After having the winter flu virus the week before last, then clocking up 80 or so hours in 7 days working at the Outward Bound Trust its not surprising that i felt a little tired and under the weather at the start of this week. I went out yesterday with Henry Castle fresh from his MIC training to go and get out rock climbing. We headed to Wintours Leap in the wye valley to start our day and the fog and mist was in as we drove across the Severn Bridge, which i would like to add is the mist expensive thing in the world and if any one reading this could lower the price and make our lives a little less expensive i would really appreciate it. The rock however was dry and despite the lack of friction due to damp in the air we went climbing. I started by climbing ‘Papillon’ an easy E2 to see if the bady was working and my cold allowed me to breath enough to climb……………just about. After that we thought we would try ‘Fly Major’ an E3 traverse that to my knowledge doesn’t get done often. Interesting climbing, we only did the first 3 pitchs and left the crux 5th pitch till next time but its really interesting moves especially falling off the grass ledge on the 3rd pitch, indoor climbers beware.
Henry on Fly Major E3
After that route we though we would head to Wyncliff and Henry did ‘Canine Crack’ E1 which was really good climbing. A quick blast up ‘The Arete’ 7a+ and then moved on to ‘Wilkinson Sword’ which i did a few weeks back but Henry hadn’t done and its well worth 2 stars i think and at a grade of 7a is good value for most.
Lets go climbing.
