Staffordshire Grit Classics

So we did it! We climbed K2 and the other 5 Staffordshire Classics on one windy, bitter March day.

Rain beckoned as we tentatively set off up the final route of the day but held off long enough to balance up technical slab, probably the worst of these routes to find yourself rained on.
The day began over at Hen Cloud; none of us had climbed there before; the book had brought us here. After the dry winter it didn't live up to it's damp and green reputation and gave a good morning's climbing.
K2 - not as tall as it's name sake but a great start to the day with a couple of challenging moves to warm up on; unfortunately the wind was so biting that it felt like the real K2 on pitch 2 where not being able to feel your hands made the crux feel quite tenuous pulling through a rounded break.
Modern - one of 2 single pitch climbs today, a few sustained moves to enjoy.
Central Climb - what to say about pitch 1; have you ever wrestled a rockface? We've no idea what techniques were used but somehow we both squirmed up a grim off-width; nothing about our styles could be considered classic. The rest of the route a good flowing line.
A plod over to the Roaches for jam sandwiches and 3 more routes.
Via Dolorosa - undoubtably the highlight of the day; a route that involves slab work, bold face climbing, creative bridging and a holly bush. Worth all of it's 3 stars.
Black and Tans - a relief of an easier grade as the day drew on. Steady and obvious line but with a finish to focus the mind.
Technical Slab - I wasn't sure if I'd done this one before. John just laughed and suggested that if I didn't remember it then I definitely hadn't done it. I didn't know what to make of that comment but it sounded ominous. And it was. Easy slab work leads deceivingly into a trap, where the realisation dawned that I'd flowed through moves to a point where I couldn't get gear in to protect the groundfall through the next couple of moves - 10m up! It seems to be a common experience on this route and the only option is to accept that the 2 steps up are far easier than a retreat and with a short moment of focus, a more secure and protectable finish arrives.
Just 60 routes to go now.

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