Yellowslacks

Wed 7th Feb, 2007

The plan was to meet up at at 6:30pm in Old Glossop, grid ref SK 045 948, to head up as a group 6:45pm. James, Dave and Al set off at the published time. Clear cold night and below freezing, got windy on top. We started the search for the main crag much too early thereby checking out many buttresses and boulders along the hill side which are worthy of another visit, maybe in daylight hours. Two excellent routes and a scramble where done on the Main Crag before heading back to Glossop and the Globe for a swift half and numerous helpings of hotpot.

Misty Wall, Kinder Northern Edge

Wed 21st Feb, 2007

The same trio as last time: James, Dave and Al. Kevin couldn't be persuaded - something about having just come back from London. It had been dry all day but the weatherman was threatening us with rain. Pleasant walk-in and the crag easily found. Two contrasting routes, one a green velvety chimney/cave/groove the other a face climb on perfect grit, cold fingers making progress a little difficult/scary. Then it was back to the car and Glossop and the Globe for a swift pint and few helpings of hotpot and it also started to rain.

Ramshaw Rocks

Wed 28th Feb, 2007

This meet was rained off.

As we are in danger of loosing darkness, the next midweek meet will be at Ramshaw Rocks, to take advantage of the moon rising in the east. Aim to be there for 7:30pm, contact Al Metelko, James Richardson or Dave Dillon if you want a lift.

Kinder Downfall

Wed 14th Mar, 2007

The group will remain anonymous.

A arrived quite early with B and C arriving a few minutes before 7pm. Contact with D was made by phone who was still some distance away. A wanted to crack on as the round trip would be some 3 to 4 hours and hopefully a light weight D would catch up. Unfortunately when A was selling the meet to B and C the 70 minute walk-in was confused with 'walking' and as B and C are strangers in these parts became unhappy with the realisation that the walk was double the distance anticipated. However good progress was made until the boggy steeper section on the River Kinder and A became aware that B and C were less then happy. Confidence in A grew to the point of mutiny, the map came out and A was asked to point our position on said map. A could see that the Downfall was quite close, conditions so perfect but hopes of having a belayer were diminishing fast. A tried to persuade B and C to complete the walk-in and that the higher path would be a better option for the return and we would also see D's head torch light from higher up but to no avail. A's thoughts of going on alone were quickly quashed and all retreated down stream without incident except there was no sign of D! Back at the car park there were the same number of cars as when we set off so A checked his phone, one message from D - 'gone home'. Right then, the pub? We're not going to the pub said a much happier B and C.

Winnats Pass

Wed 21st Mar, 2007

Excellent final winter midweek meet. Crunchy patches of snow, perfect rock, with enough light to climb the ridges without head torches, cave exploration, pub: Wanted Inn.

Windgather

Wed 28th Mar, 2007

First summer Wednesday evening saw a good turn out. Members were: Wavey, Roger Daley, Keen Andy, Scott, Duncan, Vicky, Dave Bish, Katie and James. Guests were Loretta. Unfortunately the sun disappeared at around 5pm and was replaced with a thick mist, this didn't stop the KMC though and we were very industrious with polishing off most of the VD's and S's at Windgather. After a hotly disputed debate which nearly saw us going to Horseshoe quarry we were all finally relieved to end up with a decision on Castle Naze for the next week.

Castle Naze

Wed 4th Apr, 2007

Attendees: Roger Daley, Keen Richard, Wavey, Trish and James. Another beautiful spring evening saw a large number of ascents of the classics at Castle Naze.

Bamford Edge

Wed 11th Apr, 2007

A fantastic evening at Bamford Edge.

Trish, Keen Richard and James were there enjoying the evening sun.

Pule Hill

Wed 18th Apr, 2007

[ pule\PYOOL\, intransitive verb:To whimper; to whine. ]

A fine, but breezy (particularly at the top of the crag, where it got quite chilly!) evening. Keen Richard, Gordon, Wavey Dave, Roger, Midge, Joanne, Loretta, James and Dave W. all turned out and plenty of routes were climbed - including "Amen", "Flying Buttress", "Coffin Corner", "Blind Buttress", "Overhanging Arête", etc., etc. The usual discussion at the Pub (the "Great Western") about the next venue was interrupted when a random stranger's car wouldn't start. The Landlord thought that the tough climbing types would be strong enough to push start it... Fortunately this theory didn't need to be put to the test, as one of the KMC team saved the day with a set of jump-leads.

Anglezarke

Wed 25th Apr, 2007

A good turnout this evening, including:

Dave D., Roger Daley, Midge, Joanne, Al, Mark, Gordon, Andy, Duncan, Beaker, Vicky, Dave W., Loretta and Ann.

