Rick Riding's Posts - Mountaineering Club of Bury2024-03-28T17:16:11ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRidinghttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2528320854?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=2oxhznbrp1c6h&xn_auth=noVideo link - How to Rappel in high winds - may come in handy!tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2011-05-24:2535987:BlogPost:194502011-05-24T07:49:01.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<p> </p>
<p>Have a look at this link.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x8KV9OK7CU&feature=uploademail">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x8KV9OK7CU&feature=uploademail</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Have a look at this link.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x8KV9OK7CU&feature=uploademail">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x8KV9OK7CU&feature=uploademail</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Mark ...take in on Green...tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2011-02-08:2535987:BlogPost:116282011-02-08T23:21:58.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<p>Does this picture of Dorsal arête ring any bells with any of the marks who had green ropes on that day.......</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://blog.westcoast-mountainguides.co.uk/?p=2035">http://blog.westcoast-mountainguides.co.uk/?p=2035</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Rick </p>
<p>Does this picture of Dorsal arête ring any bells with any of the marks who had green ropes on that day.......</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://blog.westcoast-mountainguides.co.uk/?p=2035">http://blog.westcoast-mountainguides.co.uk/?p=2035</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Rick </p>"And those that are last shall be first"....and something else about the meek! - Matthew 20:16tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2011-02-08:2535987:BlogPost:115322011-02-08T22:00:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<p><span class="font-size-3">If point Five was just another Grade 5 gully climb, we all would have climbed it long ago.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">The amount of folk law and mythology surrounding the climb builds an image in your mind which bares little relation to reality. The reason it takes so many people so long to achieve this tick has nothing to do with difficulty or conditions. Its actually in climbable condition pretty often but getting all the components to come together…</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">If point Five was just another Grade 5 gully climb, we all would have climbed it long ago.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">The amount of folk law and mythology surrounding the climb builds an image in your mind which bares little relation to reality. The reason it takes so many people so long to achieve this tick has nothing to do with difficulty or conditions. Its actually in climbable condition pretty often but getting all the components to come together at just the right time is tricky.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">1. Going well enough to enjoy the experience.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">2. Being first on the route.<br/></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">3. Getting to Scotland while conditions are fair.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">4. Being first on the route.<br/></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">5. Getting there with the right partner.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">6. Being first on the route.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">7. Hoping its not going to be an anti climax after all this buildup.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">8. and oh...being first on the route<br/></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">you don't want to get it wrong, after all this is Point 5 and you only ever climb it on sight once! So its best to be there first!<br/></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Luckily all the ingredients came together on Sat 29th Jan. As Dom, Derek, Mark and myself headed north on the Friday night, I had one route in mind and I knew this was going to be my best shot, I'd been climbing well and I had no doubt we'd get up the thing.....who knows what next seasons going to bring and none of us is getting any younger.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Our one problem was going to be ... getting on the route first. <em>( have I mentioned that was on our minds?)</em>A problem which had obviously vexed Derek for the last 20 years. We'd actually been talking the week before about climbing it late in the day and into the night! just to try and beat the cues! I'd resigned myself that we were never going to be first on it and once I had accepted that there seemed no other excuses left.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">A 4am wakeup from our bivi in the North Face car park seemed a reasonable compromise. Not too early to appear desperate, but hopefully early enough to get us a place high in the cue.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Our optimism took a knock when 4 lads passed us by the CIC hut casually letting it be known they had just taken 35 mins to walk in!! ( The Psychological warfare was already underway - we deployed countermeasures...pretending to not be impressed!)