A Few Classics

It’s been a while since I posted anything so I thought I’d better get back to it. I've been out reasonably regularly despite the weather but not often enough to feel comfortable.  Since my last post I’ve managed to get out for 11 days’ worth of climbing. That’s only 20% and for a few of those days we ended up just walking as the weather crapped out on the walk in.

Despite this lack of good weather, and an over-riding lack of psyche to get out, there have been a few more memorable routes. 

Tremadog is owned by the BMC and sits on the road between Caernarfon and Beddgelert.  Arriving at Eric’s café and camp site, a traditional stopping place for climbers which has been written in to climbing folk law, the best of the crags, Craig Bwlch y Moch, towers above.  As you make your way up, you might be deceived in to thinking you’ve arrived at the wrong place or you’ve been sand-bagged by a fellow climber.  The trees hide the great lines above, instead a series of ugly looking grooves run upwards through overhangs. But do not fear, the ochre slab and the line of Vector giving some indication as to what waits above for the intrepid leader. 

Craig Bwlch y Moch (Tremadog), with the imposing Vector bu tress in the centre. Image taken from here.

Christmas Curry/Micah Eliminate.

With the weather looking good for Tremadog Hannah, Ben and myself decided we’d head out. After having to turn round after about 5 miles due to Ben’s shiny new half ropes still being in his bedroom, we made our way under some dark rain clouds, and through an utter deluge just past Chester.  Arriving at Eric’s Café, paying our £1 parking fee and gearing up, we headed up to plum buttress and the start of Christmas Curry

Wanting to lead the crux pitch meant I’d be leading first.  Going slightly past the belay, the other two followed quickly and Ben carried on to with 2^nd pitch quickly.

Off up the first pitch of Christmas Curry.

Ben leaving the belay. 

A final look at the guide book, taking note not to take the initially easier, lower, traverse as this leads to the 5b crux of The Plumb. It all looked pretty thin for HS 4b but I made steady progress.  Looking at the higher traverse I elected to stay a little lower. After traversing for a few meters I realised this was the exact description the guidebook suggested I avoided – I did get a good look at the 5b crux of The Plumb though. 

After making what feels like some thin moves for 4b, you head right for the Micah Eliminate finish. This comprised of climbing the arête to the top. On a fine day a lovely prospect, on a windy day a little less so. I always find arêtes a little scary and this one was no exception. The holds are positive and it was a joy to climb, perhaps retrospectively. Whatever grade you climb, I think this should be on everyone’s tick list.  It was great to tick and a route I’d been waiting years to do.

Stepping on to the arête, the exposure getting the old ticker going!  

One Step in the Clouds

After a spot of food we headed off to Vector Buttress. One Step is a classic VS 4c which finds a line of weakness up the Vector Buttress.  The first couple of pitches follow a series of short groves, past a large tree to a prominent V groove. I lead the first, making my way up an award V groove to the tree and the best runner on the route.  Next a crack bars progress. A few slippery hand jams and some torquing of the feet lead to a massive flake belay.  I thought the jams were great, the crack providing the most interesting part of the pitch! Hannah and Ben elected to ignore the crack and use some small crimps and bridge the corner – more jamming practise for these two!  At this point, the upper section of the climb is still out of view.  After swapping gear and checking the guide Ben lead off.  Even after a few meters are gained, all does not become apparent – Ben asking for the description again just to double check.  The good initial rightward crack peters out and your left looking at a rather blank and featureless slab of dolerite – are you sure this VS? 

Continuing rightwards, small holds present and the line becomes clearer.  Again the exposure arrives quickly, the pitch below giving no indication. This section of bold climbing is broken by a large flake and a moment of respite, giving you chance to look at the expanse of space between you and the ground below.  A look further up reveals more apparently blank rock.

A positive approach is rewarded with some holds and a good runner or two. For those who cannot stand the intricate and intense climbing any longer, an escape into Hail Bebe can be made but composure will be rewarded;  if you’ve made it this far the climbing above is no harder.  Keep breathing and the sanctuary of the belay arrives, giving you time to savour experience sat on the edge of the mighty vector buttress. 

The final pitch shares the same ground as Hail Bebe - a quality, if much more amenable, VD. Pad up the slab to a large diagonal flake, place a runner, and romp along this to the final belay. 

Heading back down,  having climbed two classic routes – beer o’clock was called and we headed to the pub to bask in our glory. 

