Its getting hotter by the day – up to 25º C here today. Our original plan was to go bouldering up in Croasdale but somehow the heat yesterday drained us. So plan B, with no walking uphill, sounded good to me. A tour of the bouldering venues on Longridge Fell with Robin, who is aiming to produce a bouldering guide to Lancashire – a big shout. This is my home ground and I was happy to go to all the esoteric crags that I’ve been playing on since time – since some time anyway.
First stop was Kemple End at the far end of Longridge Fell. Some classy little routes here and a good amount of bouldering. It was a little too hot in the morning sunshine. The young fit Robin [all things are relative] soon dispatched all the problems at the left hand end. He then went on to climb [I’d call it a jump, but then I’m jealous] a new eliminate ?V5/6. Impressive.
going…
going…
… missed.
My low level crimpy and strenuous traverse, Lowest Earth [there is a Tolkien theme here, he spent a lot of time down the road at Stoneyhurst College] proved more difficult than I previously remembered, maybe the grading is wrong, or it was too hot.
We had a look at possibilities on the steep, impressive Hodder Buttress across the quarry floor but everything seemed highball on this sweaty day. Onwards into Finlandia Quarry across the road to look at bouldering possibilities, to be honest they are limited. Some good micro routes though. Called in at another obscure graffiti covered buttress in the forest which I’d climbed on years ago, but it didn’t look so good today. Would need re-cleaning and for what?
Our next port of call was down the road where I’d previously dismissed a quarry above a pond. But Robin knew better and had done his homework on a secret, secluded crag. Straight from the walk in this looked impressive from a bouldering point of view. How come I’ve missed this one, my reputation as a Longridge Fell connoisseur has bottomed out.
Despite the hot sweaty conditions we set about gardening the unclimbed crag and Robin was soon able to demonstrate his abilities on the lower parts. We will have to wait for the other areas to dry and be brushed clean. Watch this space.
Soon back at home to watch Andy Murray’s remarkable victory at Wimbledon. Historic.
It was hot enough in Reading walking a few kms on the canal. The photos are impressive, sharp and clear even though they are very small on the iPhone.
Nice little outing John, I can imagine that Bull Stones would have been too warm on Sunday, I don’t think I’ve ever said that before.
Gimmer was perfect on Saturday, just a minor problem when we geared up, between Mike and I we’d left circa 40 nuts in the boot of my car. So with a considerably lighter rack we did a number of routes, I even managed VS lead without them.