</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">The usual 5 min breather at the CIC was dispensed with and on we trudged. At least we had our secret weapon - Dom! Dom was our climbing equivalent of Stig ....and we were about to unleash him. Dom had climbed the thing about 7 times...surely he'd be able to find the start in this pea soup of a black morning...maybe we could be first!</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Its now that the critical decision was made. The day can hinge on such small details.. , completely out of character ...and we may never know why....., Derek and I stopped to put crampons on before anyone else. This meant that when everyone else decided to stop and gear up, we didn't and pressed on into the gloom. It would mean leaving the Stig behind but we threw the dice...we took our chance.<br/></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">I'd marked the base of the climb in my GPS and was pushing on up, keeping the pace high, hoping to break the will of anyone who followed our lead. ( winter climbing is a lot like bike racing in this respect.....obviously its not like it in a lot of other very obvious ways!)</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Was it possible we were now the first? My optimism took another knock when I saw lights up ahead. Fortunately they were stood still studying the map in the gloom, looking slightly unsure. I sensed my opportunity and skipped past with a casual " <i>morning</i>" trying to look as if I was confident of my whereabouts and where I was going. Trying to conceal my gasps for breath and the burning in my calfs......... my body language was lying....."to compete for the lead would be futile.....I’m only in 2<sup>nd</sup> gear here" ............and it worked..they surrendered the lead.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">It worked so well, we were stood in the gloom 100m from the start of the route, with not a head torch in sight....starting to think its we who had been given the slip. Derek had already convinced himself we had missed it some how and everyone else was now at the start of point 5....might as well do something else...we'll not be first on the route now!</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">The seed of doubt began to grow in my brain. I dropped down again for a better look in the gloom and saw a procession of head torches heading our way. Shit we are first! The race was on again.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">A couple of figures below looked familiar . I shouted down to Dom and Mark...they headed our way.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">The ground was now getting steep and the snow hard. Both axes out, daggering up the slope, you would not want to fall here.....my little voice was telling me...no you would not.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">I heard a shout from below and turned to see Derek dusting himself off, saying in a mater of fact way " <i>just slipped</i>" .</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> "<i>OK</i>" I said continuing on, thinking nothing of it. ( it turns out he'd gone a fair way and had to ice axe arrest to stop his slide turning into a plummet on these notorious approach slopes )</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">This obviously influenced our decision to gear up and get the ropes out before we reached the first belay and it was here that we lost our lead to Dom who soloed up to the belay ahead. (at least we lost it to one of our own!...so in a way we were still first!)</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">In fact I thought in his enthusiasm, Dom had soloed the first pitch....and for a moment I think...........so did Mark!</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Derek with a straight face said " <i>he didn't really know how many pitches there where or which were the best, but fancied the first</i>."</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">I though ,........ really hadn’t studied the guide !!</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">(even when I have read it I forget what I just read!......most of my life is done this way .......on sight!!)</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">I also hadn't been waiting 20 years to do it.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">But even in my comparative ignorance, I knew this would mean he got two of the three pitches and the rogue pitch to boot! I also knew it would mean more to him than me and I wasn't about to argue.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">We let the A team steam ahead and began to focus on the job in hand.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Derek lead the first pitch in that steady, methodical business like way where he makes everything look the same grade.....i.e easy........even when its desperate. This however wasn't desperate. The ice was perfect plastic neve ice. From the first few swings I knew this wasn't going to involve sketching about on fragile ice...this was whack, whack, thunck, thunck and the only way you were going to come off this was if your forearms got fried.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">( which by the way was not out of the question...don't get me wrong ....its steep.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">This however just made the whole climb more enjoyable, you could relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the place whilst trying not to think too much about how long ago you'd put in the last runner !</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> When a guide book says " good belays" assume that’s positive spin for " cos there's</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> F$@K all in between!!! After pitch 3 there weren’t even any belays!!