On this picture you can see two of the harder climbs I've done. On the left of the buldge is alledgely my hardest climb "Lieback". On the right, up the crack is "Ringo" I felt that this was harder at the time.
The feeling of satisfaction you get from climbing to the top on a lead is wonderful. It is a combination of problem solving, physical power and managing fear.
climbing: July 2003 Archives
Lucy choosing gear on Wobblestone Crack
Lucy just before the crux on Wobblestone, with a nice line of gear below her
The clouds look fake, I know, but the weather was gorgeous. The climb is so named as the small block in the middle of the crack in the lower picture rocks as you put your hand on it, but it hasn't moved in 70 odd years. This nicely shows lead climbing, as you can see the rope running up to her and the protection in the crack below.
We are buying a rack and are going to climb on gritstone again. Leading means that the first climber is tied onto one end of the rope and places protection to keep him / her safe in the event of a fall. For more information see this glossary. A rack is the collection of bits of protection you place in cracks in the rock.
In fact we are going to climb on these cliffs at Burbage North. Here are some pictures of others climbing at Burbage North.
More on Monday...
We've finally managed to put up the climbing finger board that Lucy bought me. It is from Metolius and is for training at home. Some people convert whole rooms, but we have a small bit of the room off the kitchen. It is growing mind you (bought two packs of these), now that we have mastered drilling holes for boards in brick. Given a larger house, who knows what we might create.
The installation guides, as supplied by Metolius, are for wooden buildings, not brick ones, so some experimentation was required. Drill straight and when marking off the board use some small nails so that the board does not move whilst marking where to drill. I used 4 inch deck screws on three-quarter inch plyboard. Measure twice and cut once and all that.
So this will be the training regime for the rest of the summer, plus climbing at Mile End and outdoors at Stanage.
