This week feels like the start of spring for me, I’ve managed four days of outdoor climbing and one evening at Citybloc. My arms are aching and I’m completely exhausted but it’s been a lot of fun!
Last Tuesday and Thursday I got out after work to boulder on The Chevin Boulders and cleaned a number of problems of their winter greenery, most of this was done by torch-light in the company of the occasional jogger, an intrigued deer and one very noisy owl.
On Saturday I got up early for a visit to the dark side of the Pennines and a trip to Anglezarke Quarry. Much of the rock was damp or dirty but we had a fun morning ticking off easy routes and will definitely be back come the summer to try some of the more challenging lines. In the afternoon we pottered off to Brownstones Quarry – a superb highballing venue with wonderful fine-grained rock (albeit polished in places) which has some great crimpy problems above immaculate landings. Another place I’ll definitely be back to.
On Sunday we came back to Yorkshire for our first visit of the year to Shipley Glen. The conditions were almost perfect with sunshine, good friction and a nice breeze keeping the rock bone dry. Several classic slabs, walls and arêtes were climbed and a number of others were fallen off repeatedly before we decided to save the last vestiges of our skin and headed off for a curry. A great end to a promising week.
Sam