Wed 26th Aug, 2015
Alderman Rocks, Chew Valley
Members. Nils Elgar, Ding oi Koy Dave Wylie, Andy Stratford,.
Guests. Paul McCormack. Ryan Linfield, Paula Radtke, Emma Bird, Duncan Zerafa.
Pub only!!!: Dan O'Brien.
Great turnout tonight at a crag with one of the best outlooks in these parts. Windy enough to blow all the midges in the world away. Nils and Ding arrived early doors and made ascents of Pygmy wall and P1 of The Great Slab, in fact pretty much everyone ended up seconding P1 of Great Slab (4b) but no-one fancied the vicious upper crack - all tending instead to the excellent and pleasant P2 of Rib and face (4a). The Great Gatsby at VS 4c also proved popular. Andy led up Great Slab Right HVS 5a with a succession of seconds including Emma Bird on her first ever day outdoor climbing. Type 2 fun. Paul Mc was back on the rock after a nine year break, and Duncan appeared to run up every route he was pointed at. The entire team made it to the Clarence for the voting, joined by shirker Dan, claiming his foot was too poorly to handle a rock shoe. Ever heard of Elbsandstein Gebirge? No, I expect not. Neither had anyone except Paula as it is in her native Germany. It still got 3 votes and survived into round 2 as we lost Stanage on the first vote! (proposed by Aussie Ryan!) Eventually Wilton 1 won out over Heptonstall with the other contender, Crowden in 3rd. After voting we discovered that actually Elbsandstein Gebirge is not a crag but a National Park....lost in translation again......
So, with the nights drawing in, and the final month of the wednesday outdoor season approaching, get yourself down to Wilton next week for some steep, well protected quarried grit action.
Andy Stratford