch 2

Pitch 3

Chuck goes for the VD alternative finish! Nice!

Idwal Slabs on the left (from almost the tarn)

Wales - Milestone Buttress

Louis recommended Milestone Buttress Direct Route - a classic VD** so Cups and Chuck decided to take advantage of the close proximity to the campsite and walked to the foot of the crag. A stunning day for weather but we were glad to start the climb in shade.

The climb was very polished but was a fantastic route with loads of interest.

We topped out into glorious sunshine after the crazy glassy chimney pitch!

Spying a sheep on a ledge below, it was decided that a rescue was required for "Dolly"!

Tim descended about 14m to join Dolly on her ledge - a barren brown and sheep poo filled ledge if ever there was! We reckon she'd spent a few days there stranded surrounded by vertical rock faces, both above and below!

After an amount of Dolly wrestling, a flip onto her back and some craftily placed slings, Tim managed to Handbag said sheep and after humping and shoving - with only one gnarly hoof kick to the face - Dolly reached the safety of the belay ledge. One more flip onto her back and de-slinging and Dolly was free! She must have been very hungry as she grabbed grass and bracken at every opportunity on her bumpy ascent!  Without even a baa-thank you she then headed off into the afternoon sun in search of more food!

We made use of some 'in situ tat' to practise some abseiling skills by heading into Little Gully. We also helped a couple out by stacking the abseil to ease their descent. Got back to our lunch for 3pm!

We headed to Little Tryfan on the way back to the site for Chuck B to lead (superbly, by the way) Crack 4 in two pitches in blistering sunshine.

Days don't get much better than this...a superb start to the holidays!

Wainwright finishers!

3 days to finish the final wainwrights.

More to follow.....

Wasdale Weekend

We arrived at the delightful Wasdale NT campsite after tea in Kendal and Clara's first ride in the camper over the passes. 

From the top of Hardknott pass

A beautiful evening with incredible moonlit shadows late on.

Saturday saw John, Chuck B and Cups bag a number of Wainwrights with a fine route up over Yewbarrow, Red Pike, to Steeple and bagging Seatallan and Middle Fell on the way down. 

Sent Chuck B to do her best hitching to get a lift to bag the car!

Looking towards Ennerdale from Steeple

Descending towards Wast Water

Heavy rain overnight, but blue sky by 9 meant for a pleasant ascent up to Mickledore. Sadly showers and mist put paid to plans to solo Broad Stand (Grade 3***) so dropped down for a quick lunch before heading up the ghyll to Foxes Tarn.

As we sat under the crags above, we noticed a line of what can only be described as grockles descending from the Pike. Chuck B was convinced they would descend straight into Eskdale. With the amount of ponchos, sticks, mist and cameras, they looked like they were trying to film a scene from Lord of the Rings. All 33 of them assembled at the bottom of our next section. Ahead of us. So we decided to try to get ahead of them. This meant a speedy gill scramble and some half decent overtaking manoeuvres but we managed in the end! No time for pictures!

Unfortunately the mist did not allow for views from the summit of Scafell, but as we went over Tim's seventh last Wainwright, Slight Side, we had clear views down into the valleys. 

Thanks to Naomi's ingenious plan (& camper driving!) we were able to descend to pick up the camper from Boot and completed the lovely A to B route from Wasdale to Eskdale. A rare treat!

The winning combination of pancakes and map reading!

Nomie's in charge!

Descending towards Slight Side

A glimpse of Wast Water

This gem was found in the marshes.

(This photo proves that Chuck B does have patience for some things!)

Tour de France

A grand yorkshire day out with friends to witness le Tour de France on its first day. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on Côte de Grinton Moor towards the top of the 3km climb. 

The leader of the pack

Le peloton

Wainwright bagging

Will and Gill BBQ