Around Kinder (attempt 2)

Attended By: James Richardson, David Bish, Wavey, Roger Daley.

Saturday Visitors: New John/Thursday John/Bar-B-Q John (G), Joanne (G), Gary Cook (G).

Sunday Visitors: Mark Ashley, Anne Sanderson.

 

We all met at 10.30am on Saturday morning on the top of the Snake Pass in the drizzling rain to complete the daft plan of attempting to climb on every crag on Kinder Scout.

By the time we got to Mustard Walls the rain had stopped, the northern edge looked un-green and dry. Roger attempted to start Knapp Hand (HS 4b) while Dave attempted to start The Slice (HS 4b), both ended up doing alternative starts and we put the crag down to a bad starting place.

Somewhere that might have been the Brothers Buttresses (but wasn't) involved various solo's of an easy slab. Once we found Brothers Buttresses it involved a mass ascent of Barbara (VD *), the routes were improving. On Eureka Buttress Dave led Eureka (VS 4c ***) while Roger squirmed up Ashop Climb (HVD **).

Gary now had to head home to his son's birthday party while the rest of us headed off to Misty Wall. I lead Misty Wall (VS 4b? ***), while Dave lead people up a Cloudy Wall (VD) further left. Then Dave did Magic Wall (VS) which involved a struggle. John and Joanne now headed off home. John was happy that he had now learnt how to squirm and struggle. This was Joanne's first time out climbing, I hope I haven't put her off too much (she was still smiling at the end of the day despite a hole in her trousers).

The final four of us headed off to Chinese Wall for the last route of the day. Roger led Communist Route (VD) and Wavey lead Nationalist Route (HS 4b) while the midges feasted. After hastily packing we headed off across the moor to bivi on the southern edge. Three of us ended up above Nether Tor but we had no idea what had happened to Roger. An hour later after several phone calls we located him and finally he located us, after revisiting the northern edge and the top of Crowden Clough (and who knows where else). This at least provided an easy tick of a route on "Ringing Roger".

Several bottles of wine later (without mentioning the whiskey) we had a decent sleep on a bed of heather and awoke to the hum of midges. Roger and I were up first and decided to get a route in while the other two slept. Roger led Nose Climb (S *) on Nether Tor. When we returned Wavey had the kettle on and we all spent a couple of hours eating breakfast. At some stage Mark Ashley turned up, he had been bivvying at the far eastern end of Kinder where the midges had enjoyed the meal.

Finally the wind picked up and we headed off to Upper Tor. Wavey lead Upper Tor Wall (HS 4b ***) and I lead Hiker's Crack (S 4a *). It was clear at this stage that we were hopelessly behind schedule so a group decision was made to miss out the four crags the five of us had climbed on last year. As water had run out (Kinder was very dry!) and the next crag was Kinder Downfall we headed off to locate Kinder River. Before locating the river we managed to locate the legendary Kinder tree. Once at the river with canteens full we set up camp two at Kinder gates, while the water boiled we all soloed a small green chimney.

After cake and tea we headed down to Kinder Downfall: I lead Zig-Zag (VD ***) and Dave lead Chockstone Chimney (VD). By this stage the wind had really got going and the midges didn't stand a chance, instead it looked like it was about to rain. With only two crags to go we marched on to Upper Western Buttress. At Upper Western Buttress various solos were performed of Pedestal Climb (D *) and South Wall (VD **) before we continued our march to Mill Hill Rocks for the final routes of the weekend. Roger struggled up the off-width Mill Hill Crack (VD) while Wavey fought with Gregories Route (HS 4b).

We finally got back to the cars after the never ending path back to the top of the Snake Pass without a drop of rain and all of the midges blown away south. We beat a hasty retreat to The Globe for curry and beer.

 

Those Routes in Full:

Twisted Smile Buttress and Mustard Walls
Knapp Hand (variation start) HS 4b - led Roger, 2nd James, Gary, John.
The Sulce (variation start) HS 4b - led Dave, 2nd Wavey.

Brothers Buttresses
Barbara VD - led James, 2nd Roger, Gary, Joanne - soloed by Dave.

Eureka Buttress
Ashop Culmb HVD - led Roger, 2nd James, Gary, John.
Eureka VS - led Dave, 2nd Wavey.

Misty Wall
Misty Wall VS - led James, 2nd Roger.
Magic Wall VS - led Dave, 2nd Wavey, John.
Cloudy Wall VD - led Dave, 2nd John, Joanne.

Chinese/Midge Wall/
Communist Route VD - led Roger, 2nd James.
Nationaulst Route HS - led Wavey, 2nd Dave.

Ringing Roger
Locating Roger, Hard and Very Difficlit - James, Dave, Wavey

Nether Tor
Nose Culmb S - led Roger, 2nd James.

Upper Tor
Upper Tor Wall HS - led Wavey, 2nd Dave.
Hiker's Crack S - led James, 2nd Roger, Mark.

Downfall
Zig-Zag VS - led James, 2nd Roger, Dave
Chockstone Chimney - led Dave, 2nd Wavey, Mark.

Upper Western Buttress
Pedestal Culmb D - solo James, Roger, Wavey, Mark, Dave.
South Wall VD - solo Dave.

Mill Hill Rocks
Gregories Route HS - led Wavey, 2nd Dave.
Mill Hill Crack VD - led Roger, 2nd James, Dave.

 

James Richardson