Members present: Dave Wylie, Vicky Alderton and Duncan Lee.

Guests present: Damian Ramsden and Kieran Lee.

The few of us who made the effort were rewarded with a fine autumnal day out in a splendid moorland setting with hundreds of quality problems to go at on superb rough rock complete with seclusion. I’m sure all the other keen boulderers in the club were saving their energy for the following days fell race rather than queuing for polished boulder problems in The Peak.

Our initial warm up forays took place on the rocks below the trig point before we made our way southwards along the edge stopping at “Easy Wall” on our way to “Short Routes” where we lingered for some time.  Much fun was had as everyone ticked off some of the classics of the area including Paw Print (3), Subtletease (4) and Andrex Guppy (5+).  With thinning skin on our fingertips we then made our way back to the boulders around the trig point where Trig Slab (6a) provided us with lots of entertainment, amusement and spotting practice.

We then finished the day at “The Twins” where our remaining skin was abraded on Lippy Traverse (6C) and the superbly named Fridge Hugger (6a+).  The late afternoon light beautifully illuminated the moors as we strolled back to the cars for the short drive down the hill to The Moorcock where sore fingers were soothed by being wrapped around a nice cool pint glass, or fruit juice in Kieran’s case.

Cheers!

I plan to park just below the Whitehouse pub on the A58 and to walk in from there but other approaches are possible from the M62 end of the crag (see either Lancashire Rock, UKC or Lancashire Bouldering for details).  I’m aiming to be at the Trig point area about 11am and plan to work my way along the edge passing the Hueco Block on the way to the Back of Beyond.

There are grades and styles of problem to suit all tastes.  Ultimate low balls to some that feel more like routes but there’s definitely fun for all the family.  So bring a mat (or rope and runners if you prefer) and come along to enjoy the delights of one of Lancashire’s finest bouldering venues.