Members – Dan O’Brien, Emily Pitts, Gareth Wiliams, Helen Boothman, Dave Wylie, Laura Collier

Guests – Aleksandra Pawlik

Absent Wanderer – Andy Stratford…

With the M62 (and thus Yorkshire) closed, the straightforward jaunt to Woodhouse Scar in Halifax became a 3hr nightmare for some of the KMC Wednesday night regulars.  However, once the team arrived at the crag, they were greeted by warm sunshine and clean, roadside gritstone.  

Helen led the delicate and bold arete of Spigilo (HVS) ably followed by Dave.  Helen then kindly provided a toprope for Alex, Laura and Emily to have a go at the technical and reachy Parete (HVS).  Much cursing ensued after Dan used all 6ft of natural advantage to reach past the crux.  Laura led a HVD with a bold start - typical Yorkshire!

Gareth attempted Clingen (E2), a seriously bold (E3 in any other ‘shire…) roof climb with a shocking landing.  The guidebook suggested that placing gear behind the flakes was pointless as it would fail in the event of a fall and just ruin the route by removing a crucial hold.  Pads definitely required!  Alas, the route resisted his efforts and eventually Gareth came to his senses and joined the rest of us bouldering.

Woodhouse is a fantastic local bouldering venue with some excellent problems in the mid grades (4, 5, 6ish) and a number were ascended by the KMC including Radium Arete.

Night fell and the team decamped to the pub.  In the spirit of the general election there were five nominations, none of which particularly appealed.  After the loss of Crowden Quarry and some crumbly horror-show in Leicestershire suggested by Gareth we were left with Brimham Rocks and Dovestones.  Four rounds of voting later, the meet was on the verge of a constitutional crisis as no stable coalition could be found.  Luckily, the day was saved when some Brimham turncoats joined the Dovestones camp.  Chew valley sunsets and classic moorland grit is on the menu for next week.

Until then...

P.S. Upon arriving home I noticed a scribble post from Andy saying that he'd given up and gone home after two hours stuck in traffic.  He gets an honourable mention though not as honourable as the one he would've got if he'd turned up!