Well this is a bit late..
Yorkshire started relatively uneventfully packing the minibus pretty full. I ended up secluded from everyone by a boulder mat. When we got to the hut we unloaded and the banter started. A plan for the next day was thought up and much fun was had socialising. A few people ended up without beds but overall everyone had a good night to my knowledge.
Saturday – Hutton Roof. The weather was pretty dull and dismal. We had hopes however as we set off to the crag that no-one really knew the location of. Once we managed to find it we parked and unloaded. Unfortunately it was raining when we arrived so hopes weren’t massively high and chances of climbing weren’t the best. A few leaders did some easy routes while others were taught to place gear at ground level. After an hour or so the rain stopped and the limestone started to dry out. This led the way for some ‘actual’ climbing. Without a guidebook we ran off the memory of people who had been there before, and just plain guessing. So I looked at the original routes I had backed off due to the weather and decided on a nice route up a crack before an overhanging finish. Checking after the trip confirmed the main route to be VS 5a. The early crack was technical and fingery but good nonetheless. A low and badly protected crux move led to easier ground and a nice rest at mid height. Since all my gear had popped I took the opportunity to place 2 solid nuts before moving. I left the official route but considering I was guessing it seemed good. I moved left to massive jugs in an exposed position and finished a bit run-out. The route seemed rather popular with Amy seconding me, Ben Baxter and Matt Harris top roping it after. Brad and Jim then both led it following the official route. Around 2/3 ish the large spell of sun that we had started to disappear. Lidiya and Myself started a traverse from the top of the crag to the end. Barring an overhang/roof we didn’t go over the top we stayed on the rock the entire way through several 4b/c moves and ¼ of the final roof. Frosty managed to do the roof right to left (the opposite way to us) before we left, a boulder problem around V3/4 I think. As we got to the end of the traverse it started to rain and a decision was made at the top of the crag to head back. The night was eventful to say the least. After a trip to Booths and a meal for everyone the alcohol was broken out. I can now say I have fulfilled the necessary tradition of a naked hut run, it’s surprisingly freeing. Bullock may also now be in possession of an interesting photo of me and Amy but I shall not spoil it for anyone who has been told yet, ‘what happens on the meet stays on the meet’ J The night was pretty long but as we left the crag ‘early’ we ended up starting the staggered leaving for bed from about 12ish.
Sunday was worse overall weather-wise. We woke to rain and while throughout the day it stopped, it never got massively good. The wet weather plan we adopted was to walk to Malham Cove and Gordale Scar. No one took a rope or quickdraws so despite several people eyeing up a 7a at Malham no routes were sentL. On the top of Malham at the limestone pavement an idea was bandied around about an abseil which would have been epic but no one had any gear so the set up would have involved people getting stuff from the bus and bringing it up so the idea was canned. Gordale scar involved a quick scramble up a waterfall and over a large hill. The group ended up split up by speed and we all regrouped nearby a refreshments van. A quick return to the bus before a packed journey back to Leicester, unfortunately with the bin bags that we failed to drop off at a tip. Despite the relatively bad weather it was a good weekend at a good hut J
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