A Great Finish to a good year!
Christmas was over and we were all feeling a little out of shape with all the chocolate and good food we had piled in over the festive period so a last minute trip to the peak district was planned. Liz, Josh and myself found ourselves in a Hathersage cafe ready for some fun bouldering in the cold crisp weather that has hit these shores recently.
Liz Climbing well in the freezing conditions!
It is fair to say that we had a proper giggle climbing in absolutely freezing weather and we found that warming up was as hard as some of the boulder problems we were to try. A mixture of star jumps and shadow boxing seemed to get the blood flowing, in particular a trip to Gardoms was brilliant although I did not get to the top of any boulder I had a hilarious time trying some hideous mantle problems.
Liz trying to turn the lip on a hilarious boulder problem.
The real reason for this Blog is to congratulate Josh Ramsden who on an extremely cold day, in freezing fog, managed to climb "the Knock" a brilliant line first climbed by John Allen back in the day. It takes a crimpy wall to a good jug were some committing moves lead away from the only gear on route to finish on a sloppey top out!
The route is graded E4 in current guide books, although this route for many years held the mighty grade of E5. It difficulty is oftern a good pub argument that really it depends how tall you are, ( the crux is easier if your tall like me) and how good you belive the cams to be, either way this was a fantastic ascent and one that Josh should be rightly proud of so a massive well done and good luck in the new year!
Josh pushing on to climb "The Knock" E5 6A
Happy climbing
Happy New Year
simon
