Anyway, enough on the weather, it is what it is......rain? that's why I have waterproofs!
So, determined not to go stir crazy and in need of fresh air, it has been a case of getting out and about for walks, although choosing something/somewhere suitable has been difficult for a number of reasons.
The first difficulty has been access! Many of the routes up in The Lakes have been cut off, road closures due to flooding. So actually getting anywhere has been a major issue. The second has been choosing the right fells for my current fitness level and ability. Shorter days in Winter, plus a lack of equipment (I currently do not have crampons or ice axe) means I have to avoid the bigger stuff, particularly those with ridges (Blencathra, Helvellyn), albeit reluctantly! Fitness wise, I'm just not confident just now, that I'll get a 3,000ft or above fell done in daylight.
So, my 3 forays into the hills have gone like this:
Gordale Scar, Malham Tarn and Malham Cove - the floods in The Lakes and across Snowdonia forced me to look elsewhere for some outdoor time. To be fair, The Yorkshire Dales is hardly a poor second. Indeed, if there were more decent fells in Th'Dales, I'd visit more often.
I've done this walk many times before but it was a new location for my partner for the day, Nathan. Like myself, he's a climber first and foremost and had never seen Malham Cove! He was in for a treat.
We parked in Malham itself and walked through the village, up and over the hill and down towards Janets Foss. The Foss is only a few yards from the road and is well worth a detour for a few moments. A superb waterfall and plunge pool, hidden in its own secret wood! From here, we leave the road and cross the camp site towards Gordale Scar. The scar is a deep cleft in the hillside, exposed limestone cliffs, towering either side. Deep into the scar, and blocking the way, a limestone face, resplendent with its own waterfall, stands guard over the way ahead......thou shall not pass! In reality, the scramble up the 20ft face is not too taxing, although care is needed, it is still climbing and the stone is polished and very slippy when wet. I was looking forward to it! However, that was short lived as I saw that what is normally a gentle stream meandering through the camp site field, had turned into a mini river, in full flow, and complete with its own flood plain! In 30 years of coming here, I'd never seen it like this.
We reached the scar itself and I pointed out some of the lines up the buttresses either side, the bolts looking like they'd not seen action since summer.....aah summer! We ventured further inside and the sound of the waterfall was clearly heard, this was no babbling brook anymore, that much was clear. Our first glimpse took my breath away. Nathan, having never seen the place before of course had no point of reference. But I'd been here a lot and seeing that waterfall, hurtling over the limestone edge, the force sending spray right across the full width of the gorge, well, it was quite something. It also meant we wouldn't be going that way!
The Guardian of the Scar was correct, we did not pass, we did however go round. Leading into the scar, before the limestone buttresses appear, either side of this mini valley, are steep grass and scree slopes. We decided to ascend the right hand slopes, about a 400ft ascent, a short sprint. Except the slope was around 60deg maybe more, and soaking wet too. I actually found the climb easier than expected though and was secretly delighted. Nathan, being half my age of course sprinted up but I took it steady, even having to 'cut steps' snow style in places. It felt great! I could feel the thigh burn but to my amazement, it felt ok, it wasn't killing me! I reached the summit plateau and joined Nathan with a real sense of achievement.......well, not so much achievement as a sense of progress. For the first time in years, I actually felt fit! Well, fitter at any rate.
The running, getting out into the hills, climbing, it's all starting to pay off and it's a great feeling!
The walk after reaching the plateau was fairly uneventful really. It's a straightforward walk, good paths and the 'stream' from Malham Tarn to the scar is as good a handrail as you'll get anyway should you wander off the beaten track.
We made good time and were soon approaching Malham Cove across it's limestone pavement cap. It doesn't matter how many time I visit this place, that view, down the valley to Malham village and beyond is simply stunning!
I pointed out some of the routes on the upper tier for Nathan, he was surprised there are trad routes here, believing it was all sport climbing, before we made our way down into the cove itself. I was more than a little disappointed if I'm honest, that the waterfall over the cove had now ceased ( a wonder not seen in 300 years and I'd missed it!).