</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">They say you should learn from others mistakes. Well I don’t even seem capable of learning from my own! How many times have I taken over the lead and taken some gear from Derek to here the time honoured words...”<i>you've got plenty there...just run it out to the top!”</i> I always stop and think <i>" yeh your right, plenty...doesn't look that hard!"</i></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">This time I had plenty....plenty of nuts and Hexes. However I was now running it out...moving together ....for the next 300m with not a single crack in sight and with Derek 60m below with all the screws still on his harness.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">I resolved to "not fall off"...and hoped it had occurred to Derek to do the same....pushed on and aimed for the top. A couple of steeper steps helped focus the mind...as did the cornice and the potential 60m whipper I'd take onto Derek’s non existent belay.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Topping out from Point 5 is almost a surreal experience. You flop into the sunshine within meters of the summit and all the usual sandwich munching and photo posing that takes place there. Your little protective bubble is burst...and suddenly your back in the real world were time runs at normal speeds and every move may not be your last......and strangely...a little bit of you kinda wishes the bubble could have lasted a little bit longer!</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><object height="344" width="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xttS_FwEGw8?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"></param><embed wmode="opaque" height="344" width="425" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xttS_FwEGw8?hl=en&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed>
<param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param></object>
</p>
<p> </p>Geoff I'm sorry !tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2011-01-10:2535987:BlogPost:98002011-01-10T01:00:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<p>At team of six went down to Wales today for a MOB introductory winter climbing session. Colin, Keith, Derek and Myself being the more experienced members were going to show Lee and Geoff the ropes on some easy gully climbs....a nice mountaineering day out.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Things started well. Geoff and I intended to do Tower Gully, a nice grade I/II , as a starter. I wasn't sure how much Geoff had done or how he was going to handle the conditions. Of course in the true tradition of the MOB…</p>
<p>At team of six went down to Wales today for a MOB introductory winter climbing session. Colin, Keith, Derek and Myself being the more experienced members were going to show Lee and Geoff the ropes on some easy gully climbs....a nice mountaineering day out.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Things started well. Geoff and I intended to do Tower Gully, a nice grade I/II , as a starter. I wasn't sure how much Geoff had done or how he was going to handle the conditions. Of course in the true tradition of the MOB and in the noble footsteps of my mentor, I spotted an even better line and after all " it was only one grade harder" I needn't have worried. Geoff took it all in his stride and was relaxed enough to be actually "enjoying himself" </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Obviously we couldn't go away with Geoff thinking this winter climbing lark is a piece of piss and we've all be bigging it up all this time, so I thought we'd better turn it up a little and seek out a solid grade III.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We descended easy route and then "since it was there" romped up Hidden Gully II. Geoff was still in his comfort zone and despite my suggestions to stop and belay ( Its my " duty of care, what would the judge say" little voice kicking in!) he insisted on soloing the whole route, which I have to say he did in style.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I was beginning to feel I was doing Geoff a dis-service here. I'd underestimated his ability and we were plodding up routes which were going to leave no lasting impression on him. ( you've always to come away with a memory etched into the back of your brain, a sense of relief, a feeling of having asked some questions of yourself.......scared yourself shit less in other words!) </p>
<p> </p>
<p>With this in mind we went in search of a nice meaty grade III. Unfortunately as we approached Right Hand Gully Direct III, my friend and mentor Derek had obviously had similar thoughts and was subjecting Lee ( who had never held an ice axe before!) to the joys of mixed climbing on a route only just in condition and there fore obviously a grade harder than the guide book! Lee oblivious to the sandbagging he was receiving, chatted happily to me. Derek meanwhile by his tone of voice when asked what route he was on, had already realized he had slightly sandbagged himself and this was going to be no walk in the park!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In time honoured MOB tradition I explained that Derek was now on the route we had intended to do and so our hand had been forced and we'd have to do this one instead. Geoff didn't ask and I did not say that this meant moving up to grade IV. In fact had he asked I would have been totally honest and pointed out the crux pitch was actually given 5.