Peak District Climbing: Birchens Edge

It was a foggy damp drizzly morning as Gowry and I drove over Axe Edge Moor toward the Roaches (an agreed alternative to the the original meet at Birchens Edge which had an even wetter forecast).  Reluctant even to carry my gear up to the crag in anticipation that there would be no climbing that day, we trudged up to the lower tier arriving fashionably late as the last members of our group of 6.  Roger was our honourable photographer and Duncan was an extra leader in case Gowry and I bottled out.

Andy did an impressive job of soloing most climbs around the Prow Corner area in boots and the rest of did a number of routes on ropes including Prow Corner, Prow Corner Twin Cracks and Prow Corner and Variation led by myself, Gowry and Duncan respectively and followed by Gowry, James and myself respectively.  James also led Prow Corner seconded by Andy, and seconded Andy up Prow Cracks and Prow Cracks Variation. Jared led a number of routes in that area followed by Emily and James. He then set up a toprope for Chalkstorm which he, Emily, Andy, Duncan and I all attempted and some succeeded.

We then moved up to the upper tier and Gowry led Inverted Staircase, followed by myself, and then I led Maud's Garden followed by Gowry, which was then also led by Duncan, followed by James.  Andy led Heather Slab followed by Emily, and then Damascus Crack 4b finish followed by Emily and finally Left Hand Route Severe 4b followed by myself and Duncan.  Jared led Damascus Crack Left hand VS 4c finish followed by Andy and Emily, then Crack and Corner HS 4c followed by Emily and Andy and finally Right Hand Route HS 4c followed by myself and Gowry.  Roger had gone for a walk along the ridge and returned to enjoy our last attempts of Right Hand Route and Left Hand Route.

So ended an unexpected fantastic day with much welcomed fun before the midges set in

Cathy Gordon