BAW’s Crawl

Gritstone at the best of times has some very esoteric routes and moves. If you haven’t climbed on it ‘easy’ routes can be very perplexing, especially if you haven’t learnt the mystical art of jamming.

I hadn’t climbed on the grit since April/May so decided that a steady approach was the way to go. After climbing Flying Buttress (3* VD), Holly Bush Crack (3* VD) and Balcony Buttress (3* S 4a) we headed to BAWs Crawl (3* HVS 5a).  Stood at the bottom, the roof looks pretty intimidating, but I had an idea of how to Climb it.

Baw's Crawl (3* HVS 5a), the dotted line shows the line the route takes. Image taken from here.

After placing some gear I tried to hang on and heel hook my way along the shelf below the roof, eventually, lying feet first on the shelf and shuffling my bum along until I hit the flake and stepped out on to the final slab. This is certainly a move I’ve never done before and not sure how often I will in the future but it’s a great climb and the crux is well protected!

Light House Arête

Gogarth is a very unique experience.  It is generally bold, sparsely protected with some suspect rock.  This results in climbers needing a cool, controlled approach – not a place to hammer out the basics.  The first time 

I climbed here, with Andy, can be described as nothing less than an Epic.  After being told A Dream of White Horses was too much too soon for us, we headed there to prove the doubters wrong.  In hindsight, what a wonderful thing it is, it most certainly was. After leaving one rope at the Ab station, dropping gear and eventually escaping at the penultimate belay the experience left a rather salty taste in my mouth. 

Since then I have wanted to go back and give Gogarth another go, to conquer the fear that it left me with.  

After two more years of climbing, and lots more multi-pitching and learning the ropes (every pun intended), I thought I might just about to be ready to face my demons.  This was perhaps further compounded as it was going to be Hannah’s first sea cliff experience – a good choice? Only time would tell.

Getting there early, the weather looked good so we parked up and headed down.  We picked lighthouse arête as it was described as the first route that should be done in your Gogarth career. It was also surrounded by other routes which we could have a go at afterwards. 

Setting the abseil up, the adrenalin was coursing through my veins.  Memories of Dream surfacing, more like a distant nightmare.  Abbing in things only got worse, but at least we had both ropes this time and I knew how to set-up a hanging belay!  After a short breakdown in communication, our ‘numbered pull on the rope system’ worked and Hannah headed down to the sea level ledge and we sorted ropes. 

Setting up the abseil to get to the starting ledge 50m below.

The abseil in, not psyched!

By now the sweat was pouring down my forehead, the anxiety start to present with obvious physical symptoms. I needed to start climbing, to stop thinking and just get on with it – the thought of doing something is usually much worse than actually doing it! I knew I could climb it, VS 4c it’s not a problem. Just being here, way down here and the only way out is all the way up there. I was just Up there, why have I come down here – I was safe up there!

Starting out, the route traverses left from the belay and up to the arête proper.  This was fairly easy and it was good to be climbing, good to stop thinking. Hannah followed and we swapped at the belay – her enjoyment seeming a lot more than mine.  Was I enjoying it? Doesn’t matter, got to climb it now. 

The view from the first belay, the rest of Castell Helen round to the Left.

The next Pitch looked a little more spicy. From the belay you traverse right and enter a crack. Gear is all good and you belay just below a roof, which looked like the crux.  Now I was starting to flow, things felt in control again, I was enjoying it again.  The demons were being banished. 

Hannah making her way to the first belay

At the belay (right), showing sign she might enjoy this sea cliff malarkey!

Hannah arrived, smiling as always and giving positive encouragement. It’s good to have someone who continually gives you a boost when your climbing, tells you your OK when you get a bit panicked. From the belay a roof and corner wait above. Place some gear, pull through the roof on good holds and bridge up the corner, savouring the wild exposure and awesome position – not bad this for VS.  The final pitch is a plod back to the abseil point. 

As we arrived a number of people were just abbing in.  We called it a day as they were going on the route we were going to do next, Rap VS 4c, and we were off for a Sunday roast at my sisters just outside Bangor. 

If you want a route that’s fairly easy but with all the exposure that both Gogarth and sea cliff climbing brings, then this route is certainly recommended!

Hannah seconding pitch 2, loving the exposure and the climbing.

We headed to Cornwall last week and Moonraker, listed as possibly the best HVS in England.  I'll write a separate post for this one as it was such an awesome route.