Evening Meets
Next Evening Meet:
The Roaches
Wed 31st May, 2023
All welcome. Evening meets start around 6pm. Please bring suntan cream and wine. Manchester sunset is approximately 21:26, twilight to around 22:16. Please keep an eye on Scribble for wet weather options.
The Roaches really needs no promo being one of the UK’s outstanding Gritstone climbing venues. There are lots of routes to get stuck into across the grades including some notable classics such as Pedestal Route (HVD), Black and Tans (S), Valkyrie (VS), and The Sloth (HVS).
As a hugely popular venue parking can be limited so car sharing is recommended where possible. The closest parking to the crag is in laybys on the Roach Road out of the hamlet of Upper Hulme. Do not park outside the marked bays as traffic wardens patrol the area seven days a week. Grid reference SK002630.
We will meet at the Black and Tans area of the Upper Tier. Hope to see you all there.
Previously:
Windgather Rocks
Wed 17th May, 2023
Wowsers what a turnout. KMC Windgather takeover! It wasn't warm, it wasn't sunny, but that didn't stop Brian, Jess, Dave, Ed, Barry, Lewis, Dan, Mich, Andy, Andy (snap!!), Paul, Adam, Ged, Stefano, Roger, Duncan and myself making the most of the evening. And probably a few others - I'm afraid I lost count. We climbed everything from VDs to practise setting up belays to acrobatic soloing... it would probably be quicker to list the routes we didn't climb rather than all the ones we did.
Caroline GayDovestones Edge, Chew Valley
Wed 10th May, 2023
A damp and showery day meant this meet was moved indoors at Awesome Walls.
Hopefully, we'll get a chance to slot it in the calendar on another Wednesday, wait for some settled weather, and have a week with a bonus extra night out!
Awesome wall attendees - members: Andy Stratford, Daniel Arrowsmith, Brian Tarnowski, and Rob Allen were also there anyway with Sarah.
Prospective members: Yvonne King, Will Richardson and Lewis Stonehouse
Andy Stratford
Higgar Tor
Wed 3rd May, 2023
Andy Stratford, Brian Tarnowski, Daniel Arrowsmith and Gareth Williams were the lucky four who braved the rough grit of Higgar Tor. It was a beautiful sunny evening with a biting cold wind making it feel very cold in the shade. Numerous routes were climbed, including Paddock (VDiff), Greymalkin (S), Hectate (VDiff) and Piece of Cake (HVDiff). And of course the notorious jamming route The File (VS 4c). Andy followed Daniel up the route, the latter enjoyed his lead so much that he decided to climb it a second time - solo and without any undue difficulty (but how about putting your helmet on next time??!!). Andy and Daniel stayed a bit later and were making good progress up The Rat's Tail (VS 5a) when I left.
Gareth WilliamsCastle Naze
Wed 26th Apr, 2023
Castle Naze – Wednesday 26th April
Attendees: Sean Clancy, Yvonne King, Dylan Smith, Brian Tarnowski, Daniel Arrowsmith and Jessica Bailey.
Jess and Daniel climbed - eventually - after wandering around for what felt like half an hour whilst deciding what to do. Some climbing was later achieved with the pair completing Keep Arete (VS 4a), Scoop Face (HVS 5a), Scoop Direct (HVS 5a). Jess commented that Keep Arete was “just a bit of me, that”, which is in my opinion complete gibberish, and I would like everyone who meets her to let her know that. Whilst not spouting nonsense Jess made steady leads of Keep Corner (S 4a) and Footstool Right (HVD 4a), with Daniel somehow making a pig's ear of both on second.
Brian and Dylan climbed together with Dylan taking all the leads and a good selection of routes in The Niche (S 4a), Studio (HS 4b), Keep Corner (S 4a), and Green Crack (S 4a) in his stride. Thry also completed the classic (three stars in my opinion, Rockfax) jamming crack Pilgrim’s Progress, (HS 4b) with Brian battling behind. “Give me 30m of that and I’ll be a happy man” said Dylan, preferring his jamming routes to be precisely 2.5 times longer than they actually are. Hopefully it was a decent enough warm up before your trip to Arran, Dylan!
Sean and Yvonne visited several buttresses with Sean leading all of Slanting Crack (HVD 4a), Zig-a-zag-a (VD) and Central Tower (VD) whilst Yvonne led her way up Easy Crack (Diff). The duo did not seem to want to leave the crag with torches seen well after sunset. Rumour has it that they are still out there, somewhere, living off the land…
Daniel ArrowsmithTroy Quarry
Wed 19th Apr, 2023
After Rory Marsden had been rained off two weeks in a row for this venue, it was time for a meet leader who had more clout with the weather gods to step up to the plate.
