It just goes to show that I am always right

Four of us made it as far as Lad's Leap, and we stood at the bottom of it with pleasantly surprised looks on our faces. Some bloke on Cocktalk had said that he'd been there once and never wished to go back. He was either at the wrong crag, or mad. In the end, we climbed all the routes, did a new one (as usual) and discovered a three star moorland grit classic that has lain hidden for the last 25 years. My picture shows a gentleman known only as "Feckin' Bejesus" crouching at the crag.

This just in from our man in the field!

On a wind strewn and cloudy day, Malc Baxter and Iain Johnson braved the wilds of Kinder’s southern edges with a view to conquering Nether Tor. The fast flowing cloud occasionally revealed our target as we walked in before disappearing again into the low lying cloud base.

Several routes were checked including Roman Nose on which there was a vigorous grade dispute...VS 4b or HVS 5b? After much effort and deliberation over the best and easiest approach, the starting moves were finally conquered and a grade of HVS 5b settled upon. A strenuous, alternative start at the same grade was also noted.

However, the highlights of the day besides the atmospheric climbing conditions (it was like climbing in your own small world due to the clouds close proximity) were the checking of Free Wall, a delightfully bold and exposed VS and a new VS route "Atmistpheric" using fantastic holds to climb a crackline.

We're all doomed!

We're off to the "Most Haunted Valley In England" this coming Saturday...Longdendale! We're going to explore the amazing Lad's Leap on the northern side of the valley. This means that it is south facing and rather fine. The climbs are all brilliant, there are lots of new routes to do and I've never been there in my life.

Meet at Crowden campsite car park between 930 and 10. If you're discracefully late, join us at the crag. Bring some butties that you will have to swap with someone else at the crag.

Peer pressure is a Good Thing

When I looked out of my window on Saturday morning, I couldn't see the other side of the street, let alone Kinder. The day was over before it even began...however!

Upon arriving at The Grouse, I was met by a horde of overly keen persons, all of whom wanted to go up to the Northern Edges regardless of the mist and rain.

In the end, we did bloody well! Seventeen people arrived at the crag at various points during the day. Between us we checked 50 routes, did 5 new ones and took some random pictures. This picture is of some desk monkey hanging around on a funky formation. It was a nice place to be for a while. We made it back to the pub as darkness fell, and had an orgy that would have made Caligula blush.