The weather was cloudy but there was no real rain, only a mere hint of moisture in the air at one point. Some people stuck to the few available lower grade climbs but others, in one case sustained by a "Traditional Lancashire diet of Cheese and Nails", tackled a selection of the harder routes. The grading of some of the routes was questioned, such as First Finale (allegedly E2, 5c) and Plain Bob (allegedly S, 4a), with the former being easier than the guidebook said and the latter being rather devoid of protection for a mere Severe! Plenty of other routes gave good entertainment; Edipol! (HS, 4b), Nightmare (VS, 4b), Metamorphosis (VS, 4c), plus several of the shorter, easier climbs.

Helsby

Wed 2nd May, 2007

A good turn out at Cheshire's premier crag (including 2 members who thought they would have nice a quite evening), many starred routes done, only the Cheshire set were conspicuous by their absence. In true KMC style the pub that the locals recommended was not found. Only three cars of a rather large KMC convoy made it to a pub in Daresbury to vote in next weeks venue. Witches fell at the first round, the next to fall was Cow's Mouth despite the car park being next to the pub! Chee Tor went once it was realised there's not a lot below HVS so Denham Quarry just scraped in with 3 votes to 2.

Denham Quarry

Wed 23rd May, 2007

After two Wednesdays of wet weather prevented any evening climbing, a small turnout at Denham tackled the popular starred routes.

Tissington Spires in Dovedale

Wed 6th Jun, 2007

A couple of photographs from this meet.

Harpur Hill

Wed 20th Jun, 2007

After heavy rain on the 13th meant that nobody got out climbing that evening, the Harpur Hill venue rolled forward to the 20th. There was a poor showing from the Club at this excellent venue. However 2 did turn up and 5 routes were done.

Staden Quarry

Wed 27th Jun, 2007

Four people turned up at Staden Quarry, luckily in a dry evening slot. A few classic routes were done with the last one finished at 10:30, just before it started to rain. The pub was the Sun.

Pot Hole Quarry

Wed 11th Jul, 2007

Only two Karabiners turned up at a very crowded Pot Hole Quarry which was just big enough that you did not have to queue for routes. After much deliberation next weeks venue is Troy Quarry.

Troy Quarry

Wed 18th Jul, 2007

A much better turnout this week, with Dave W., Al, Andy G., Mark A., Gary, Vicky, Duncan, Rachel, Jane and even the Sun(!!) all putting in an appearance. Routes climbed included: "Open Sesame", "Cracked Wall", "One Way Street", "Rapunzle", "Stacked Deck", "Left Siamese Twin", "Right Siamese Twin", etc., etc. Not everyone stayed the full course, though. Duncan and Vicky had to go home to pack for the Alps trip, then the Webmaster mumbled excuses about being to tired and also left early. By the end of the evening, only three people ended up in the Pub to select the crag for the following week.

Blackstone Edge

Wed 25th Jul, 2007

Down to only two KMCers again for this week's evening meet: Mark Ashley and Dave Wylie (most of the other mid-week regulars are in the Alps). By the time Mr. W. had walked to the crag (from home!), Mark had already soloed several of the easier routes. Dave soloed "South Chimney", then followed Mark up "Pendulum Swing" and "Central Groove". As neither of the pair fancied attempting any of the gnarlier VSs, it was off to the White House pub to sample the local beer and pick the crag for the next week.

Dovestones Edge (Chew Valley)

Wed 1st Aug, 2007

Mark Ashley, Chris Williams, Dave Wylie, James Richardson, Des Chadderton and John Williams spent a fine evening at Dovestones Edge. Routes included "Nobbly Wall", "The Direct Route", "Wrinkled Buttress" and "Nasal Buttress" (leads of this Hard Severe by both Mark and Dave). Newcomers Des and John did routes further along the crag, then joined the others in the Pub ("The Clarence"). The consensus was that the Chew Valley is the place to be, so we'd come back to the area the following week.

Rob's Rocks (Chew Valley)

Wed 8th Aug, 2007

Another fine, warm and sunny evening in the Chew Valley.

Chris Williams, Richard Yorke, Dave Wylie, Al Metelko, James Hoyle, Kasia Hoyle, Trish Cranston, James Richardson and Loretta all made the trek up the track to Rob's Rocks.

Antics included: Letter-Box (Hard Diff) even though, surprisingly, there was no Postman! Cave Crack (Hard Severe) in various curious styles Ylnosd Rib (V-Diff) which provided much amusement Zacharias (V-Diff) Cascade (Severe) which, with only one decent nut, required a diversion to top out. The post-meet pub was "The Clarence", for the second week in a row.

Witches' Quarry

Wed 15th Aug, 2007

Duncan, Vicky, Gordon, Andy and Al turned up for a good evenings climb.