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>By the time I had set foot on the crux I realized this bit was probably given 5 in good conditions, and this wasn't good! I must have taken the best part of an hour on the pitch and it was without doubt , mentally, the hardest thing I've climbed this season. For half the pitch it was like climbing on egg shells. Hoar frost where ice should have been and verglass where rock should have been. The climbing wasn't in itself super hard, but I spent a good part of that hour trying to fashion some kind of protection and each one was " well, its better than nothing".</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Having made it to relative safety I must have spent at least 20 minutes of that hour trying to fashion a belay which would take the inevitable lob which I was convinced Geoff was now going to take. ( I knew I'd crossed the line of what can be deemed a reasonable sandbag.)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Geoff to his credit didn't lob off. Didn't even have a go at me! He just gritted his teeth and climbed. Maybe he didn't fully realise how unreasonable this was as an introduction to winter climbing, maybe I'd got away with it!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I explained that the rest of the climb was mere grade 3 and should be more enjoyable....I was wrong again! The normal final pitch looked pretty tame, but I was drawn to the steep fat ice which lead directly up. This again turned out to be a bit steeper than it looked and was almost the final straw for Geoff. I was saved by the fact that as he reached the belay he could see the sun glinting off the summit snow fields above and he struck out for the top, leading the final pitch.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Instantly the pressure lifted and we realized we had just completed one of the best routes in the area, a fantastic line and a real three star tick. I was still buzzing when we got back to the car, having descended Gribin Ridge. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>A real memorable day out, three routes with great company. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bye the way Geoff, we don't scare ourselves every time we go out...just most!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>cheers</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Rick</p>
<p> </p>
<p>PS. some video footage of the day, though you never seem to be able to film the real desperate bits!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px;"><object height="385" width="480" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cJRB77Lmypw?fs=1&hl=en_GB"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><embed wmode="opaque" height="385" width="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cJRB77Lmypw?fs=1&hl=en_GB" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed>
</object>
</p>
<p> </p>Video - Derek & Rick on North East spur of Y Garn , 30th Dec 2010tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-12-31:2535987:BlogPost:97002010-12-31T00:30:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<p>Inspired by some of the climbing videos I've been watching on tinternet, I thought I'd have a go at recording a day out myself. Its maybe not quite got the drama of leo Holding on El Cap, or the grunting of Chris Sharma, but Derek does do a little muttering to himself...and some steady climbing in adverse conditions. ( it also features some goats!)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you watch carefully you can see Dereks , quite understandable, reaction to seeing the camera in my hand ( where the rope…</p>
<p>Inspired by some of the climbing videos I've been watching on tinternet, I thought I'd have a go at recording a day out myself. Its maybe not quite got the drama of leo Holding on El Cap, or the grunting of Chris Sharma, but Derek does do a little muttering to himself...and some steady climbing in adverse conditions. ( it also features some goats!)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you watch carefully you can see Dereks , quite understandable, reaction to seeing the camera in my hand ( where the rope should be) every time he looks up.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><object height="344" width="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kO-2u_-jWBI?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><embed wmode="opaque" height="344" width="425" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kO-2u_-jWBI?hl=en&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed> </object>
</p>Some inspiring videos for aspiring mountaineers.tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-12-28:2535987:BlogPost:96922010-12-28T02:00:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<p>Check out the Steve House footage. I think even I would want two hands on the rope from my belayer on this ground! Just shows what kind of footage you can get filming yourselves though...must try harder!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.andy-kirkpatrick.com/blog/view/cayesh_the_calling">http://www.andy-kirkpatrick.com/blog/view/cayesh_the_calling</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>and here is my latest effort. Not quite in the same league! ( video of Mark " House" Davies)</p>
<p> …</p>
<p></p>
