With the summer solstice having passed a couple of days ago it’s all downhill from here, with regards to our days getting shorter. Not that this will affect our Friday mornings for a while. It is already bright way before we arrive. And the sun is already tipping over the horizon, bathing the treetops in that glorious morning glow. People might say we are mad getting up before 4am, but with sights like this it is well and truly worth it. Any negative thoughts we may have had, as we get up and drive out, are dispelled not just for now but for the whole day:
On arrival this morning we were greeted by a campsite. Several tents lay silent, as we drove in one after the other. We chatted and got ready, as we normally do. But not a sound could be heard from those in the tents, as they were no doubt still observing the inside of their eyelids. More by design than intention we stayed on the opposite side of the quarry to the tents, warming up on Murky Corner. Some may question the lowly grade of this route and why we might do this, which is in part due to the special time of year:
I had suggested after last weekend’s rock antics that we should maybe pick one tricky line each. A route that we know would be at our limits, but one we always enjoy and would consider a great gift if we got it clean. This was said , maybe in jest, with the hope that Santa will be feeling in a giving mood the day before Christmas. So before we had even got here we had lined up Chasing Mason for Rongy, Flight Simulator for Howsie and Attack of the March Flies for myself. Three lofty aspirations, we knew, but it was Christmas Eve so why not dream:
So Murky Corner seemed a good limb to get the body moving and shake any lethargy or lack of focus that might be lurking within. And also of course to warm up and get the blood flowing, without wearing us down too much. It is also why I brought a selection of cameras, feeling that I would have more time for some photography. Rongy felt the best after our warm up and was straight onto Chasing Mason. And then straight off it. So it started, on it, of it, on it, of it… you get the picture. It was hard, we already knew that:
We all got up it, eventually, and thoroughly enjoyed the battle. Howsie, was however left questioning his chosen line. Clipping that scary third bolt was on his mind, hanging heavy and eating away at his confidence. So instead he went for a very worthy alternative, at the same grade. Taj vs The World, fingery, technical, sustained and steep. The perfect choice allowing me to hang off the anchors of Rongy’s route and have a perfect view of every move he made. He was looking good. First clip, second clip and only one to go before the jugs come:
Like Rongy, he had a battle on his hand with the crux. The small and slopey fingertip holds just didn’t seem to be enough, as he climbed, fell, climbed, fell, climbed, fell, and again you probably catch my drift. Despite all the hard work and tiring arms, like Rongy, he persevered and was smiling broadly when he was rewarded with reaching the lower offs. We followed up loving the challenge of the line. As we climbed with total and unrelenting focus on the task before us, behind us there was finally movement from the tents:
I stuck to my line of choice. And like both Rongy and Howsie, once I got to the crux the rope started loose, then went tight as I fell. This continued with the rope being loose, tight, loose, tight. One thing was for sure today we were all trusting and pushing ourselves, right to our limits. Unafraid of coming off, which might seem a strange thing to say. But that fear of falling will restrain many a climber from attempting, let along getting up, lines above their comfort zone:
While it was another very enjoyable morning, thanks to Rongy and Howsie. The reason I decided to write today up and share it was because of the images I captured, which I get as much enjoyment out of as I do the climbing itself. And for this morning even more so due to the moon obligingly hanging in the morning sky. Also it gives me a chance to say have a very Merry Christmas and here’s hoping for a New Year full of magical adventure and encounters:
Sandbagged 