Beefy and myself paid another visit to the Peak District at the weekend to try and do a bit of climbing. Sadly the weather put paid to any climbing or walking on Friday. It started raining when we got off the train at Hathersage at about 2pm. It’s about a 45 minute walk from the station to North Lees but luckily we managed to get the tent up before it started tipping down so we weren’t too wet. We decided just to keep dry in the tent rather than get soaked going for a walk.
When we woke up on Saturday it was dry but rather cloudy though we did get a few glimpses of the sun. The wind was bitter and it was really strong when we reached Stanage Edge. There were a few others out climbing including a group of children all in orange helmets.
Our first climb was where we started last year Square Chimney (I think it’s called) a moderate graded climb
Beefy climbed this twice but I didn’t do it. I was really cold with the bitter wind blowing and the rock was so cold it felt like you were putting your fingers on ice. I had done this one twice last year but it was weird I felt it was too difficult for me to do this time. It was too cold to carry on climbing so we did a walk along Stanage Edge instead. Most of the other climbers gave up too and all headed back down it wasn’t the weather to be climbing. The children who were there all left too and they all looked frozen bless them.
The trig near Cowper Stone
From Stanage Edge looking toward Higger Tor
The sun on Stanage Edge
Looking at the hills on the ridge walk near Edale from Stanage
Toward Higger Tor again
The rocks near Robin Hood’s Cave
Beefy at the cave
Beefy has been accused by a few on here for being a bit of a poser. Can’t see it meself like
Some lambs near North Lees. Maybe it’s Maybelline
On Sunday we managed to do a bit more climbing because it was less windy and it was dry again. We went to another moderate that we’d done last year, Zip Crack.
Beefy abseiling down Zip Crack
Now at the bottom
I climbed this one first with Beefy belaying from the top. I found it more difficult than last year and I took ages getting up it. I got near the top and something got caught on my harness under the rock edge, I think it was the belay loop and I couldn’t move and get over the edge. I panicked a bit and managed to bash my leg as I eventually managed to free it and get over the edge. After inspecting the damage to my leg and mopping the blood with a tissue I then belayed Beefy up it and he flew up it like it was nothing
We went back to Square Chimney (not sure if it is called this) from the day before and I gave it a proper go. The wind had started picking up again though and it made for uncomfortable conditions. I got up most of it but just couldn’t get out from under the capstone to finish it and had to come back down. After trying a couple of times I gave up on it. I enjoyed this one though it was a bit more fun than the last one. Beefy did it again then we went off to try another climb a bit further along a diff rated climb. We started setting up on the top but the wind was now horrendous and we decided to call it a day. It was two o’clock, we’d been then for four hours so at least we got a bit of climbing done.
Looking back at Stanage Edge
Beefy’s Vango tent at North Lees
My right leg and the result of panicking at the top of Zip Crack
This morning we packed up from North Lees campsite with the wind still as strong as yesterday so anyone coming to climb today would have a buffeting on the Edge!
We both agreed we were a bit rusty as we hadn’t done much climbing or scrambling with concentrating on getting the Wainwrights done for Beefy. We are going to try do a bit more scrambling and climbing after we’ve done them. I feel I’ve lost confidence and I’m not the same person who did Needle Ridge last year that’s for sure. Just like last year the weather wasn’t ideal for climbing and we got even less time to climb this time. We really enjoyed base camping though with the luxury of the big tent and the Peak District is a lovely place to visit whatever you end up doing. Thanks Beefy although the weather wasn’t great you were still very good company and you were as entertaining and funny as ever