<p>Check out the Steve House footage. I think even I would want two hands on the rope from my belayer on this ground! Just shows what kind of footage you can get filming yourselves though...must try harder!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.andy-kirkpatrick.com/blog/view/cayesh_the_calling">http://www.andy-kirkpatrick.com/blog/view/cayesh_the_calling</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>and here is my latest effort. Not quite in the same league! ( video of Mark " House" Davies)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv6gssv2Xkc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv6gssv2Xkc</a> </p>This really is good - obvious - but thinking just outside the boxtag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-12-20:2535987:BlogPost:96202010-12-20T03:47:13.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebarter387#p/a/u/2/pPpAkFZT_lM">http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebarter387#p/a/u/2/pPpAkFZT_lM</a></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">(Natural anchors . )</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebarter387#p/a/u/2/pPpAkFZT_lM">http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebarter387#p/a/u/2/pPpAkFZT_lM</a></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">(Natural anchors . )</p>Jeff Lowe's 2nd Metanoia project?tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-12-20:2535987:BlogPost:96182010-12-20T03:18:30.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<p> </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title">Jeff Lowe's 2nd Metanoia project?</h3>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/96229096/jeff-lowes-metanoia-documentary-narrated-by-jon-kr?ref=email">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/96229096/jeff-lowes-metanoia-documentary-narrated-by-jon-kr?ref=email</a></p>
<p> </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title">Jeff Lowe's 2nd Metanoia project?</h3>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/96229096/jeff-lowes-metanoia-documentary-narrated-by-jon-kr?ref=email">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/96229096/jeff-lowes-metanoia-documentary-narrated-by-jon-kr?ref=email</a></p>How to videos - some good stuff here!tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-12-20:2535987:BlogPost:96162010-12-20T03:00:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<p>Hi</p>
<p>Stumbled across this guy on youtube. He does some great videos showing basic climbing set ups and answering questions. Well worth a look even for those with a lot of experience, some good tips !</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebarter387#p/a/8D9710F1DA39CFE5/0/3VXfrIAgpG0">http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebarter387#p/a/8D9710F1DA39CFE5/0/3VXfrIAgpG0</a></p>
<p> …</p>
<p></p>
<p>Hi</p>
<p>Stumbled across this guy on youtube. He does some great videos showing basic climbing set ups and answering questions. Well worth a look even for those with a lot of experience, some good tips !</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebarter387#p/a/8D9710F1DA39CFE5/0/3VXfrIAgpG0">http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebarter387#p/a/8D9710F1DA39CFE5/0/3VXfrIAgpG0</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5ZBXysNPhY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5ZBXysNPhY</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLdi1dRJcIo&feature=channel">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLdi1dRJcIo&feature=channel</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfuuuW-2fes&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfuuuW-2fes&feature=related</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p55ONjseyA&NR=1&feature=fvwp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p55ONjseyA&NR=1&feature=fvwp</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU_-zHnWDRk&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU_-zHnWDRk&feature=related</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03JjYHk2L2A&feature=channel">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03JjYHk2L2A&feature=channel</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL1wRnov_d4&feature=channel">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL1wRnov_d4&feature=channel</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLz6fgzHp1c&feature=channel">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLz6fgzHp1c&feature=channel</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Link to article with Info on Kalymnostag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-12-11:2535987:BlogPost:93442010-12-11T11:37:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<p>Some info on Kalymnos for those considering Daves trip.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=3150">http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=3150</a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Some info on Kalymnos for those considering Daves trip.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=3150">http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=3150</a></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>"999 SMS" this may be usefultag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-11-19:2535987:BlogPost:88882010-11-19T19:30:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
Just came across this on UK CLIMBING site. its worth knowing, never really thought about it before.<div><br></br></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Details here:…</span></div>
