Evening Meets at Ravenstones - Chew Valley


Ravenstones - Chew Valley

Wed 30th Jul, 2014

Sunny evening aspect, stunning location, 'Over the Moors' guidebook only 'un-gradable' route - The Ravenstones Stomach Traverse

Members - Dan O'Brien, Mark Ashley, Ding, Laura Collier, Dave Wylie, Andy Stratford, Stuart Hurworth, Gareth Williams

Guests - Mirella De Jonge, Anna Reeves, Mark Haworth, Andy Harper

With Apologies to Edgar Allan Poe

The Ravenstone

Once upon a Wednesday cheery, while I wandered weak and weary,

Over many a tufty, peaty plateau of the Pennine moor,

With my rucksack, heavy bugger, suddenly I saw a hiker,

And another climbing climber, climbing on the barren moor.

`'Tis some KMC-er,' I muttered, `climbing on the barren moor -

Only this, and nothing more.'

As usual, on a Wednesday after work, in the midsummer;

The KMC will come and climb on local esoterica;

Eagerly I wished the walk-in over; - as it was a total bore;

Arriving at the Ravenstones, a classic crag of the traditional days of yore

A view of radiant beauty o'er cross the Pennine moor -

Who could ask for more.

Andy Stratford chose the Trinicle, a three-pronged rocky pinnacle

To open his account with a Top-50 Hard Severe;

The Left Monolith - “well travelled” one of the best routes here;

A good clean line with plenty of good holds and some good gear;

`And was followed by Stuart who patiently belayed Andy from the floor; -

This he did, and much more,'

But the quickest way was riding and his bicycle providing,

Gareth speedy access to the crag and time to look at routes before;

He was belayed on True Grit but in the dark it was a tricky git,

With pumpy moves on tough terrain and needing two Friend 4's

So the best approach discretion as he returned to the floor;

Quoth the Ravenstones – Nevermore.

Mark and Ding approached direct avoiding paths and climbing heather;

`Surely this can't be the best way; tell me truly' he implored;

'Climbing routes that were his namesake – Mark 1 – V.Diff and more;

And Laura rode her bike from Hyde with less rain than before;

And Mirella with some other guests, climbed K-Corner and Left Monolith -

Climbing here, and there and more.

Now having done the walk-in I should really do some climbing,

But the only route inspiring up there on the windy moor.

Was a grim traditional struggle of the saintly days of yore;

So I crawled along the break, grinding my face along the floor -

And though the gear was good we could not face three pitches more -

So we bailed - nothing more.

In the pub with beer and scratchings rested from our long walk-out;

Time for voting, three suggestions were propos-ed to the floor.

`Hen Cloud! (no more bird restrictions) was the first to be put forward;

Despite - despite and nepenthe from Stu's efforts to implore!

A trip to HenCloud was rejected by the KMC once more

Quoth the Ravenstone, `Nevermore.'

`Witches Quarry! crag of limestone! - Andy said, in Clitheroe -

Without walk-in, crag-side parking, who could ask for more?

But the KMC unmoving shunning Pendle Limestone too -

Even with exciting prospects – belaying out of the car door -

Or belay stakes and lush grass top-outs with no reason to implore!'

Quoth the Ravenstone, `Nevermore.'

`Woodhouse!' said I, `crag of roadside! - Woodhouse Scar a crag of gritstone!

In Halifax, no walk in and no traipsing 'cross the moors -

And defectors from the Witches' camp meant the vote was passed by four,

As the clock ticked to 11 most were heading for the door -

'Is there time for one last beer, is there more for anymore?

Quoth the Ravenstone, `Nevermore.'

Yet upon the teams departing Gareth stood and shrieked upstarting -

`There are three still missing wandering on the Night's Plutonian shore!'

Last seen topping out as night fell on the Trinicle for sure;

Made it safely to the car-park - though at dusk they locked the door!'

Will they have to stay the night upon the bleak chew valley floor.

Quoth the Ravenstone, `Nevermore.'

And the stragglers, never flitting, still are sitting, still are sitting

In the dark and dim Binn Green whilst locked remains the car-park door;

And the man from Oldham Council has been woken from his dreaming,

And his headlights will be streaming to the car-park on the moor;

As they wait to be released I sit an write this meet report;

And wait for next week – Nevermore.

Dan



Back to Current !!!!

If 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:

Mon 25th Mar 2024
Wed 10th Apr 2024
Wed 17th Apr 2024
Wed 24th Apr 2024
Thu 25th Apr 2024
Wed 1st May 2024
Wed 8th May 2024
Wed 15th May 2024
Wed 22nd May 2024
Wed 29th May 2024
Wed 5th Jun 2024
Wed 12th Jun 2024
Wed 19th Jun 2024
Wed 26th Jun 2024
Wed 3rd Jul 2024
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Wed 17th Jul 2024
Wed 24th Jul 2024
Wed 31st Jul 2024
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Wed 14th Aug 2024
Wed 21st Aug 2024
Wed 28th Aug 2024
Wed 4th Sep 2024
Wed 11th Sep 2024
Wed 18th Sep 2024
Wed 25th Sep 2024

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 (17)
Aldery Cliff (3)
Anglezarke Quarry (16)
Ashworth Moor Quarry (1)
Bamford Edge (9)
Beeston Tor (1)
Blackstone Edge (5)
Bridestones (West Yorkshire) (1)
Broadbottom Quarry (2)
Brownstones (3)
Cadshaw Rocks (6)
Castle Naze (22)
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 (17)
Dovestones Lower Left Quarry (1)
Egerton Quarry (4)
Froggatt Edge (2)
Harpur Hill Quarry (12)
Helsby (14)
Hen Cloud (2)
Heptonstall (7)
Hobson Moor Quarry (44)
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 (7)
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 (6)
Robs Rocks - Chew Valley (9)
Rough Knarr (1)
Running Hill Pits, Saddleworth (18)
Shining Clough Rocks (6)
Staden Quarry (6)
Stanage North (2)
Stanage Plantation (1)
Stanage Popular End (3)
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 (19)
Wilton 3 (9)
Wimberry Rocks (9)
Windgather (23)
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 (180)
The Depot: Manchester (70)
Warrington North Face (3)


Other Evening Meets (117)

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