Nathan had a wander about the cove while I sat drinking coffee, he contemplating lines for the summer no doubt, while I contemplated a pint in the local hostelry......ah the under exuberance of age!
I got my pint, Nathan made his mental notes for lines to go at and we returned to the car. A satisfying day......especially fitness wise!
https://www.facebook.com/andy.shaw.543/videos/10153952708759574/?l=6854049306950256171
South Lakes - I met up with Sharon in the village of Witherslack, South Lakes, with the intention of tackling a walk that she knew well but that I'd never done. The walk would take us up onto the top of Chapel Head Scar, a magnificent limestone outcrop visible from the A591, before looping round along the escarpment and back down into the village.
This was a lovely walk and for a real treat, the weather, bucking the trend for the past 2 months, was dry and bright!
Although short, the walk up to the 'summit' as it were, is steep, but follows a well trodden path through woods before emerging onto the limestone plateau. Fitness wise I felt great and having reached the plateau, I felt I could have easily gone on and done the same climb again! This was a real 'eureka' moment again, things are paying off, stuff is actually working!
The rest of the walk was just really really nice and we even had time for a little 'bouldering' on a mini limestone outcrop along the escarpment, me doing the FA's of a traverse and a floor to top problem.......well, FA's that day anyway! All good fun!
We had a laugh, mainly at Sharon stepping not once but 3 times into puddles whose depths were misjudged and ankle deep turned into knee deep.....well I thought it was funny anyway!
On our way back into the village we passed a 'hikers rest'. I love these things. Tea and coffee making facilities, all laid on with just an honesty box, brilliant! I didn't need a brew having my trusty flask with me but still donated a few quid anyway and happily done!
Catbells and Maiden Moor - finally able to access a 'proper fell', I headed up to Keswick with Nathan again this time, looking forward to ticking off another Wainwright or 2, neither of which I'd done before. At about 1500ft of climbing, this is again a 'tiddler' but would be a good indication again of my fitness levels.
I loved this walk for many reasons! Physically, it's a tough climb, the 1500ft being done over a short distance which means it is steep and with little pockets of scrambling too, although these can be as exciting as you want with complete avoidance available if necessary. We reached the ubiquitous Lakeland fell 'false summit' in good time and stopped for a quick breather before pushing on and reaching the summit proper not long after. The 'tourist' walk takes a descent from here but we decided to push onto Maiden Moor aswell......I'd also spotted a possible descent that would be a little more exciting for us!
Hause Gate is a gully and scree slope, dotted with outcrops too and just the odd sheep track here and there to guide the way. We made our way carefully to the top of one such outcrop to scout ahead for a possible descent and we decided it was doable. We spotted a kind of track that traversed the steep fell side and into the gully itself and so made our way across it. The gully descent was quite treacherous in places and so as soon as we spotted a suitable place, we again traversed out and onto the scree. It was great fun and a perfect exciting end to the walk.
Just a note on Border Collies and the loyalty of dogs.......my best mate Lester, when out walking with me, likes to wander off and do his own thing but I noticed something on 2 of the walks I did recently including this one. On the gordale scar walk, as we ascended the steep slopes, he barely left my side and if I stopped for a breather, he came and stood by me and wouldn't move until I did. It was the same on this descent, he stayed by my side virtually the whole time. I swear it was as if he knew it was dangerous and he wanted to make sure I was ok! I love that dog to bits :)
So that has been me over Christmas. Climbing wise, nothing of note to report really, it's all been indoors. That said, the new bouldering wall opened in Manchester, 'The Depot'. What a fantastic venue and I've been lucky to get down there a few times, crushing everything of course! Managed a couple of roped sessions at MCC and Awesome Walls too and I seem to be pretty steady now at 6B/6B+ . I was really pleased with an os flash of a 'features' only 6B+ at AW......lots of laybacky balancey moves......I'm climbing well, feeling fit and looking forward to the challenges of 2016, bring it on!
