On my last trip back to the UK to see my folks we went for a few car trips to the Peak District, including one visit to Hathersage. An old haunt of mine from my climbing days in the UK. I was keen to see the village and familiar sights and also to go to the climbing shop to check out a decent range of climbing shoes. There is a belief by some that climbing shoes need to be technical in nature, to the point that wearing them becomes uncomfortable after a time. Something I certainly do not believe in, and can still remember my first shoes and how snug and comfortable they were:
The make I had been using for many years had changed the design of my preferred shoe into something more technical in nature and less comfortable. So in the UK I was keen to find an alternative that was more akin to the old style. So it was I got a pair Boreal Jokers from Outside in Hathersage, Boreal coincidentally being the make of my very first climbing shoes nearly 30 years back. While I have had them since August last year today was the first I have worn them, and I am very happy to say they felt like a pair of comfy old slippers, bliss:
Today Rongy and I were at Wilyabrup, and as we arrived a campervan was already parked up. A guy came out when they heard the car pull up and after a quick chat we parted ways, saying we may well meet down at the crag. No one else was about and we romped up a couple of grade 14 warm ups, and it was not until our third route was under our belt and we were heading down for route number four that we spotted a crew getting ready to set up a top rope on Hope. They were close to being ready to throw the rope over the edge, as two people started to get ready to lead the same route at the base:
Having had a rope being thrown down on us, we knew it could result in a bad situation so we shouted out a warning and averted a possible accident. The top ropers took note and duly moved to another spot, and it was only then that Rongy recognised the climbers just starting up Hope. It was Kate and Josh, with Josh being the “someone” we had chatted to at the carpark. They are from the Blue Mountain in New South Wales, but Rongy had met them when he and Kate had been camping and climbing for an extended period at Arapiles in Victoria:
Rongy had mentioned before he had friends that may pass through, but he wasn’t aware of when they may be here. As such today was a by-luck chance meeting. He hadn’t recognised Josh earlier, as the last time they had met was some six year back. But in addition to Rongy having spent more time with Kate, her dreadlock hair was a very distinguishing feature. So much so, that Rongy had recognised from atop Steel Wall. A fair distance, as shown two images up. Not surprisingly there was a bit of catching up and chinwagging, when we got back down:
But soon it was time to keep climbing and by chance we had bagged two grade 18s for our third and fourth route. So it seemed only fitting to make sure the next two lines were also of equal grade. Rongy enjoyed the route shown below, a weird and gnarly grade 19 that I have to say I am not that keen on, and as he climbed my focus was more on the inch long bull ant. It had hitched a ride on my ankle, and after I flicked it off it seemed to make a beeline for me every time I moved position. That was until it was my turn to head upwards:
After our two grade 19s we plumped for two grade 16s, just because. But not before another chat with Kate and Josh, during which based on the grades they were keen to climb we suggested they might enjoy Sirius. For our climbs we had mostly picked routes we had not been on for a while, so I am not sure if the two pins shown either site of the crack below were new or old movement markers. They seemed to be placed in a crazy location that someone could easily have stepped on. This could be the reason someone had bashed the markers so they were less dangerous, and the offending smashing implement was still at the crime scene:
I have to say it was a very pleasant morning out, and a good selection of routes. And as we were wrapping up, Kate was still battling the traverse of the suggested route of Sirius. It did not look like she was enjoying herself. Her nerves were probably not helped by the rap line hanging down the cliff and two people climbing routes that started up the same feature that Sirius followed. Still she kept going, not giving up and managed to safely get to the belay ledge. I wonder if she would trust our advice again, mind you we won’t find out unless they happen to passing through again:
Sandbagged 