Just came across this on UK CLIMBING site. its worth knowing, never really thought about it before.<div><br/></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Details here: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2010/11/18/sign-up-for-text-999-scheme-says-mountain-expert" title="grough &mdash; Sign up for text 999 scheme, says mountain expert" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 102);">http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2010/11/18/sign-up-for-text-999-scheme-says-mountain-expert</a> of how to register your phone to enable it to SMS the emergency services. Out in the hills you may not be able to get a strong enough signal for voice but an SMS might get through. Takes about a minute, costs nothing and hopefully you will never need it.</span></div>Roll on Winter. ( This will have you sharpening your tools!!)tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-09-22:2535987:BlogPost:84722010-09-22T22:31:32.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://www.vimeo.com/15075443" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://www.vimeo.co</a><a href="http://www.vimeo.com/15075443" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://w…</a></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.vimeo.com/15075443" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://www.vimeo.co</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.vimeo.com/15075443" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">http://w</a><a href="http://www.vimeo.com/15075443">http://www.vimeo.com/15075443</a></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.vimeo.com/15075443" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.vimeo.com/15075443" style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></a><a href="http://www.vimeo.com/15075443"></a>ww.vimeo.com/15075443</span>m/15075443</div>paragliding video in Mont Blanc range- very nice!tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-09-21:2535987:BlogPost:84342010-09-21T21:21:43.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
Thought some of you might like to see this, especially the flyers amongst us.<div><br/></div>
<div><a href="http://www.paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=34219">http://www.paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=34219</a></div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><a href="http://www.paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=34219"></a>Rick</div>
Thought some of you might like to see this, especially the flyers amongst us.<div><br/></div>
<div><a href="http://www.paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=34219">http://www.paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=34219</a></div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><a href="http://www.paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=34219"></a>Rick</div>The Great Climbtag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-09-03:2535987:BlogPost:82732010-09-03T22:03:16.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
Greetings everyone. Back from cycling in the alps a bit fitter and leaner for the coming winter!<div><br/></div>
<div>Has everyone seen this film on BBC i Player. Its only on untill tomorrow I think, but worth a look.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>see you all soon</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Rick</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><a href="http://beta.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ts470/The_Great_Climb/">http://beta.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ts470/The_Great_Climb/</a></div>
<div><br/></div>
Greetings everyone. Back from cycling in the alps a bit fitter and leaner for the coming winter!<div><br/></div>
<div>Has everyone seen this film on BBC i Player. Its only on untill tomorrow I think, but worth a look.</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>see you all soon</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Rick</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><a href="http://beta.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ts470/The_Great_Climb/">http://beta.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ts470/The_Great_Climb/</a></div>
<div><br/></div>Falls on slings!! You should see this....... quite surprising.tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-06-12:2535987:BlogPost:76322010-06-12T21:00:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
An interesting test video which opened my eyes to the limitations of equipment. And being a fat bastard ie. more than 80kg....a little worrying!<div><br/></div>
<div>The morel of the story....tie in with your rope. Don't attach to the belay with a sling only and certainly dont then step above it. <br/><div><br/></div>
<div><a href="http://www.dmmclimbing.com/video.asp?id=5">http://www.dmmclimbing.com/video.asp?id=5</a></div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Rick</div>
</div>
An interesting test video which opened my eyes to the limitations of equipment. And being a fat bastard ie. more than 80kg....a little worrying!<div><br/></div>
<div>The morel of the story....tie in with your rope. Don't attach to the belay with a sling only and certainly dont then step above it. <br/><div><br/></div>
<div><a href="http://www.dmmclimbing.com/video.asp?id=5">http://www.dmmclimbing.com/video.asp?id=5</a></div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>Rick</div>
