Chilly blue sky's and grippy grit.

Grippy grit it was, superb afternoon on Windgather rocks today. Headed out to Windgather on the Cheshire Derbyshire border just above the little village of Kettleshulme.

Arriving at the gate everywhere looked fairly quiet, couple of cars and the odd walker. Met a couple climbing who had been on the crag all day coming over from Wales.

Tom joins us as a picture taker and professional bystander.

We started off with a nice warm up climb, nothing to difficult. So warmed up we headed for mini multi pitch. Great route at the grade of Diff, decided to give John some experience at multi pitch routes. So I split the route in two with a hanging belay halfway up.

John arriving at pitch one ready to move on up.

John just about to set off on pitch two.

John loved the route and took the second pitch by storm. Then setting up a super belay from the top, he then belayed me up.

John just about to top out.

So, next lead is John's.

Setting off up a nice enclosed bookcase, classic. Super little sting in the tale at the top with a bit of a twist and giggle to exit.

John just about to move out right to exit.

So what a fantastic day on the crag. Fancy a day like this yourself, if so contact me on 

07429 952406

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Windy heights

                                          Windgather Rocks Kettleshulme Derbyshire

Wow it's windy out there today. Went out up onto Windgather Rocks for a quick stroll before work, wow the wind chill was massive. Taking your hands out of your pockets and boy did you feel the cutting wind.

 Anyone heading out onto Kinder today needs to be prepared not like last nights chaps,

http://www.buxtonmountainrescue.org.uk/call_outs/kinder-scout-39

So back to the walk, always have the right gear you never know things can turn out different to that expected.

Nice little Diff route on the main wall, very popular.

Looking out over Goyt Woods towards Kinder and Mam Tor.

Super walk out but very windy on the ridges.

Weather or not

Weather or not to keep climbing, training in the rain. Well after about four sets I decided it was too wet. The Boulder mats were soaking, and it was blowing in from each side of the wall. I think it's called sideways rain.

At least I got a bit of training in, better than just sat at home thinking about it. Four or five laps of the board is still worth doing, even if it's just to keep in touch with the tools.

The Snap mats pretty wet, every time I venture out towards the sides of the board I get a soaking. Oh well back home and hope tommorrow, sat will be a better day.

Misty moors

Late night call to a lost walker on Kinder Scout last night at around 22:00. Rushup edge to Edale was almost impassable due to fog, the fog was below,low. 

Driving conditions were hazardous, driving at around 5mph, passing through Mam nick below Mam tor was interesting to say the least.

Mam nick on a sunny day.

Heading up Jacobs ladder onto Kinder plataue.

Very dark indeed.

Not much visibility here.

Enhanced to show the difference.

So off up Jacobs ladder when we get a call on the radio to return to base. 

Jacobs ladder on a finer day.

http://www.near-chesterfield-derbyshire.com/jacobs-ladder-walk.html

The cass has been found safe and sound by a SARDA dog handler. http://www.sardaengland.org.uk/

So, a super result by the team at Mountain Rescue England & Wales.

Pre BLOG

09:00 Pre post prior to the BIG eat.

So, the Battle Oates have arrived. Whats new I here you say, lots. 22% protien, gluten free and much more. The bars are in a super new wrapper and are looking good. So, the BIG test. Results to follow later today.

Chillin days not climbin days

Some days are just meant for chillin, thus is something we don't do often enough. After last weekends climbing trip to the lake a chilling day was due, plus the weather dictated it. So it's off into the high peak, Peak District national park. This wonderful piece of landscape is on my back door step.

          

                                                                Water cum jolly

Sport climbers heaven, lots of bolted routes on the main wall at the back.

           

Interesting plaque on the wall at the back of the mere.

 

All these walls have been bolted for sport climbing.

Lots of routes, most of them high in the grade.

Just down the track is a nice little tea shop, but alas only open at weekends oh well. So it's off to Eyam for a super cup of coffee at the main cafe in the village square. http://cafevillagegreen.com/ super latte served with a smile inc a fantastic slice of sweet potatoe pie.

I wonder if they sell Battle Oates protien bars http://www.battleoats.com/  let's go in and see.

So remember, life's not all about climbing. Take time to chill out, says me the world worst.

The winning combination.

Master Blaster

Master Blaster E1 5c,Bamford edge special.

Here's the write up from Eastern Grit.

10m. The right hand side wall on poor sloping holds, to a final long reach for a shallow crack. Tiny wires for protection. Chris crags 1981.

This route has been a bank holiday project, went last weekend to Shadow wall and the Crease, we spotted Master blaster and instantly took a fancy to it.

    

                  

Climbed the route on top rope to link the moves together, not easy to get the sequence right straight away. So, dean made the link fairly quick and was ready for the lead but we decided to come back. 

Here startuth the story.

Returned back today, bank holiday Monday. Fairly quite, a few people already setup running some routes on loaders bay which is attached to Gun Buttress to the right of our beloved Master Blaster.

Quick chat, a few pleasantries and we've secured our spot. Dean goes up and sets up the top rope. Ok, we do a couple of runs up the wall to get the moves linked in our heads. We check out the gear placements while we do the climb on top rope. Deans ready, gear placed on the right gear loops on the harness to make placement easier.

 Top rope setup, pressures on. This is going to be a fantastic achievement if dean pulls it off. Rope and bits of kit placed onto the nasty bits of protruding rocks at the base of the route to protect dean in the event of a fall.

Blurry snap out of the video of dean moving past the crux move to good holds and protection, nice little cam placement just ahead.

Job done, the Roxcool pose to close it off.

http://youtu.be/bNoT4ttjcO0

My story, top roped the route, linked the moves and made two good runs straight up and past the crux   topping out on top, well chuffed. However, not ready to run it clean on lead. Need to practice the crux move, you don't want to make a mistake here as it would be your last. So it's time for home, it will wait till another day.