The Pits

Beautiful day so where else to spend it but the other side of the pennines. I headed over to a crag called Running hill Pits with Andy and Julie, bizzarely we had all independently thought of visiting this crag so we were all happy to be on our way. Arriving Andy announced it was  15 minute uphill walk in so my enthusiasm dipped a little. I needed to lie down for a while when i got to the second quarry. Julie led Plumb Line a VS that apparently has the habit of looking over hanging in photos, it certainly wasn't a pushover and particularly at the top was glad of the top rope as the 'thank god ledge' was grasped.

Julie on Plumb Line

Looking around the quarry there were a lot of good lines to go at including the famous spanner wall, a route without knowing it was here have always wanted to get on but discovered spanner had been broken off recently. (i now know its been cemented or somehow reattached so maybe worth a go on another visit. this route is E2 and the spanner is your last protection). Instead i got on a finger crack called Gommorah at E1 and promsing finger locks but very well protected i thought it was worth a stab. All the foot hodls were in the crack and the locks were great. I place a nut and a cam and balsted to the top, climbing past gear placements to get the good holds at the top, this in hindsight was foolkish as it would have been a long fall - but at the time the risk of pump was too great. I clambered over the muddy top out pretty pleased with myself.

Next Andy decided he wanted to solo an E2 called Windbreaker. a serious propostion it traverses in and then climbs a groove on thin slab moves but because of the traverse with the prospet of a fall i think you would seriously regret. Andy climbed it despite the wet finsihing holds so i manned up for a go. stepping up after a  lot of umming and arring about whether to I became cragfast - i couldn;t reverse and was shitting m pants too mcuh to carry on - a rescue was offered which i took gratefully alhtough it seemed like a long time sat on those feet and small crimps, on top rope it felt fine but i think i'd made the right decision - the fall did look nasty!

Andy Crusing Windbreaker

Me breaking wind

Phew!

 

 A bit shaken up I was by this so Andywent to  lead Soddom a HVS? (lol) to the left of Soddom. I t involves a 6a boulder problem followed by 5b/c jamming up a crack. The 6a boulder problem took a while to work out but eventually it fell but the moves into the crack i found desperate. The jamming at first was fine full on feet in crack, i tried to layback a bit but heard heckling from below about how disgraceful i was being, qite rightly really that took it out of me a bit  i arrived at the top pretty wasted barely able to hold the flat holds. I had missed all the foot holds out left/ doh! Good route but tough!! Proper E1 in my opinion.

We went for an explore in the back quarry of a boulder problem come route but it was dirty and felt really hard.

Inspiring stuff ?

So finished looking down at Quarry 5 - Andy soloed up a route called Weaver's wall it looked superb and fairly obviosu what to do - it had holds too. E2 or E3 depending on which guide you believe. Andy suggested i had a go so i stepped up for a look. the lower moves were fine and i soon found myself at the crux 'mantle'. this was not the most comfortable position as although i had foot holds they sloped and so coudln;t get comfortable - i spent a while thinking about it - Julie i think looked a bit concerned especially after the earlier incident but eventually i summoned the courage and flexiblity to high step onto the mantle crank on the crimp and reach for the top -superb!

Cruising

Such a serious look

 

Who looks more comfortable on this Andy or me?

 

We peeked into quarry 5 on the way back and tried a V3 problem which we found impossible and decided to head home after a succesful day.

What a great crag - there are some real gems here and i will be back for spanner wall and some of the other quality little routes tucked into the quarrys we didn't get to explore.