Second hand boots

Headed out to the lower gorge today. Weather looks good with a slight nip in the air.

The Skoda Fabia sits waiting for action.

Heading in from the road head west of Rjukan.

Super walk in.

Arriving at the decent point just off the side of the main road west of Rjukan.

The route seems to have been marked by a pair of old boots, no body in sight.

The route into the gorge is down a steep bank from the parking spot then along the river, frozen and un frozen in places, so best take care as its easy to drop through.

LP-PLATA

Belay stance, some fantastic views out onto the mountains above which lead out onto the Hardangervida.

A second pitch on the top of LP-Plata, Dean takes this section and runs it out into the woodland above, great extension to a super route. I reckon most people ab back down before this, shame as you would miss out.

Fantastic route, not as straightforward as it looks. The higher up you go the steeper it gets.

Trippel, what a great route. First section is easy work, bit like Scottish gully (cliff,John) A real must here is a 70m rope min, as its not 60m which is what I had to stretch out to fit. Just got to the top belay in one run out.

Had to abseil of this route in two rappels, phone died so couldn't take a pic for you John. The abseil rope was threaded through two great icicles, then we back stepped down through the gully to the base of the route.

So next BLOG tomorrow.

Mist un whiskey travels

So, MIST.

YEP, loads on landing at Torp airport Norway today.

So, before the mist we did this.

Liverpool

Torp airport

Kongsberg

So, after all that were gonna sort some kit and get ready for a great day on the ice.

The BLOG will get better, it's just that not much will happen till tomorrow. So call back in tomorrow.

Arete adventures

Welsh winter to Peak bogs and Kinder windscape.

Saturday saw Peak Athlete instructors off to Wales to climb the superb Arete by the name of Cnefion.

We parked just below Tryfans West face in the great little placed car park. Van doors open, freezer box ready and bacon haggis egg wraps prepared on the stove in minutes. The great start to any adventure, this makes part of the journey, it also reduces the cost when you can self cater for the day.

The view from the track leading into Idwal was amazing. It's one of my favourite spots to shoot.

The chosen route of attack was above the ridge looking out over Cwm Idwal.

Wild goats grazing on the hill side on the approach.

We also got a great little scramble in by heading up the river at the side of Idwal slabs, grade 2. The left hand branch of the river as you look at the map in the pic.

This lead out into Cwm Cnefion, just below the Arete. 

Looking back towards Cwm Idwal.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/c.php?i=33981

We went prepared to make the ascent in winter or none winter conditions, this covers a wide range of elements. The main element being, the snow had quickly gone from the Welsh hills within a few days.

So, it was a wet windy ascent, wind was at gale force with buffeting just when you could have done without it.

Peppermint tea and honey before we set off.

Dean heading up into the gods from P1 (pitch 1)

Dean giving a wave from the top of pitch one.

P1, handover. I am heading upto P2.

Dean arriving at P2.

Pitch two was a great section, but Dean drew the winning straw with P1. Fantastic section, just wish the Arete was bigger and longer.

At the top of Cnefion, time for tea and a bit of back slapping (Jolly good show old boy) and all that.

At this point our attention turned to the possibilities in front, snow,ice werrrrrrrrrrr. Another day maybe, conditions are not good to tackle the routes on the other side of the valley today.

Back to the van for coffee and wraps. The whole day was finished with great coffee and conversations of days to come in Wales.

So, we're does the Peak District come in.

Just sorting out the climbing gear from Saturday's trip, and BLEEP BLEEP.

Callout to Kinder for an injured walker. The Callout lasted around 6hrs, so all in all a great weekend out in the hills with two great results.

One fantastic climb and one very happy casualty carried off the hill in a prolonged evacuation due to terrain and ground conditions.

Buxton MRT in action in trying conditions.

Welcome AZ Lesiure.

Peak Athlete Climbing welcomes members from Club AZ Lesiure to our wide range of courses. 

Please take a look at our selection, fill out the booking form with your details and date preferences and we will get straight back to you.

http://www.peakathleteclimbing.co.uk/

A day at the crag with Peak Athlete Climbing

So contact me on

07429 952406

Email peakathleteclimbing@gmail.com

www.peakathleteclimbing.co.uk

Muddy tracks to greeny crags

Picking up on the previous BLOG (change 2016) may be a bit slower than planned. The weather here in the Peak District National Park is somewhat wet. The weather patterns are revolving around, wet,wet and a bit of wet. Tonight Jan 9th has promised snow at 400m with a five day flurry starting Monday at all levels.

Based on all the above we headed out to Froggatt edge to review some of our route choices for 2016, tick list as its called. These are climbs we would like to do over the next 12 months, some sooner than later.

https://froggattsoffroggatt.wordpress.com/froggatt-the-place/froggatt-wood-2/

Froggatt was looking as ever inviting, but the unfortunate weather was preventing any sensible ascents to be undertaken. We parked on the corner and headed up through the woods, great approach to the crag with great views of the routes ahead.

Froggatt Woods

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Froggatt_Edge

Heading into some amazing woodland, filled with hardwoods and a plethora of woodland fungi and lichen. The trip upto the crag can be a real eye opener to natures amazing world of hidden gems. 

Interesting stone masonry on the crag bottom of Downhill Racer.

Down hill Racer is an amazing climb, not for the faint hearted. Climbed this route two years ago on a super dry day, amazing.

Down Hill Racer

A shot looking up a very wet Great Slab, absolute classic. Climbed this route a couple of years ago, amazing just keeps giving and giving.

TOPO of Down Hill Racer

Browns Eliminate

Top 50 Joe Brown classic. Browns Eliminate E2 5b.

TOPO of Browns Eliminate

Dean has had his eye on this route with the intention to run it in early 2016 on a nice dry day.

Chequers Buttress

We moved on leftwards towards Chequers Buttress, plenty here to keep you occupied. One route we looked to bag for a while is Chequers Buttress itself.

Chequers Buttress

TOPO for Chequers Buttress

We headed out onto the top to receive a marvellous view across the Chatsworth Estate, (http://www.chatsworth.org/) Arriving at the car we took a decision that coffee and cheesy chips were the order of the day. We headed off to the Outside Shop at Hathersage.

Waiting.