Swiss Granite - Yummy

Back to Handegg, it has been a while (seven years) and despite the showery weather, it is great to be back. Visits to both the Susten Pass and the Grimsel Pass to sample the climbing have been great - there is still a lot of snow about and many wet streaks on the big slabs, but there is still plenty to go at. Hikes into Eldorado and through the Aarschluct Gorge were also grand, the visit to a dentist in Meiringen for a root-canal filling less so. Not that it was especially painful, I just haven't had the bill yet! (Finally got the bill 635 Swiss Francs - now that really did hurt!)

Jura's a Park

The ferry crossing was silk-smooth and a quick nip across France saw us back to Pontarlier, in the Jura, just a spit from the Swiss border. It is seven years since we were down this way (seven great summers in Norway) but it felt good to be back in the area.
Some impressive thunder storms have been grumbling away on and off, it is also pretty hot, though camping at 3000' has taken the edge of the heat.
We had a walk up Mont d'Or, (4750') which was superb, myriad wild flowers, great views and a lovely breeze. The following day we visited a small crag actually in Pontarlier - an old quarry (much better than it sounds) with just over 100 routes, I cracked of a quick 13, nothing above F5+ but it was just nice to be moving. The reason for doing 13 - simple, I added them up wrong!

Wham, Bam, thank you Mam!

Colin came down for a few days to get a bit of rocking done - the weather has been hot and sweaty for a while now but we thought we would try a few new venues. As a starter Masson Lees was interesting (including the drive down, my car was in for a service, they offered me a choice of courtesy car - a diesel Legacy or an Impreza WRX!). The sunny side was roasting but the shady side was much more equable. We did six routes (OK Colin did seven, including cruising a F7a) - a great find by Gary and bon effort with the development.
Thursday we headed for Colwyn Bay and the routes at Penmaen Head - again we were more than a little surprised, pleasant setting, great routes, lovely rock. The sun eventually fried us but in the mean time I did seven and Colin did eleven (and a half!) - a place we must go back too asap.
Friday was forecast to be the hottest yet, so we headed for Higgar Tor in the hope of catching a bit of a breeze. The hope was a bit forlorn (due to the easterly wind) but we did half a dozen of the 'easier. routes up there. I vidoed Colin zipping up the File in 2 mins 35 secs too! What I need now is a bit of a rest - maybe a cruise to Zeebrugge and a touring holiday to Switzerland will fit the bill!

Flaming June

After a mixed but excellent few days in Pembroke the weather in the Peak has been a bit unsettled, despite the meteo forecasting a lovely (hot and sweaty?) summer. A day getting beaten by easy routes at Ramshaw and battered by the wind on Stanage was enough - we booked a passage to Handegg via Hull. With that sorted the weather perked up (of course) and it was a big team outing to Stanage. A glorious June day - the longest - with highlights of Mississippi Varient Direct (E1 5b), Paucity (HVS 5b) and Good Friday (HVS 5b) - all of which were easier than Mantrap (HVDiff) at Ramshaw!

Colin's down for a few days later in the week - now where shall we head?

Pembrokeering

Alan organised a RockFax/UKC (A-Team; me, Colin and Sherri B-Team Alan, Mick and Mikey) to spend a few days in Pembroke, after the school halfterm to ensure the place was nice and quiet. And so it proved to be - the cool weather, wind and rain certainly kept the masses away!

Despite mixed weather, over three hectic days we managed to visit/climb/check Mewsford, The Castle, Mother Carey's, Saddle Head, Buckspool Down and St Govans as well as fill most of the photographic gaps.

Amazingly it was eleven years ago that I last visited the area, and inevitably, as soon as we got back I wondered why it had taken so long!
The B-team camped at Bosherston - great for the pub but a bit damp at night - whereas Sherri found us some superb accommodation at Thorne Chapel, only three miles from Bosherston. We stayed in the 'pool-house' and Colin got his own Gypsy Caravan in the woods - I think he may be starting fortune telling!

Clywd Clipping

A flying visit to Llangollen seemed like a good idea, it is quite a few years since we climbed in the Clwyd area and I wanted to check out some of the new easy sport routes. A very pleasant night in a pub and 15 routes over two half-days were a great tonic. I was impressed with the titchy sport routes at Trevor, a lovely setting and loads to do there, mind you they are already getting polished despite only being a few years old.

The traffic on the way home was already getting grim despite it being mid-afternoon - the radio reported jams nationwide. Lets stay local this weekend!

That's Better

A trip up north for my parents Diamond Wedding Anniversary (traffic - arrrggghhhh) was called for so Sunday we pencilled in a visit to Almscliff on the way back to Sheffield. At last the weather was glorious, and the crag was amazingly quiet. Colin and Mark were there along with Alan Hinkes. I had never climbed with Alan and we had a pleasant time cracking off half a dozen climbs from the crags excellent repertoire of VS and HVS routes.