Bridestones (West Yorkshire)

Wed 13th Apr, 2016

Excellent bouldering venue above Todmorden

Members: Dan O’Brien, Dave Wylie, Ding, Mark Ashley,  

Guests: Alex Greeney, Hannah Godden, Faye (sorry, didn’t get a last name...)

Traffic was a nightmare and only really cleared after Littleborough.  The cap it off, the usual road to the crag was closed forcing a number of innovative approaches after resorting to Sat-Nav.   And then we discovered that the pub near the car park had closed down!

Luckily, the weather was fine and the climbing, as always at Bridestones, was superb.  Alex had arrived early and we found him perched atop the Fish & Chips boulder.  The problem it is named after is a slab which can be climbed with or without the chips…  Ding found even with the chips that the top was out of reach.  She was unimpressed with Dave deploying his additional reach on this move!  Alex climbed a V1 in a  corner which he described as “horrible”…  We moved on to The Villain, a tricky little V2 which Alex and Dan sent after a few goes with additional moral support from William Shakespeare (“Thou art a Villain!”)  Faye, Hannah, Dave and Mark climbed Left Side Arete (V0) and Hannah and Dave managed Perfection (V1) with some deft footwork.

Dan and Alex moved on to Smart Wall (V4) whose rough slopey holds claimed most of the skin on the fingers of their left hands.  Dan touched the last hold three times but couldn’t hang it.  Charlotte Rampling (V5) was a similar result with little skin left and sweaty slopers spurning all our attempts.  We beat a hasty retreat to join the others on a small outcrop above Jerry’s Arete to enjoy the last of the light.

The soft nature of the gritstone at Bridestones makes the grades very condition dependent and even straightforward moves can quickly feel impossible if the friction is not with you.  It is also vulnerable to erosion with some of the more popular problems (including Charlotte Rampling) having been recently “repaired” using some sort of filler to protect the fast wearing foot-holds.  Bridestones is a place where bouldering needs to be conducted responsibly.  Avoid brushing if you can and make sure your shoes are clean.  If the conditions aren’t good (wet holds etc) then leave it until next time.  If we look after the rock as much as we can then there will more likely be a next time and you never know…  with some cold weather, a bright winter sun and little extra friction that final hold on Smart Wall might not seem so far away.

The pub (the Staff of Life) was warm but due to some attrition we ended up with an even number which could have made voting tricky.  Luckily, a first round unanimous victory for the only nominee (Troy Quarry) put these fears to rest.  Back in the quarries next week.

Helen Boothman gets an honourable mention after going to Brownstones instead – she claims due to time constraints but part of me suspects a mis-reading of the location…  we’ll never know…

Daniel O'Brien


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 9th Dec 2024
Mon 16th Dec 2024
Mon 23rd Dec 2024
Mon 30th Dec 2024
Mon 6th Jan 2025
Wed 2nd Apr 2025
Wed 30th Apr 2025

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 (23)
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 (13)
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 (7)
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 (33)
Victoria Park Boulder, Stretford (2)
Warton in Silverdale (3)
Wharncliffe Crags (1)
Wilton 1 (19)
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 (181)
The Depot: Manchester (70)
Warrington North Face (3)


Other Evening Meets (126)

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