Amid the worst weather forecast I’d seen for a meet in some
time ULMC returned for Semester 2, and returned with a bang. The Peak District
was the destination, and with the forecast suggesting two days of nonstop rain
I didn’t hold out much hope at all of getting some climbing done; Sunday was
looking like our best bet for anything. Nevertheless off we drove, the bus
making terrible noises all the way there and driving like a 1 litre hatch
rather than the 2 litre beast it is. Brad negotiated us safely there and we
swiftly got drinking as it was Jack’s birthday.
The return of Harry
Holkham after a terms absence and Amy Mason (after a years) got things started,
and before long Jack had eaten his birthday cake and had a dirty pint placed in
front of him by Harry which contained a large amount of chilli powder. Jack
made the worst effort I have ever seen to consume this pint, initially
downright refusing before being bullied/peer pressured into finally doing it in
three separate gulps. He was obviously annoyed at my relentless abuse, because
10 minutes later I had a similar pint placed in front of me, this time with
coffee granules. Mindful of the abuse I’d dished out, I had no choice but to
get on with it and just about got away with it. The rest of the night passed in
a blur. Almost every member of my family was insulted by Jack, who rapidly
regressed as the night wore on, culminating in him hitting his own head on the
wooden pole holding the hut up (video to follow). Brad too was on the sauce,
stealing Izaak’s keg to good effect. Eventually we all hit the hay and waited
for the inevitable day of mincing.
Except this wasn’t the case. I staggered out of sleeping bag
to find Jack still drunk, Brad nearly dead and bright sunshine outside.
Nevertheless after a bit of persuasion everyone got going pretty quickly and we
were on our way to Burbage North to make the most of whatever dryness we were
allowed. The crag was miraculously dry and after initial confusion people got
going in some of the windiest conditions I’ve ever seen. I started up the HS
Lieback, inadvertently straying onto the VS jamming crack next door, and was
greeted by incredible winds at the top. I set up a belay laughing at the
absurdity of the whole situation and brought Sam and Steve up. Meawhile, Ellie,
Emily and Charlie had formed a dream team and were off with Emily leading Black
Slab Arete Severe 4A. By all accounts this went off without a hitch barring
Emily forgetting her top setup and delaying Ellie and Charlie hard. James and
Harry vividly described a hex placed by Emily that appeared to be merely
sitting on the crack rather than being wedged inside it. Amy was gurning her
way up the greenest Diff on the crag for some reason, Sentinel Chimney, which
was giving Katie and Bethan moaning ammunition rather than psych. Nevertheless
they both did it!
Jack, no longer drunk but with a crippling hangover, had
started up Ringo S 4a but bailed, leaving Sam to take up the baton which he
successfully did- cracking effort in the cold, those are hard for Severe! Brad
too had suffered initial failure, sliding out of his crack next door, Ring
Climb S 4a. Despite his claims this ‘fall’ did not constitute a true whipper,
but he did get back on and finish it, bringing up a grumpy and freezing Mason
after him. I wasn’t psyched for anything else in the area so Steve set off up
the Diff Ring Chimney and Peate and I assisted his top setup. (I have forgotten
what some people did- comment and let me know J)At
this point people were noticeably grumpy and cold, so Jack took people off to
boulder at the end of the crag, while James, Brad, Mason, Harry and I moved
along to Long Tall Sally area, leaving Ellie leading Lieback- good effort. After
an aborted attempt on Long Tall by James I started up Amazon Crack, which felt
bloody hard for HS but I am shit at cracks. Everyone drifted away to the
bouldering area, and after watching Charlie lead Ring Climb onsight and thereby
making herself better than Brad, we headed over there too. The weather was
closing in so after a spot of soloing in the biting wind the deicision was made
to quit while we were ahead. It seems everyone had a good time boudering, with
Izaak taking a fall from the top of the Chant before getting back on and doing
it- nice one! We headed off to Outside for a coffee. Both Jack’s cashed in,
with the recovering meet sec ruthlessly exploiting his Dad’s generosity in
buying a new pair of walking boots and Peate replacing his ancient Evolvs. Saturday
evening was much more tame- we were all in bed by midnight. Getting soft,
clearly…
True to type, Sunday dawned hosing it down. After tidying
the hut we headed off to climb Kinder Scout in the rain. This is the solitary
namesake of the ‘Peak’ district, but this is pushing the definition pretty
significantly- its flat on top and looks nothing like a peak. After negotiating
most of the approach hill in 1st gear out of necessity and killing
the clutch, we arrived and set off. The initial boring plod section turned into
a pretty involved gorge-esque scramble, before we topped out onto the plateau
and had the obligatory photo:
Highlights of the days walk included Ellie and Emily ridiculing my attempts to get them to appreciate the nice view, the carrot
making another hilarious appearance in a ULMC photo (for some reason not on facebook, yet), Mason admitting that she
was enjoying the walk despite moaning excessively, and me and Harry getting a little
lost. After trying what felt like the hardest mantel in the world with a
rucksack on my back we descended the Pennine Way and hit the pub for a bit. We
clearly did something useful as everyone was knackered- I’ve never heard the
bus so quiet! Despite not getting all that much climbing done I’ve got to see
the weekend as a success because I didn’t expect to do any! In any case Friday
night more than made up for it- you’re a disgrace Jack.
Hopefully we will have better luck in Yorkshire, but rest
assured the drinking will continue when the BUCS crew arrive Saturday evening!
See you then!
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