Stanage Plantation... Wednesday evening...

Made it outside last evening.. Great to amongst the real rocks again, away from all the hassle of the ambulance/paramedic side of life. Met up with Michelle and then Jim joined us too.. Michelle has not been outside climbing this year at all, so wanted some nice steady stuff. So I had an easy time too, then when Jim joined us, he as usual pushed me into doing a little bit more than I thought I would! Cheers Jim...

It was a lovely evening as Michelle & I got the the crag around 18.00, warm sunshine but with a bit of a breeze on the top of the rocks... We walked through one of Stanage's best known bouldering areas called 'Plantation' as well.. Tempted to hang out by some of those rocks, but we were on a mission to get M up her first outdoor lead..

I choose to lead one called ' Hercules Crack' and the guide book says it will live up to it's name... It did! Boy! I got well scuffed and scraped getting/jamming up the large crack! Michelle seconded it really well.. Better than I led it!

Then Michelle saw one called 'Sand Gully' and decided that that would be her lead.. She got the gear she wanted and set off up the chimney to get some gear in above that. All went well, placing another piece further up. She had a bit of a 'wibble' moment but overcame that and was happy that she had led somart at last!

I led the same one as M and then one next to it called 'Sand Crack' Jim arrived just as I was about to place my first bit of gear.. So I came down a again for a hello chat, then back off up the route getting completely cack handed as usual. So had to come back down again and restart so I could place my hands in the right places in the right order - sigh! I'll learn to read a route one day! The route was great fun and over to soon.. Jim seconded it as Michelle was packing up her stuff to go in a bit.

Jim then got sorted to lead his first route ' Paradise Wall' Some thin crack climbing and a very dodgy traverse as well! He led it really well and very bravely to on that traverse! I seconded it and it was a good one! The traverse was scary but Jim had rigged the top rope so if I did peel off I would not swing miles! Thankfully I managed to stay one - superb route, But I don't think I'll lead that one!

My turn again and I led ' Paradise Arete' which as it states takes you out onto an arete.. The start was awkward and after placing some gear then involved standing on a small ledge with just an undercut at knee level to hold onto with one hand, now above the gear as well... Then I had to reach up with my free hand to just get fingertips on a rounded break, then bring up other hand and move my feet up on thankfully a very 'gritty' scoop to then mantleshelve onto the break/ledge with (very thankfully) good holds and gear placement! Phew! That warmed me up... Yikes! The rest of the route involved moving out onto the arete which was lovely and exposed, then moving up and over large lumps of rounded rock to top out! Superb & scary!

Jim led his last then called ' Pegasus Wall' a lovely route which I think I may well have a go at leading another day..

It was getting dark now so we packed up and headed back to the cars and home..

Great evening, great weather and sunset.. Only a little splatter of rain in the midst of sunshine..

More soon...!