Girls (briefly) on Grit

Flow stone in the cave

Emma and I headed down to the Peak District at the weekend for a wee spot of bouldering on grit. We were meeting up with an old University friend of Emma's who was coming to 1) escape from London for the weekend and 2) have her first experience bouldering outside.

We left Edinburgh early Friday afternoon in the hope of missing any evening traffic. We were going quite well until we started to hit the M6 and it all started getting busy and was very, very wet. It was not until we starting listening to the radio that we discovered that the English schools had just split up for the Summer holidays and everyone and their Granny was heading South, hoping for sunshine.

Many sets of road works and traffic jams later we arrived at Stockport train station to collect Tamsyn. The poor girl had had to wait a while for us in a cafe as her speedy train from London only took a couple of hours.

Despite the forecast, spirits were high and we were all looking forward to a good first day. We woke up to rain, lots and lots of rain! Not good for climbing at all, but we packed the car and headed out for the day anyway. First stop was at the Blue John caverns, somewhere Emma had been wanting to see for a while, at least it would be dry, just like our tour guide sense of humour.

Fallen rock

Blue John stone

Plant life

As we left the caverns the sky was beginning to brighten so we drove to the Stanage Plantation, at least we could have a look if nothing else.

It dried enough for us to do some easy problems and give Tamsyn that great first bouldering outdoor experience. We then moved on to Burbage South to find some more easy routes. Sadly because of our late start we did not have too much time there as we were going to Sheffield to meet another old Uni mate. All good though as we treated to a very tasty curry for dinner.

View at the plantation

Tamsyn on grit

Pretty good for a first timer

Sunday, it would be dry and sunny. It had to be!

No Sunday was wet too. Never to be defeated we headed out once it had cleared and hoped for some dry rock at Cratcliffe, and joy o joy we found some. Well for about 5 mins we found some and then the heavens opened once again. We hid in a cave until we got washed out of there too.

There was just no way it was going to dry in the time we had left so we had to scuttle back to the car feeling slightly disappointed once again. We headed into Bakewell for a cup of tea before having to drive home again. Needless to say it was sunny and dry the whole drive home.

View from our cave

Rain

More rain

Big puddles

All photos by Caroline Harvey

Grit Virgins

Burbage South and blue skies

Well what a weekend! I was invited down to the Peak District this weekend with Emma, Diff and Kev. We were all hoping for some decent weather since for Kev and I it was our first visit to the Peak District and first taste of the famous Grit stone. I was very excited about not only bouldering outside for the first time since New Year, but checking out Grit too, groovy.

Diff had some filming to do, so we were at Burbage early on Saturday morning and although there was quite a breeze the sun was out and it was dry. Excellent! Emma and I found some fun looking boulders and got started on some easy problems. Wow, that grit ain't half sharp on the fingers, but good and sticky under the feet. We had a great play on about six problems before our skin started to sting, so thought best to keep some for the next day.

Emma on a nice wee 6a.

I woke at eight on Sunday morning and peaked out through the curtains to find that the wind and rain that hammered on the window for most of the night had cleared to leave beautiful blue skies. Yippee!

We set off to see what the Roaches held in store for us. Kev was psyched to find some routes that might suit him better than Burbage, and Emma and I were wanting some more bouldering fun. However, about three miles from our destination the weather changed. We had checked the forecast and some snow was due, but not till at least midday, it was only 9.30am. By the time we reached the Roaches it was blizzard conditions. Aaargh!

That was the end of the climbing for the weekend. All we had to look forward to now was the long drive home, but even though it was slightly disappointing on the weather front it was a great first outing on grit stone. Hopefully I can go back soon.

Snow at the Roaches

A near whiteout.

A disappointed Kev. Pesky weather!

All photographs by Caroline Harvey