Roadtrip Weeks 40 – 41: Leeds, England
The last destination of my 10 month road trip was Leeds, England in order to check out the grit stone, hang out with my friend Steve, and hopefully catch up with a handful of Londoner friends (I luckily caught up with more than I expected… seeing 9 friends). =) The grit stone ended up being my favorite rock type, but I also was extremely lucky that the temps were perfect and Steve knew how to escape the continual rain.
Me sending ‘The Green Traverse’ at The Plantation. This excellent line also had a fabulous extension, ‘Dope on a Slope’, a grade harder.
Steve on ‘Deliverance’ at The Plantation.
Both problems at this Caley Crag boulder were superb, with ‘The Horn LH Arete’ perhaps being my favorite climb on this 10 month road trip. Pictured here I am doing ‘The Horn Direct’.
Me on ‘Matterhorn Arete’. This climb was a warmup, but it truly got the heart a fluttering, especially since I knew that a fall on my sprained ankle could be quite disastrous.
Another fabulous problem, ‘Flying Arete’, at AlmsCliff (also known as the best crag in the world). =)
I wish I had had more time to project this line, ‘Jerry’s Traverse’ at Cratcliffe. We only made it to Cratcliffe once and unfortunately only got in a handful of attempts on this climb before the craziest storm, hail included, blew in. Steve somehow got re-motivated, but my little toes were so frozen I couldn’t find the psyche to try and jam them in my climbing shoes.
Legendary British climber, Ron Fawcett, out crushing problems at The Plantation.
The highball ‘Not To Be Taken Away’ at The Plantation.
‘Forked Lighting Crack’, a very tricky v4, at Caley Roadside. Geez, this thing liked to spit me off repeatedly.
A super great traverse, ‘Weed Killer Traverse’, at the Tor.
One of the Spaniards pointing out a mono pocket intermediary on “Ben’s Roof”. I didn’t realize the grade of this climb at the time, probably a good thing, as I would have never hopped on otherwise. But the moves I could do were real enjoyable, with the mono pocket being an excellent intermediary option for me.
A fellow American (whose name I am unfortunately forgetting! argh!) who I actually met in Fontainbleau and ran into in England since he was currently living in the UK. Here he is sending Captain Hook.
Steve on “Crimpy Roof” at Brimham Rock. Steve was positive that I would be able to do this climb. Wow, what a nice, optimistic friend! I could barely get my bum off the ground due to the necessary long reach after long reach. Oh well… always fun trying. =)