Climbing on an arete on High Man at Little Almscliff.

Back at Little Almscliff

It had somehow been more than two years since I had last climbed at Little Almscliff. I had wanted to go back, as it’s a fantastic, small outcrop of gritstone with interesting, easier bouldering and good views across Stainburn Moor to the Yorkshire Dales. Although the idea of returning occasionally drifted into my head, I never acted on it as there was always something else that had my attention or was more pressing. However, after unfairly pushing a trip to Little Almscliff down my to-do list for a couple of years, I decided to go back to try the bouldering problems I’d missed last time.

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Traversing at Low Roof

In the run-up to Christmas last year, I went bouldering at the Low Roof sector of Brimham Rocks for the first time. It was a good trip, but I unfortunately ran out of time before I could try a couple of intriguing traverses. I don’t often climb traverses, but I decided that I should try to come back to Low Roof to climb these two because they looked so engaging and fun. I realised at the beginning of March that I needed to do this within the next few weeks, otherwise the bracken would soon have regrown and enclosed the boulders. So last week I made a short and intense trip to Low Roof to go traversing.

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Father and Son Bouldering at Almscliff

My son and I had a great bouldering trip to Almscliff last weekend. He had fun playing among the rocks and skilfully climbing up some relatively challenging lines. I enjoyed trying a few problems that I had found challenging on previous attempts and some problems I had not come across before. Moreover, I loved spending time with him sharing an activity that has been such a large part of my life. Continue reading Father and Son Bouldering at Almscliff

On the problem Wauwinet

A Short Trip to Low Roof

Brimham Rocks is best known for its jumble of amazing, bizarrely-shaped pinnacles, cliffs and boulders. This gritstone wonderland was always what I pictured when I thought of Brimham Rocks, and always where I climbed when I went there. I vaguely knew that there is climbing elsewhere on Brimham Moor, but I kept returning to this honeypot because I felt that nothing else on the Moor could match it. However, I recently felt the need to try somewhere new, and so looked in a bit more detail at some of Brimham’s bouldering outliers. That’s when I decided that I might have been missing something good and should visit Brimham Rocks’ Low Roof sector. However, it was only in the run-up to Christmas that I had the time, and the weather I needed, for a short trip there. Continue reading A Short Trip to Low Roof

Just a Little Bit is Enough

On my last bouldering trip, I succeeded in completing just one problem that I had failed to climb on several earlier visits. That might not seem like much, but it was enough. After a long period in which my climbing had been stuck in a cycle that alternated between knock-backs and slow recoveries, even this small achievement felt good and like progress. It was what I needed to feed my optimism about my climbing.

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This Should Have Been Frustrating

I doubt that I’ve ever climbed so consistently poorly. Despite choosing to climb only easy problems, everything felt challenging, and nothing came easily. I failed to do boulder problems that I could have done in the past, and only managed to complete one problem. It should have been a frustrating trip to Brimham Rocks, and yet I had a good time. Continue reading This Should Have Been Frustrating

A Quiet Sunday Morning at Brimham Rocks

I think every rock climber knows that strong urge to get outside and climb. It’s a compulsion that gets stronger the longer you’ve been away. It intensifies on those days when the weather is good, and you can’t take advantage of the opportunities that it provides. It bothers you when you think about that route or problem that you’ve been wanting to get up for some time. Last weekend it was an urge that was sufficiently strong for me to ignore the tail-end of a cold and head to Brimham Rocks. Continue reading A Quiet Sunday Morning at Brimham Rocks

A Quiet Sunday Morning at Little Almscliff

A few months ago, I walked around the small crag of Little Almscliff. I’d climbed a lot at Almscliff and wanted to see what bouldering on its diminutive namesake offered. It was clear that Little Almscliff has a lot of interesting and easier climbing, as well as great views and a short walk-in. However, I’d not been back because I had been focused on my walking project, and a rainy summer had limited my opportunities to get out. Last Sunday, my wife, son and I wanted some quiet climbing and time in the countryside, and so decided to head to Little Almscliff. Continue reading A Quiet Sunday Morning at Little Almscliff

A Lesson in Checking the Guidebook

On the hottest day of the day 2022 heatwave, we escaped to the Yorkshire moors to go bouldering. I thought that there was sure to be a breeze, maybe even a cool one, on high, open ground. I was right and we did get relief from the smothering heat. However, I also got a lesson in why in pays to check how old your guidebook is before setting out. Continue reading A Lesson in Checking the Guidebook

Somewhere New

It’s been a while since I last wrote a blog post. The main reasons for this were that the pandemic, and actually getting Covid-19, made it hard or impossible to do the activities I normally write about here. Then there was moving house, and all the changes and work that brings. Thankfully, that move has brought many opportunities for climbing and walking as I’ve left London for the wonders of Yorkshire. I therefore have more to blog about, and so I’m returning to posting on The Severe Climber. Continue reading Somewhere New

Back to Climbing (Concrete)

It was really good to get back to climbing after so long.  My weekends away climbing, and weekend visits to the climbing wall all stopped with the pandemic lockdown.  I’ve missed it in so many ways.  Over the long weekend I took the chance to go climbing on the concrete boulders at Fairlop Waters Boulder Park, and it was brilliant.  The best bit was taking my son climbing again, and seeing him climb really well. Continue reading Back to Climbing (Concrete)