Bank Raid

Saturday Oct 10th
No sign of the clag lifting in Winston so headed east to catch some rays
Much better over at Clay Bank, a hazy sun struggling through the high flat cloud layer

A short walk around Hasty Bank with a sack of gear for extra training, just the job!

4.4km 200m ascent

Fly Agaric, Amanita muscaria.

Poisonous, with hallucinogenic effects

Pilgrimage

View back to the trans Pennine clag

Seatoller Stroll

Thursday 8 September
Borrowdale walking
Rosthwaite - Seatoller - Seathwaite - Rosthwaite
Cracking day out

Setting out

Lunch spot

Local company

Gillercombe Buttress
Been up there a few times!

V pleasant 5 miles

Retail therapy

New 50m Mammut replaces Beale as prime rope

All for the Peak

Thursday 1st October
The high pressure continues to hold sway - full tribe out for the Indian Summer and with the Gman returning all options catered for with a visit to Stanage and the Balcony Buttress Area.   Arrival timed to coincide with the sun burning off the morning clag, cue fabulous weather and a festival of spontaneous rope hopping and random tying on - all adding up to a great afternoon on the crag.

Today's Melange

AT in position to move (as in grovel) up onto the Balcony of the eponymous buttress.  The finishing wall is just round the corner

BP on the exposed traverse of the adventurous Little John's Step

NB gives it rock Awl

Full team got this one Dun

PM nice and tidy on a solid 4b

Meanwhile the chaps from Salewa CH piddle about on some nondescript E3 6a

BP gives it his Awl, the Swiss guys lap up the 3c beta

Awlsome

Leide ganz schwierig Spass zu haben

NB makes a bid for the spare place on Trafalgar Square


Jaunty

NB in Amazonia

Powerful moves to get established above the undercut start

As demonstrated by BP

Followed by the inevitable "Pheeeww!"

Late afternoon

Balcony Climb
Steep and a bit dirty
Jams and jugs keep coming

A compelling line

Bombed up it apparently

BP cleans up

Unknown climber seconding "The Link"
E1 5b
FA Chris Craggs 1974

LR

Amazon Crack

Balcony Buttress

Long John's Step

Awl

Dun

LR

Amazon Crack

Balcony Climb

Balcony Buttress

Fairy Castle Crack

Long John's Step

Awl

Awl (ALT finish)

Dun
Bee

Exit via X country to Lady Bower

then

PUB!

Homeward sounds 

cheers Bob!

Northumberland Multi-Crag

Friday 25th September

Had a few weeks off in a determined effort to lose strength, form and fitness.  This was clearly successful given a somewhat nugatory effort at a new crag - Corby's, compensated for by steady climbing at a venue last visited in 2009 - East Woodburn.


Corby's Crag

Optimistic outlook on arrival

Corby's has a 2 minute walk in just behind

NB meets Mr Jones
Who turns out to be a slippery customer
Holds very sandy like marbles, feet insecure, hand holds all sloping, no more gear above this point wisely abandoned lead and reverted to top rope rather than risk testing the last cam

By contrast Plonka properly graded at S 4a and excellent well protected interesting climbing throughout worth both stars.

Crossover (S4a) apparently goes straight up then traverses left round the back of the tree.

AT backs off after short fall on gear in first break, poor holds on bulging rock above with ground fall potential.

Had a look at a VS4c with good gear but too steep given state of pump and mind.

Retreated back to car somewhat less than exultant

Headed south for something more predictable

East Woodburn
LR
Green Slab
The Arete
Stilton

NB on Green Slab

The Arete follows the right hand edge on good holds

Spectacular Strahlung

Next Stop - Pub for tales of derring don't

Seaside book end

Back in Hove for a refreshing sunny day and a cracking lunch at the Santiago.

                      Another fish lunch! 

Mediterranean Exit

Saturday 19th

Return day
Phil dropped off at Trapani, then farewell H&H

Beach morning and lunch at the Tor del Rei beach shack. 

Super sticky day off the scale humid. 

Regroup at villa swim showers load and off. Palermo go slow flight delayed by an hour slow baggage claim late back at broker about 0130 UK time. 

Ciao Guidaloca

Ciao Lido Bella Dies Vacuus

Parked in the Golf

Last few days - Thursday down the lido on the Golfo with a superb sandy beach and a cracking social evening with a big tray of sticky chicken, procured at the rather marvellous local shop near Scopello,

Another day
Another Lido

Art

Don't look now but we are being watched

Pre pollo aperros

Friday morning down the local lido

meanwhile H's x2 to the cove

Water is lovely down there

Idyllic lunch on the terrace in Scopello what a spot but the local fish are best left in the sea.

Sausages procured cheers Phil

No option but to
LIGHT THAT CANDLE!


Tomorrow back to Blighty
Continued at
Mediterranean Exit