Members: Dan O’Brien, Caro, Ian Crook, Steve Lopaki, Dave Wylie, Harry Potts, , Laura Bond, Tim Howarth,  Carrie Marr, Michelle Harrison, Steve Torley

Guests: James Pike, Carrie Marr, Sam Crabb, Jenna Pengilley, Claire Hawkins

The storms that had battered the country fo much of February decided to give the KMC a well earned break and from nowhere a warm crisp sunny morning greeted the KMC as they filled much of the car-park at Rivelin reservoir.

With such perfect conditions and a largely quiet crag it was one of those days where trying to track the ascents was impossible with multiple ascents from multiple teams.  The following is a highlights reel.

Claire, Harry, Steve T and Dave W formed a team and climbed David’s Chimney (VD) and The Crevice (HVD) with the leading honours split between Harry and Claire. After Steve went in search of his climbing shoes, Claire led Lichen Slab II (S) though led is a generous way to describe a route that has almost no gear!

Dan and Michelle climbed Birch Buttress (VD) and Birch Slab (S), the latter being quite reach dependent for gear placement before joining the main group for ascents of Isolation (S) and the bold Rodney’s Dilemma (S).

Tim, Ian and Carrie also climbed Rodney’s Dilemma and Left Edge (very bold VS) before heading off in search of Groove Route (HVS) which refused to succumb despite Dan lending them a significant chunk of his rack!

As the day wore on Dan and Michell endured the lichenous corner thrutch of White House Crack (S) and Steve L led Better Late Than Never in error as he was aiming for Left Edge - ticking a E1 in mistake for a VS, top effort!

We were incredibly lucky to almost get the crag to ourselves in such perfect weather.  A great start to the cragging year!

For those of you staying behind while a lucky bunch jet off to Norway for some freezing cold winter adventures, this meet will offer something entirely different.

100% guaranteed good* weather awaits on the Gritstone Sun Rock meet.  We will be heading to Rivelin Edge for a balmy* relaxing* jaunt on and absolutely classic crag.

Rivelin is a great venue for winter cragging due to it’s sheltered aspect and quick and easy approach.  There is a good mix of grades with a number of well-starred routes in the VD-VS range and some absolute classics in the VS-HVS range including routes up the spectacular Rivelin Needle which require an abseil descent.

Parking is in the free car park on the south side of the dam at Rivelin Reservoir on the A57.  Apparently the car park is now locked at 6pm every evening so we’ll have to be sure to be back at the cars by then. From the car park, walk back to the A57 and take the path opposite that runs gently upwards towards the crag.  A left fork (don’t wander off rightwards) takes you to the base of the crag - the whole walk should take around 5-10 minutes from the road.

I’ll be at the car park at 9.30am and aiming to get to the crag for 10.00am.  We’ll base ourselves near the Rivelin Needle which allows easy access to much of the crag.

Hope to see you there!

Dan

*your milage may vary - thermos flasks may be useful.