Fortunately, for Daniel Arrowsmith, Fergal McCullough, Lewis Stonehouse, Liam Brady, Duncan Lee it was a (seasonably) warm and bright evening sheltered from the wind at Troy Quarry.
Liam led with two seconds, Lewis and Duncan in tow, Mucky Pups, Stacked Deck, and the Siamese Twins (Left and Right).
Daniel took a more systematic approach and did the first 5 routes (according to the 2020 Wired Guide) from right to left of the Quarry. These were Stilton, Open Sesame, Little Sneak, Chicane and One Way Street.
A very good return for a couple of hours at the crag and a very enjoyable evening was had by all.
Daniel ArrowsmithIf you are considering coming along to a club meet, please read the following:-
Participation Statement
"I accept that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a risk of personal injury or death. I am aware of and shall accept these risks and wish to participate in these activities voluntarily and shall be responsible for my own actions and involvement."
More Evening Meets:
During the spring and summer months evening meets are held outdoors at local crags, usually on Wednesdays, weather permitting. Keep an eye on the scribbles for the latest information. Indoor climbing wall meets start again in the autumn.
Some lucky people may be able to get out climbing nice and early, but this will vary depending on work hours and the traveling distance. Generally you should find KMC climbers at the crag by 6pm and some might still be there after its gone dark.
If you have any questions about coming along to a meet, or if you want to try and arrange car sharing, etc., then just send us an e-mail. For the latest information check the Scribble pages.
Outdoor Climbing Venues Used:
Alderman Rocks, Chew Valley (16)Aldery Cliff (3)
Anglezarke Quarry (15)
Ashworth Moor Quarry (1)
Bamford Edge (8)
Beeston Tor (1)
Blackstone Edge (5)
Bridestones (West Yorkshire) (1)
Broadbottom Quarry (2)
Brownstones (3)
Cadshaw Rocks (6)
Castle Naze (21)
Coire an t'Sneachda (1)
Cow's Mouth Quarry, Littleborough (15)
Deeply Vale (3)
Den Lane, Uppermill (13)
Denham Quarry (8)
Dovestones Edge, Chew Valley (16)
Dovestones Lower Left Quarry (1)
Egerton Quarry (4)
Froggatt Edge (2)
Harpur Hill Quarry (11)
Helsby (14)
Hen Cloud (2)
Heptonstall (7)
Hobson Moor Quarry (43)
Hollywood Park Boulder (2)
Horseshoe Quarry (5)
John Wayne Memorial Crag (1)
Kinder Downfall (2)
Lester Mill Quarry (2)
Longford Park Boulder (3)
Millstone Edge (6)
Misty Wall, Kinder Northern Edge (1)
Moving Buttress, Cheedale (1)
New Mills Torrs (12)
Pex Hill (5)
Pot Hole Quarry (2)
Pots and Pans Quarries (2)
Pule Hill, Marsden (16)
Ramshaw Rocks (8)
Ravensdale (1)
Ravenstones - Chew Valley (1)
Reddyshore Scout (2)
Roaches Lower Tier (1)
Roaches Upper Tier (5)
Robs Rocks - Chew Valley (7)
Rough Knarr (1)
Running Hill Pits, Saddleworth (18)
Shining Clough Rocks (5)
Staden Quarry (6)
Stanage North (2)
Stanage Plantation (1)
Stanage Popular End (2)
Standing Stones - Chew Valley (7)
Stoney Middleton (1)
Summit Quarry (2)
Swinton Boulders (1)
Tegg's Nose (2)
The Pump House (1)
Thors Cave (1)
Tintwistle Knarr (2)
Tissington Spires in Dovedale (1)
Tonacliffe Quarry (2)
Troy Quarry (31)
Victoria Park Boulder, Stretford (2)
Warton in Silverdale (3)
Wharncliffe Crags (1)
Wilton 1 (18)
Wilton 3 (9)
Wimberry Rocks (9)
Windgather (22)
Winnats Pass (1)
Witches Quarry (18)
Woodhouse Scar (2)
Wormstones (1)
Yellowslacks (3)
Climbing Walls Used:
Manchester Climbing Centre (118)Marple Rope Race (3)
Rock Over Climbing (6)
Stockport Awesome Walls (158)
The Depot: Manchester (45)
Warrington North Face (3)
Other Evening Meets (106)
Lancs online guidebook