Classic Baxter...whatever that means!

What an awesome day at Upper Tor! Fifteen lovely people came and climbed, grunted, grazed and cruised their way all over the crag. I can confidently say that we have 'ticked' Upper Tor. There was a foolishly shirtless ascent of 'Brutality' (well done Fiend), a brave voyage on 'Upper Tor Wall' (good show Sarah), and some serious sandbagging from Western Grit (but we expected that!)

My scenic shot shows Malc on the right, and 'Young Malc' (Matt Rhodes) viewing some of the antics on display.

Simon Royston removed his scrubs and emerged from the operating theatre to get some much needed sunshine and grit, and the evergreen Malcolm Baxter kept us all in check with a large, toothy grin. Even the mythical Paul Durkin appeared...success in it's own right.
Late in the day we were bolstered by the 'hardcore' Sheffield team of Paul Harrison, Chris Hindley and Steve Thingy who had managed to bag a fine new route on Nether Tor (E4) and a brace of stars before coming to meet us.
On the way to the Nag's Head, we ticked all the routes at Secret Buttress, added a new one, and learnt the truth of Pete Robbin's comment about climbing at Indian Creek.

Don't say I didn't warn you

This is a list of crags that are coming up in the next 6 weeks. Dates to be confirmed, but you can bet your bottom dollar that they will be mostly weekends, apart from the ones that are on Thursday evenings.

Kinder Buttress
Yellowslacks
Tintwistle Knarr
Rollick Stones
The Amphitheatre
Hobson Moor
Laddow
Bareholme
Guess the bird
Wilderness Rocks (it sure do)
Lower Shelfstones

Bet you can't wait.

Stop me if you think that you've heard this one before.

Whilst in the uncertain grip of 'Kinder Madness', we're going up onto the trackless moors again this coming Saturday (28th). The reasons are legion, but we have to get the routes on Upper Tor finished before the month is out.

It's going to be hard work, but the onion rings at the Nag's Head will make it all worth while. The usual exhortations apply: bright clothes, perverse butties and a sense of adventure. See you at the Cottage Caff (next to Edale railway station) between 9 and 930.

If anyone can identify the fern we found at Nether Tor, then I'd be grateful for your knowledge.

"I haven't led a grit E5 for six years..."

The day started ominously, with just Iain Johnson and myself savouring the delights of Cooper's Caff (other people's left over breakfasts). On the way to Nether Tor, the skies darkened, the rain threatened and I envisaged knitting toast in front of a roaring fire before long.
As usual, I was completely wrong. By the time Iain and I had done three or four routes the sun was out and the losers who had instead gone to the wall were left nursing tendonitis & regret.
Andy Stewart (bless his cotton socks) was enticed by the strange beauty of Bancroft's "Edale Bobby"...he brushed it, girded his loins and led the thing. Iain & I followed and whooped with delight at one of the best routes we'd done on grit for years. Truly, truly great...I hope that Alex's pictures do the route justice.
We finished off the day with some epic cleaning, Andy was very brave again on Al Parker's "Recoil Rib" (VS in 1974, E3/4 today). At the end of it all, we went down into the valley for beer, chips & onion rings at The Nag's Head and that, like the Hokey Cokey, is what it's all about.

Nether Tor, 14th July

Well, the weather is much now less wet, and the wagon that is Moorland Grit just keeps on rollin'. There are plenty of classics here, and a bunch of amenable new routes to be had, if you have the inclination (which of course you do).

A different kind of falling

Having spent the weekend falling off various things at Stanage and Black Rocks, I managed to get some fresh air and grazes, both of which have been sadly lacking in my recent life.
The Moorland Grit project continues apace now, with a new list of weekend trips, and a few Thursday Night Esoterica meets to be published pretty damn soon.

Nice weather for ducks

As well as being the title for a lovely track by Lemon Jelly, this is how it is today on the moors. Having been washed out of Wilderness Gully by a torrent a fortnight ago, I am in no mood to return any time soon.

Once the weather 'normalises' again, a full and frank meets list will be posted here (and out to everyone on my list) so we can get back in business again

Upper Tor/ Rollick Stones 30th June/1st July

This was going to be the mother of all weekends. It still was, but for the wrong reasons. Looking up onto Kinder from my bedroom window on Saturday morning was like looking towards Mount Doom, so black was the cloud. Still, everyone likes a lie in.

Here's a picture of The Doctor on Never Mind The Rollicks last year. He is often shirtless.