Thursday 25th June: Potscar

As we walked up to the crag it started to rain; heavy spots. And we'd all seen the forecast. But amazingly after five minutes or so of dithering the weather settled down again and stayed dry all night. Four of us set off late afternoon, and two more arrived after work.
Special mention for Tony who led Sunspot (E1 ***). Described by Rockfax as "bold and alluring" he obviously identified with the route straight away (though probably read it as bald). Even more Brownie-points for throwing the rope back down and patiently belaying two extra seconds up it. He followed it up with Long Black Veil (VS 4c) which is possibly harder - you can't always trust the guidebook grades.
Ken and Anne couldn't find any routes described as "thin and groovy", but managed six routes at VS or above, wrestled an abandoned Friend from a crack, and still found time for peanut butter sandwiches, so it wasn't a bad evening!

Tony is ready for anything

Ken on Cannabis

Feizor from Potscar crag

Anne and jenny simultaneously seconding Sunspot

Tony on The Long Black Veil

Dave shows he still has what it takes, even though he's seventy!!

Thursday 18th June: Witches' Quarry

Blog provided by Jenny, as Blogger Daykin was away in Scotland. The June meet traditionally meets up with a CMC walking group in the Assheton Arms at Downham afterwards, but Jenny fails to tell me if the climbers made 'last orders'!

Five climbers were at Witches' Quarry, in surprisingly cold weather for June. Mike started the evening off with Witch Bane HVS 5a, before moving down to Witchcraft Buttress with John. Bern invented his own hybrid of Thrutch and The Spell, then moved on to Spellbound HVS 5a. Jenny led her first on purpose VS, Thrutch - was very pleased with it and grateful for Bern's big cam for the top. The evening finished with some bouldering problems, eventually needing torchlight to find the footholds as we ran out of daylight!

Bern and Tony doing a Selfie!

Jenny leading Witches' Brew (HS 4b)

Bern leading Spellbound HVS 5b

Thursday 11th June: Tour of the quarries at Wilton.

Lots of fun tonight:
It was a tour of the Wiltons this Thursday evening. The advance guard (Tony and Bern) made an early start in Wilton 3 before the rest of us joined them after work for a gloriously sunny evening. After a brief sojourn in Wilton 2, we finished the evening in Wilton 1, where Mike was very pleased to lead Master Spy, his first E4.

Mike leads Master Spy (E4)

 Master Spy again

Finishing in the dark as usual!

Sunday 7th June: Stanage Popular End

Every-one seemed to be away this weekend, including coordinator Joel, so it was a team of three that set off for Stanage on Sunday morning. Like many guide-books, the Stanage guide gives a technical grade for difficulty and stars for quality. It was Jenny’s first visit to Derbyshire Grit, so we headed for the Popular End and spent the day collecting stars. We climbed a total of eight routes between Hargeaves Original (VS), a tiptoe-up-the-slab friction route, and Flying Buttress (VD), a polished classic with a spectacular finish. By the end of the day we had mantled and bridged, shimmied and tiptoed, laybacked and jammed, even coined a new phrase (recipe?!), the layback jam. And counting up as we walked back to the car, we had collected a satisfying twenty-one stars.

Even the descent route is worthwhile!

Ken: Black Slab; Hargreaves Original.

Jenny: Holly Bush Crack

Cat Woman tops out!

Anne: Christmas Crack

Jenny on top of Flying Buttress

Wednesday 3rd June: Stanage

Ken on Gardener's Groove

While the CMC climbers were enjoying their evening at Witches Quarry, Anne and Ken were out on Stanage. Still climbing in T-shirts at 9.00 pm!

Anne is too hot at Stanage

The Notorious Goliath's Groove (HVS 5a)

...and Ken about to lead it

Wednesday 3rd June. Witches Quarry.

Jenny

Linda

Peter. Witchbane.

With several members away on holiday and others unable to make Thursday we went out on Wednesday. There were only the three of us , enjoying the summer weather that finally put in an appearance. (It must have been 10 degrees warmer than the last evening at Witches). We spent the evening having a go at some hard things, top roping four HVS routes, beginning with Tarot Wall. The last of the four was Witch Bane, which was the general  favourite.