Peak bouldering meet 22-23 Feb

To me the current Portland forecast looks largely dry but shockingly windy from the southwest.

When is our deadline to cancel?

I’m game to drive down and see what’s happening. Worst case bail to the depot and have a training session

I’ll be going North whatever, but would happily spend a day or two at Awesome Walls if anyone else wanted to risk it.

Yeah Portland looks unacceptably windy currently. I’ll call them tomorrow and see what the deal is. It may be that we forfeit the deposit and those who want to go can just pay the nightly rate (£15).

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Sounds like a plan, thanks for organizing Guy.

“Unacceptably windy”?

The words of the ignorant.

If it’s windy you just go to Cheyne Weares on the east coast which is completely sheltered.

Or if you’re a pervert, the Cuttings. But the Cuttings is for bad people with sick brains.

We were never part of The Bunkhouse Crew though so don’t worry about us.

The good thing about Portland is that it has 2 sets of crags with opposing aspects. I suppose a southerly wind is the one that would causes issues.

Peak wise if it’s wet I would normally try the limestone crags east of the M1 as they are in the Peak rain shadow and stay dry when most of the Peak is wet.

Unfortunately a lot of them can’t take large groups as they have sensitive access issues / smaller / not a great range of grades.

So there are 2 main crags.
Anston Stone Woods which is a great venue. Lots of different styles from crimp wall climbs to burly roofs. There’s a fun roof crack which you end up jamming your feet in but not your hands. Not great for font 5 and below. Also it’s in the trees which means it’s well sheltered but with the amount of moisture around at the moment it might be condensed.

The other venue which I haven’t been to yet is Pleasley Vale in Mansfield. Much larger range at the low end of the grades and lots of trad as well. Have been told it is a perma dry crag but there has been a lot of rain in the last couple of weeks. Can pop over to it on Thurs eve and give a conditions report

Happy to have a slide around in the wet, or finally learn to navigate on the moors…!

Saturday’s only showing 20% chance of rain in Hathersage. The 45mph westerly should keep the showers moving fast…

Even Sunday’s only 60%. Sounds like northern sunshine.

I am also still very happy to go to the Peaks. There’s enough outdoors stuff to do regardless of weather (bring your swimmers, join me in a lake :grin:), and Awesome Walls if it’s horrendous

Most esoteric lime is only suitable for those operating in the 7s to be frank, and currently anston had been condensed.

Roche abbey is another venue however is extremely sensitive to crowds!

A decent 10-12km run from Bamford to Stanage and back is possible, about 400m of ascent

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Ok thanks everyone. I think I’ll still speak to the bunkhouse as it may not make sense to keep the block booking. If people still want to go it may be best to book independently. I’ll speak to them at lunch and get back on this chain.

Guy

But it would be very useful if people who have not yet said how the weather will affect their decision to speak up now!

That might be a function of what you look for. Actually when I’ve been checking esoteric crags in UKC logbook there are quite a few venues that have climbs under font 7.

I have only been looking around the Rotherham / Doncaster area. Not sure what it is like around your way in York

How much is the block booking in total? How much would those of us that want to go have to split if we kept it?

I think it’s about £200 a night. It would take quite a lot of people to make it worthwhile. It’s £15 a night each without the block booking. I think it works out as a saving if you have 15 or more people staying. We had 16…

Guy

I’m still up for it! If nothing else I can try on some boots in Outside…

I’ve added a column to the spreadsheet for people to indicate their willingness to come along even in crap weather.