Wilton 3

Wed 22nd Aug, 2007

The Bolton Gun Club has firing ranges in Wilton quarries 2 and 3. They have use of the quarries on three days each week, including Wednesdays. There were no red warning flags flying when the first KMC members arrived, but there were two Club members at their lockup in no. 2 quarry. However, when we checked with them, they were packing up and said that there would be no more shooting that evening. That meant that the KMC could indeed climb in no. 3 quarry, rather than having to resort to plan B (which would have been Wilton 1). On arriving next door in Wilton 3, we found that it was infested with school kids - who were having a grand time being top-roped up several of the easier routes. Hopefully the school had previously cleared this with the Gun Club... Thankfully, the kids soon finished off and left the KMC in peace for the rest of the evening. A steady stream of KMC members, prospective members, guests and hangers-on arrived to sample the delights of the quarried gritstone. They included Al, Dave W., Gordon, Trish, Jo, Anne, Duncan, Vicky, Andy, Mark, Rachel, Warby, Gary, Keen Richard and a few others who didn't make it onto the list. A most excellent turnout for a mid-week evening meet! Loads of routes got traffic, including "Orange Crack", "Orange Wall" (soloed by Duncan), "Oak Leaf Crack", "Forked Cracks", "Crack and Slab", "Central Crack", "Shivers Arête", "Eeny", "Mo", etc., etc., etc. Several of the routes proved to be trickier than expected, resulting in some dangling, with Trish gathering the most air-miles. The weather stayed fine, but it was very breezy - making it rather cool belaying at the top of the quarry walls. Climbing continued till after sunset, by which time some people had called it a night and headed off. The rest retired to the local Pub (the Wilton Arms) where the crag for the following week was chosen.

Ramshaw Rocks

Wed 29th Aug, 2007

The attendees where Richard, Chris, Nadia, Ian C., Trish, James H. and Al.

Aldery Cliff

Wed 5th Sep, 2007

The mid-week meet at Aldery Cliff had the 3 club members again outnumbered by non-members. Present were Trish, John Cox, Al, Chris, Gordon, 2xMike, Joe and two others who came to have a look at the club. It was also the third week in a row that climbing continued well past dusk, names need not be mentioned.

Tonacliffe Quarry

Wed 12th Sep, 2007

A superb, warm and sunny, evening tempted out eight KMC members and guests: Dave Wylie, Mark Ashley, Al Metelko, James Hoyle, Richard Yorke, James Cox, Des Chadderton and Gordon. There was one other climber in the quarry early on, but he took flight soon after the KMC began to arrive. There was also a brief Special Guest Appearance by Derek Clutterbuck (of this very quarry's "Layaway Wall" fame)! Most of the low and mid grade routes were climbed by the masses, while some of the harder ones were tackled by Al and Des. The daylight began to run out before 8pm, but that didn't stop the KMC. Various attempts on "The Ceiling" (the 5a roof problem) were made - some successful, others less so - by the light of head torches...

Heptonstall

Wed 26th Sep, 2007

It had been too wet to go out climbing at Heptonstall on September 19th, but the evening of the 26th was bright and sunny at this West facing quarry - which was also nicely sheltered from the cool Easterly breeze. Dave Wylie arrived at around 5pm and spent about an hour bouldering on (the easy side of) the Cubic Block. Al Metelko and Andy Grantham then arrived, so attention moved to the main quarry. Dave led "Fairy Steps" (Hard Severe, 4b, two pitches). While Andy was seconding pitch 1, there was a short, very light, shower. This was, however, of no consequence as most of the route and the belay were completely sheltered under the overhanging top of the crag! Even the top pitch somehow managed to stay dry. By the time Dave and Andy had completed the route, it was dark. This didn't stop Al, though, who followed up the as third man by the light of his head-torch. An excellent route at this fine evening venue. A short walk into Heptonstall village for a quick pint at one of the pubs. The usual voting system fell by the wayside, as three people aren't really enough - particularly if they all nominate a crag... However, general consensus formed following a suggestion by Al: Den Lane Quarries have apparently been cleaned up and provided with lower-offs, so they must deserve a visit!

Den Lane Quarries

Wed 10th Oct, 2007

A good evenings climb was had at Den Lane. In attendance were Andy, Chris and Al.

Hobson Moor

Wed 17th Oct, 2007

Garry, Andy and Al did 6 routes. We were entertained by a few local youths throwing fireworks into the quarry.

Alderman Rocks

Wed 24th Oct, 2007

Four turned up for Alderman Rocks, a pleasant night's climbing.

Dovestones Lower Left Quarry

Wed 14th Nov, 2007

Des, Dave and Al ascended Mercury Crack using all the techniques impossible to practice at climbing walls.