Tag: Burbage South Valley

My Climbing 2019 in Pictures

My Climbing 2019 in Pictures

the Severe climber
Walking up Grindsbrook Clough to get onto a windy Kinder Scout.
Thomason Foss near Beck Hole, North Yorkshire.
Climbing the problem Tweedle Dum (VB 4a) at Stanage Far Right.
With the weather completely changed, I went back to Stanage Far Right. Here I’m climbing Steps (VB 4a).
Trying to climb Gribble Nipple (V1 5b) at Stanage Far Right.
Climbing Fishy (V0 4c) in the Little Quarry at Curbar Edge.
Climbing the fun Pooh Bear (V0 4c) at Froggart Edge.
The gritstone top of one of the two summits of Crook Hill in the Peak District, with the other summit in the distance.
Climbing an unnamed problem on Boulder 9 at Boulder Valley, below the Old Man of Coniston.
Climbing an unnamed problem on the Jacko Boulder at Settle Earth Boulders, in Longsleddale.
Climbing the problem The Black Cross (3) on the Jacko Boulder, at Settle Earth Boulders.
Climbing an unnamed boulder problem on the Bottom Block at the Langdale Boulders.
Lud’s Church. It was used as a secret place of worship by the Lollards in the early 15th Century. The Lollards were followers of John Wycliffe, an early church reformer.
Me climbing Easy Groove (VB) inside The Cellar area of The Roaches.
Trying again (and failing again) to climb the problem Right Whale (V0 4c) on The Whale boulder at Burbage South Valley.
A fantastic view of Stanage Edge from near Green’s House, north of Hathersage.
Trying Again and a Little Bit of History

Trying Again and a Little Bit of History

the Severe climber

A little over a year ago I returned to climbing outside after surgery on my knee.  It felt absolutely great to be climbing again, but I knew I still had a way to get my strength and technique back to what they were.  I did a lot better that weekend than I thought I might, but I did feel disappointed to not get up some problems.  So last weekend I returned to Burbage to try those problems again.

The Burbage Valley, with Carl Wark and Higgar Tor in the distance. The Kidney boulder is in the middle distance.
Climbing on the That Little Piglet boulder at Burbage South Valley.
Trying again (and failing again) to climb the problem Right Whale (V0 4c) on The Whale boulder at Burbage South Valley.
Climbing the very fun traversing problem Walking the Dog, on The Dog boulder at Burbage South Valley.
Climbing Kidney Wall (V0+ 5a) on The Kidney boulder at Burbage South Valley.

I’d particularly wanted to climb the problems on the That Little Piglet boulder.  I’m usually good at climbing slabs, but I’d been baffled by how to get up two low grade, slab problems on this boulder the last time I was there. Read more →

My Climbing 2018 in Pictures

My Climbing 2018 in Pictures

the Severe climber

With a knee injury (and resultant surgery) I didn’t get out as much as I would have liked in 2018.  But I still had some great days climbing and walking.  These photos give a sense of days.

Abandoned Grit
A view of the Derwent Valley from Derwent Edge.
The trig point on Back Tor with Derwent Edge in the distance.
Ladybower Reservoir.
Trying unsuccessfully to do a dyno on the problem Steep Side (V0+ 5a) on the Lone Boulder at Stanage Plantation.
Me trying to climb Centre Whale (V1 5b) on The Whale boulder at Burbage South Valley, and not getting much higher than I am in this picture.
Climbing Peasy Flake (VB) on The Useful Boulder at Burbage South Valley.
My first outdoor climb in a year – Bore-hole Wall (V0 4b) at Curbar Field.
Snow covering the path up Waun Fach.
Aber Falls in North Wales.
A rainbow above Nant y Geaullt, near Capel Curig.
I’m Finally Back

I’m Finally Back

the Severe climber

It’s been a year since I climbed on real rock and six months since the accident.  After lots of physio exercises, surgery and weekly sessions at climbing walls to remind my body how to climb, last weekend I finally got back to climbing outside.  It brought a smile to my face and reminded me of why I love to climb.

My first outdoor climb in a year – Bore-hole Wall (V0 4b) at Curbar Field.

The accident was stupid. One of those seemingly minor things that have surprisingly big consequences. Read more →

Burbage Bouldering

Burbage Bouldering

the Severe climber
Valerie climbing Bog Standard Slab on The Sentry boulder at Burbage South Valley.
Valerie climbing Bog Standard Slab on The Sentry boulder at Burbage South Valley.

Somehow I’d never seen the rolling hills of the Peak District turn purple before this week. I’ve walked and climbed in the Peaks numerous times, but somehow my timing meant that I had never been there when the heather was in bloom. It was a stunning sight. The smell of honey as Valerie, Leo and I walked along the edge of the Burbage valley and through fields of purple was sweet and warming. It was a great start to a couple of days of bouldering in the Peaks, but the trip didn’t go entirely to plan. Read more →