Monthly Archives: November 2020

Climbing

The not so mighty Warrior

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27th November 2020

Cribba Head


Harder – VS 5a – TR Repeat
Bottleneck – HVS 5a – TR Repeat

Sometimes in winter you get a morning light that just brings everything to life. It enhances the natural beauty of an area and creates a sharp relief on all the elements around you.

So it was on this day. Cold, bright but unlikely to deliver anything special because it had been so damp. However if the best could be made of a day we did it. I tend to dread going to Cribba Head because I know I’ll be in for a beasting. Going to Cribba with Joe just enhances all my fears.

I’m so glad this was a top roping session though. Many months of inaction had atrophied my muscles, so even on the dependable Harder I found everything difficult. Weird how you can start up a climb you’ve done a number of times before (on the lead) and suddenly realise you’ve forgotten how to climb. I made a right fist of it, out of balance, not bridging and clinging onto the weirdest of holds. About as awkward as it could have been.

Which is why climbing Bottleneck was surprisingly less difficult. The first time led this I left skin all over the rock and got myself fully stuck in the …. well… bottleneck. This time it was still tough but I actually climbed it a bit better. Maybe next time it will go ok. But I doubt it.

Finally there was the obligatory play on Boysend Cracks. No strength at the moment but I can see how I could get this on the lead. I just need to be a bit stronger and have jamming gloves on 🙂

Climbing

I feel so weeeak!!!

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14th November 2020

Cribba Head

This was the cry of someone who hasnt climbed for a while and is suddenly asking muscles to do things they just cant remember. The strange thing about this day was the fact I felt like I’d forgotten everything I knew about climbing. No technique, noflexibility, no finger or arm strength, poor footwork.

The view to St Loy from Cribba Head

The list goes on. But by the end of the day it was coming back and it makes me realise how I need to be out regularly on the rock to keep that normal momentum going. I could blame lockdown and injuries, but I think my motivation has been lacking, so a session with Joe, who is climbing brilliantly was just what was needed to remind me why I love to climb.

Joe on Pass the Pigs E4 6a

Oh yeh, and boy do I ache. Thats enough whining though. The day was great fun and it was so good to be back on the rock. Thats it now. Back to it I think. Need to rack up the lieage and start looking at my tick list.

For this day top roped efforts on Harder and Bottleneck were enough for me. Struggled on T/R but led them in the past. Strange how things change.

Lunch View – typical post industrial wasteland!

And as always amazing views and atmosphere. Only to be expected in Cornwall.