Standing Stones Bivi & Climb

Members: Dave Wylie, Dave Shotton, Christine Beeston, Kevin Anderson, Alice Larkin, Rob Clarke, Al Metelko, Trish Cranston.

Guests: Dan Calverley, Artur Karwat, Nick Corbett, George Williams and just Nic, Paul and Mike.

 

Sketchy organisation, late start, long walk in to a crag of wet overgrown rock, seepage, impossibly hard grades or chossy blocks looking ready to freefall, a good turn-out of midges and I think all the climbers had a good time.

DW and I met at Binn Green car park at 12.30 as planned, (2 hours earlier, see scribble). GW serendipitously turned up at the right time and place oblivious but looking for climbers.  We found RC and AC at the crag, RC having had time for a wander and AC time to cycle to Yorkshire and back and then carry his bike across the moors.

RC set about climbing Vivienne, a dry Severe followed by AC and GW.  The 3 of them ticking off another 2 Severes that day including AC's 1st lead.

DW had hunted out some Diffs on the East Buttress and started on a dry Wet Wall.  Dave was cautious in his ascent and as I began mine I thought, at least the belaying will be secure but when I mentioned a tentative doubt to the security of the climb and a reliance on a good belay all I got in reply was  "mmm".  This was not reassuring at all and I completed the climb trying to avoid touching rock as all of it looked likely to fall, and big enough to take me with it.  So we had a good case of the willies and fled from East Buttress, DW renaming the climb Jenga.

I couldn't put off DS and CB who had arrived with lunch and they lead Spider Buttress (VD) and Wet wall (D) respectively.  Meanwhile Paul had started up Scratchnose Crack seconded by Nic and followed by Mike.  DC was belaying his second (NC) up Vivienne so DW and I waited till the midges were really getting stuck in to lead and belay.  A nice climb, kept you on your toes so to speak. 

After a short discussion on the merits of various mountaineering clubs DC and NC scarpered off an hour early presumably to allow for the long beautiful walk out, dismissing the option of Scratchnose Crack as a damp dark death trap. 

KA seemed to get over his dismay at the wet and midgy rock with some interesting head gear and a couple of climbs with AL on the Severes Pocked Wall and Touch of Spring joined by Paul and Nic.

So a bit of North West UK nature was enjoyed but as I said to Al and Trish who said hello on their way, the bite was a bit much.  Of course there was no stopping KMCers Roger Dyke and CB scribbling to a sunny Stanage Sunday. 

Laura Collier