Trevor Rocks - Llangollen

Members: Colin Maddison, Mary Stuart, Duncan Lee, Vicky Alderton, Anne Waters, Clay Conlon, Gary Thornhill, Koy Oi Ding, Jo Cowley, Nils Elgar, Steve Graham, Roger Dyke, Merion Tanner, Dave Shotton, Dave Wiley, Mark Pilling, Pete Walker, Alan (Liv) Jones, Sue Marsden (19)

Guests: Elaine Yip, Poebe Marsden, Kieran Lee, Gemma Waters, Gemma Sutherington, Lisa, Delyth Clemett (7)

It was a well-attended meet on a hot and sunny day at a venue new to many of the twenty six present.

Although a quarried escarpment the setting, high above Llangollen, is attractive with beautiful views across the Dee valley and surrounding hills. Not even the sight of Liverpool Jones in nothing more than skimpy shorts could distract from this pleasing aspect!

Trevor Rocks provides ten limestone walls and buttresses along the escarpment. Starting at the right-hand end we spent much of the day on Suspect Wall before walking along to finish with a few routes on DMM Wall.

Alas, this meet leader showed his self to be unequal to the task and failed to keep track of all the routes ascended and by whom. So my apologies to those who were hoping to see their noble deeds recorded in print. But suffice it to say that many routes were ascended from F4a to F6a+.

All acquitted themselves well although Steve seemed determined only to climb routes so polished he could see his reflection in them – the price of vanity, but when you might need to touch up your lip gloss at any time it’s not worth taking chances!

Although the climbing is mainly single pitch sport routes Merion, Mary, Delyth and Anne enjoyed a couple of the trad routes available. Delyth enjoyed her introduction to rock-climbing, taking to it like a natural under the Merion’s careful tutoring.

Mark Pilling arrived later in the day fresh from the self-rescue training held the previous day at Ty Powdwr. It was a very successful and informative day by all accounts; though it soon became apparent that advice not to put your finger through the bolt hanger was not part of the course!

In addition to the climbers, on arrival we were pleased to see Pete Walker and Liverpool Jones who joined us at the start of their walk. A little later Sue and Phoebe arrived and supervised arts and crafts before taking the children on a walk to the ruins of Castell Dinas Bran.

Before this Kieran and Gemma painted multi-colour pebbles and constructed elaborate stone dwellings leaving curious remains to puzzle passing geologists and archaeologists.

Thank you to all who came and my apologies to anyone I’ve missed off the list.

Colin Maddison