Peak climb

So for whatever reason 2011 has been a bike not climb year.  Early on it was the nice shiny new Lapierre.  Later it became a bit of a thing about D2D (see previous post!!)


Last year I managed some climbing mostly solo but a nice day out with a severely enthusiastic French dude Charles was memorable.doing Red Gully and a steep ice fall which had formed as a continuation of Aladins.


Anyway, its been cold its also snowed a bit, so my mind has returned to thoughts of mountains and climbing.  The peak isn't the obvious location for winter climbing as its too far south and too low.  BUT... Early in the season snow and prolonged cold can give decent conditions on some bits of the Peak.


Rumour has it, there was snow in the Peak.  Stanage last Sunday was great for snow men and a 5 yo but in the distance Mam Tor looked in winter nick and ukclimbing winter thread showed climbs done here and in Winnats.  I managed to get out Thursday and headed through Winnats to Mam Tor over the summit and descended the main gully. The snow was soft no evidence of neve or ice as its south facing and the sun gets on it real quick.  I looked at the girdle and its a climb I'd love to do in great condition.  The climbs on the whole face are great and the topo by Colin Wells is worth its weight in gold and I'll be doing them alll in time but today conditions weren't up to much.

So it was a down and up then drive down Edale Valley to check out Back Tor which being more North facing should be better but it hadnt held onto its snow.


Back up to Speedwell and Winnats.  Elbow ridge would be worth climbing as its in an amazing place and snow or not it'll be great. The car park at 3.50 standard charge was a shock so i didnt bother.  Straight up the pass and onto the ridge and boy did I feel the lack of climbing. Not the exercise but the exposure.  It felt high.  Awesome climbing did not disappoint and it'd be great winter tick.

Not so much winter today but still worth it.

Its re-ignited the desire to be out in the hills in winter for sure but given my climbing this year is zilch might be a relatively easy time of it.