Shaftoe, Northhumberland

Just a picture from my recent trip to Shaftoe in Northumberland and my ascent of 'Purely belter'...

A beautiful day at Stanage!

It's been a while again since I blogged but rather than lack of dry rock, this has been due to lots of fantastic days on the gritstone.

It has been great to do lots of mileage which left me feeling the need to try something harder. I first tried Brad Pit (Font 7c+) at Stanage before Christmas and after finding I could do the first move it embedded itself at the back of my mind as one to do. After a forced greasy session at the begining of Feburary my chin was down again. Then last Friday I went out with the girls to find it the most dry I had ever seen it and I proceeded to fall off the jug at the top first go... then for the life of me could not get up there again!

So after a couple of days rest I went up this morning to find beautiful conditions. Sheffield seemed to have a strange fog hanging over it, but out in the peak it was great. I warmed up at the plantation boulders and wandered over not knowing what to expect - but after a couple of heel pops I made it to the top. It was a great feeling and such a fantastic problem. Check out the link below for the video!

The sun is out!

Well I have not blogged for while as the British weather meant that I have been little more than training down at The Climbing Works and the gym. Over Christmas I popped back to Albarracin for a few days, but with snow on one day it was more of a mileage trip.

Climbing at the works has been going well up until the last week where a strange tweak in my back became very stiff so it's physio and rest for me for a few days - and guess what? It's now stopped raining! Typical.

Not too worry the rocks aren't going anywhere.

Will it ever stop raining!?!

Well since returning from Albarracin it seems like it has not stopped raining! I've managed to squeeze a few days out at Burbage North, doing some mileage. With all the rain it seems like the works and the gym have become my routine!! But that can't be a bad thing in the run up to christmas.

TTFN...

Albarracin Bouldering

Hi all,

Well Sam and I are back from Albarracin after a fantastic two week bouldering trip. As far as places go this was a beautiful spot with amazing climbing. This is a new-ish venue, however the access has only just been agreed and is sensitive so staying to paths and only climbing on certain areas at certain times of the year is essential for climbers to continue enjoying this gem. Take your best spanish phrase book along though as the locals don't speak english, but they do appreciate you trying to speak spanish and will help you learn!

As for me personally is was some of the best bouldering I have ever done. I really felt like I consolidated at the F7b grade climbing from F7a+ - F7b+ daily on some amazing problems, showing that all the climbing at The Works and Grit is beginning to pay off. I really didn't want to come home, and nether did Sam so when we got home we booked our flights back for new year! Here's some photos to give you a flavour of the climbing...

Spanish Rock

After a busy week of coaching at The Climbing Works, I'm really excited to be off to Spain this weekend! After some last minute training on the new yellow circuit at the works, we are off to check out some new bouldering areas and enjoy the sun.

Will post the updates as they happen!

Back on the Grit

Well it's been an exciting week as the weather has been great!

Last Thursday saw us taking a trip up to Ilkley for me to try Deathwatch - E7 6b

I had previously tried this route on a really warm day in the summer and has been waiting for good weather to go back and try it. The day came and we decided to head up. It had been a couple of months since I tried it and it felt terrible on the top rope. Eventually I sorted the moves out on my second top rope at which point I decided to go for the lead. It felt great on the lead and it felt easier than it ever had done before!

For photos and a full report check out next months issue of CLIMB magazine and to see the footage of the ascent check out the new film HARD XS, which will be out on the 10th November (ish - I think!)