Member: Aleks Pawlik, Emily Pitts.

Guest: Maria 

After considerable to-ing and fro-ing of the weather reports and the onslaught of rain for the whole morning, on Saturday night the decision was made to abandon Millstone as a venue for this meet and change it to a much later meet - 2.30pm at Birchen: quick drying, friendly and an easy walk in.  A mixed blessing. Only three of us made it out, a bit later than 2.30, but what a stunning afternoon ensued - glorious sunshine, space to ourselves and good company. And a few biscuits. 

Aleks led Emma's Dilemma, seconded by Maria and I. This was Maria's first proper outdoors trad experience, but with a lot of sport miles under her belt she rose to the occasion and led her first ever trad route.  An interesting chimney described as requiring 'traditional' climbing techniques. She climbed it in style and set up her first anchor very well at the top.  By this time the sun was really shining and the photos from the day reflect the enjoyable excursion we all had.  We left at around 7 to collect Jasmine from Glossop on the way home. 

This one’s pretty much what it says on the tin - climbing on one of our finest gritstone crags.

Millstone abounds with classic routes. Check it out on http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crag.php?id=19 . I shouldn’t need to sell it just count the stars.

If you’ve not been before, take the road from Hathersage up the hill towards Sheffield and you can’t miss the crag on the left hand skyline. There’s a large carpark on the left a couple of hundred yards beyond the crag. Alternatively, you can take the train From Manchester Piccadilly to Grindleford, have a bacon butty in the café and enjoy a pleasant twenty minute walk through Padley Woods, passed Lawrencefield and on to Millstone.

I’ll aim to be there about 10.30am; probably in the Embankment area initially.