Midweek Meets
Please read the following if you are considering coming along to one of
our meets:
BMC Participation Statement
"I accept that climbing and mountaineering are activities with a risk of
personal injury or death. I am aware of and shall accept these risks and wish
to participate in these activities voluntarily and shall be responsible for my
own actions and involvement."
the KMC mid-week evening Climbing meets continued, albeit at a reduced frequency, all through
winter 2007/2008. They are now back in full Summer mode, being held at local crags every Wednesday
evening, weather permitting. Crags for each week are nominated by those keen people who actually
got out and climbed the week before.
Next Planned Midweek Evening Meet
Click on the crag name for further details about the venue, plus links to maps, etc.
| May 21st | Witches' Quarry (see also the Online Guidebook) |
|
Some lucky people may be able to get out climbing nice and early, but this will vary
depending on work hours and the travelling distance. Generally you should find KMC
climbers at the crag by 6pm and some of us might still be there after it's gone
dark!
Non members are very welcome. Should you wish to attend, it would be
advisable to let the club know via
membership@karabiner.org so that we know who to look out for and possibly
make a last minute change to a climbing wall should the weather turn foul.
|
|
Previous Evening Meets
|
| May 14th | Troy Quarry (see also the Online Guidebook) |
|
A superb fine evening at Troy Quarry, with Duncan, Vicky, Al, Mark, Dave W.,
Trish, James, Andy, Mike, Sean and Gary (not in a suit this time!) turning out
for the meet.
All the usual routes were climbed, including:
"Sounder",
"Left Siamese Twin",
"Right Siamese Twin",
"Rapunzle",
"Stacked Deck",
"Overlooked Crack" (nice lead, Trish!),
Duncan's route "Vicky of Tadcaster" "Trojan Horse",
etc., etc.
The local Mountain Rescue Team were also out, practicing their rescue techniques
at the other side of the quarry. At least we hope that this really was a
training session, as the screams from their "casualty" seemed very realistic...
A sub-group continued climbing till after sunset. Al observed that there was
enough moonlight to keep climbing all night, but the team finally headed off to
the pub (the "Robin Hood" in Haslinden) for the usual post-escalade
drink and selection of the crag for next week.
|
| May 7th | Den Lane Quarries |
|
Al, Trish, Mark A., Dave W., James H., Midge, Mark H. and (a different) Gary attended this
meet. Not all their climbing kit made it along to the quarry, though. Various new skills
were learned, including how to improvise a harness using slings and techniques
for getting down from the top of the crag without ring-barking the belay tree.
The grades on some of the routes seemed a bit out: 4b at Den Lane definitely seemed
harder than 4b at Hobson Moor did a fortnight ago! And, does "S" really stand for
"Severe"? Or perhaps it's for "Steep", "Strenuous" - or even "Soil", given the
amount of this material in the cracks on at least one route?
Routes climbed included Elderberry Slab (HVD), led by both Trish and Dave; Ash Tree
Direct (S), led by both of the Marks; Three Notch Slab (MVS, 4c), led by Al; Orchestral
Crack (HVS, 5a), led by Gary; Bivouac Route (HVD) - led by Mark A; plus a couple
other of routes as well.
It was a very enjoyable and rather a fine evening. Most of the team rounded things
off at the Cross Keys pub.
|
| April 23rd | Hobson Moor |
|
A fine Wednesday evening tempted a fair number of climbers out to Hobson Moor.
Dave W., Al, Richard, Midge, Joanne and Mark came along to the meet to get
some routes in. Jo F. and Carl also turned up to climb, but hadn't actually
known about the evening meet! Gary also put in an appearance but, being dressed
for work, in his suit, he didn't climb. There were also a large number
of non-KMC climbers at this popular quarry.
Routes included "Amphiteatre Climb", "Pocket Wall", "Epitaph
Corner", etc. A lot of boudlering, traversing and soloing of easy routes was also
undertaken.
|
| April 16th | Hobson Moor |
|
Chris, Gordon and Al bouldered at a dry but cold Hobson Moor, the emphasis
on Mantel Shelving.
|
| April 9th | Hobson Moor |
|
Andy and Al did go to Hobson Moor on the 9th even though most of the
crag was wet and green there was enough dry rock to do 2/3 hours of bouldering.
|
| April 2nd | Yellowslacks |
|
Not a good turnout at Yellowslacks, guess the walking-in and navigation put
most people off. Al did a lot of bouldering/soloing on the many boulders
and buttresses all over the hillside for a few hours, only company being
hares which where very obvious as they were in camouflage white. Just as he
was about to head home, Andy arrived in time for the two of them to do a HVD
(4c!) a little after sunset.
|
| March 19th | Windgather |
|
The last winter midweek evening saw a good turnout of Chris, Richard,
Martin, Mike and Al climb 11 routes (could also be counted as 15 as later in
the evening we split into two teams) and that makes 28 climbs climbed (not
including solos) over the 3 outings at Windgather.
|
| March 5th | Windgather |
|
Despite the strong winds, rain showers and wind chill, 7 routes were
completed. Attendees: Andy (I'll climb with one rock shoe), Chris (I'll
climb without my head torch) and Al. After turning his car around, Andy
spotted his other rock shoe looking back at him, smugly, in the middle of
the road. The Pub was The Swan.
|
| February 27th | Windgather |
|
A good night was had, 10 routes ranging from Diff to VS before heading for
Len's local and a pint of Old Dog.
Attendees: Andy, Martin and Al.
|
| February 6th | Helsby |
|
Andy, Chris and Al turned out. Although the day was dry and sunny quiet a lot
of the crag was wet and rather slippery especially the easier routes but there
again it has been raining for most of January. However the main climb of
the night, Flake Crack VS, was dry except for the first few moves off the
ground and was done in two pitches. The upper pitch, not in the guide, a
steep hanging flake, was easier then the lower pitch.
What made the night were the lights stretching from Warrington and Runcorn
to the east, Helsby village, Stanlow and Liverpool (doubly so, being
reflected off the Mersey) and Birkenhead and Queensferry in the west. Places
not usually associated with beauty. A stunning view and probably worth
coming here for a walk at night if climbing is not your thing.
|
|
Midweek Meets in Previous Years
We have the lists of mid-week meets (and any reports from them) for these years:
|
|