</div>Cleaning night at Wilton 1tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-05-21:2535987:BlogPost:74552010-05-21T19:24:43.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/index/logo.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">We had a fairly productive night at Wilton 1 on the Wednesday with six members turning up to clean some routes in the allotment…</span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/index/logo.gif); background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">We had a fairly productive night at Wilton 1 on the Wednesday with six members turning up to clean some routes in the allotment area of the quarry. None of the routes is fully cleaned and ready to lead, but most just need a good brushing now. I intend to pop down one night after work and work on finishing them off.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">The route are:</span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Flimnap the pirate VS 4c</span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Valine VS 4c</span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Green Wall VS 4b</span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Reeling in the years VS 4c</span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Thanks to Mark Russell , Garry Walker, Tony Hewitson, Lee Unsworth and Will Shaw</span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><br/></span></div>
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">Rick</span></div>
</div>We could get a set of these, to go with the plastic crampons!!!tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-04-15:2535987:BlogPost:72402010-04-15T21:00:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
May be a bit radical for us old timers set in our ways, but maybe this is the way forward?<div><br></br></div>
<div><a href="http://shop.gear4rocks.com/sets-of-nuts/rock-climbing-plastic-nuts-set-of-eight-/prod_22.html">http://shop.gear4rocks.com/sets-of-nuts/rock-climbing-plastic-nuts-set-of-eight-/prod_22.html</a></div>
<div><br></br></div>
<div><br></br></div>
<div>also have a look at this Tin Shed, if you haven't seen it before. Some good videos and stuff!…</div>
<div><br></br></div>
May be a bit radical for us old timers set in our ways, but maybe this is the way forward?<div><br/></div>
<div><a href="http://shop.gear4rocks.com/sets-of-nuts/rock-climbing-plastic-nuts-set-of-eight-/prod_22.html">http://shop.gear4rocks.com/sets-of-nuts/rock-climbing-plastic-nuts-set-of-eight-/prod_22.html</a></div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><br/></div>
<div>also have a look at this Tin Shed, if you haven't seen it before. Some good videos and stuff!</div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><a href="http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/tinshed/index.jsp?slc=en_US&sct=US">http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/tinshed/index.jsp?slc=en_US&sct=US</a></div>
<div><br/></div>
<div><br/></div>Scotland Ice Trip Filmtag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-03-27:2535987:BlogPost:71142010-03-27T21:30:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
Have a look at this film from Petzl, well worth a look.<div><a href="http://www.petzl.com/en/en/outdoor/petzl-tv/videos/mountaineering/ice-climbing-ben-nevis">http://www.petzl.com/en/en/outdoor/petzl-tv/videos/mountaineering/ice-climbing-ben-nevis</a></div>
<div><br/></div>
Have a look at this film from Petzl, well worth a look.<div><a href="http://www.petzl.com/en/en/outdoor/petzl-tv/videos/mountaineering/ice-climbing-ben-nevis">http://www.petzl.com/en/en/outdoor/petzl-tv/videos/mountaineering/ice-climbing-ben-nevis</a></div>
<div><br/></div>The Great Escape - Jacobs Ladder V - Black ladderstag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2010-01-05:2535987:BlogPost:66442010-01-05T01:30:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
The day started well with a prompt start at 5am, a trouble free drive down with great company ( Colin, Mark Davies and Derek) and a walk into the crag ( Black ladders) on firm snow. Having been piped to our chosen route on the last visit, Derek and I set a good pace into the crag determined not to be overtaken. As the ground got steeper the snow got deeper and we were soon swimming up through what felt like polystyrene beads. It was hard work and we attracted a party of four following our…
The day started well with a prompt start at 5am, a trouble free drive down with great company ( Colin, Mark Davies and Derek) and a walk into the crag ( Black ladders) on firm snow. Having been piped to our chosen route on the last visit, Derek and I set a good pace into the crag determined not to be overtaken. As the ground got steeper the snow got deeper and we were soon swimming up through what felt like polystyrene beads. It was hard work and we attracted a party of four following our tracks into the gloom of the low cloud. We had a friendly chat about objectives and we were clear we intended to climb Pyramid Gully a (grade 4) which we had not managed to get to first last time round. They said “ they didn't know what they were going to do” , the alarm bells should have begun to ring then!<br />
<br />
Visibility was so poor we couldn't really tell where we were and so we stopped at the foot of the buttress to gear up. There was some discussion with the other group about our location and with a brief brake in the cloud we pointed out the main lines to them ( as we had already been there that week) as they appeared.<br />
<br />
Just as I was tying into the ropes there was a mad scramble of bodies pushing to the front and obviously all heading for our objective. My trust in human nature had been dented again and we were beaten to the start of the climb by 20m, after breaking trail for these guys all the way up.<br />
<br />
A quick decision was made to go for the next available line ( Jacobs Ladder Grade 5) which it has to be said looked very good and only one grade harder ...how hard could it be?<br />
<br />
Having pinched some of the plumb leads on our last visit I was quite happy to give Derek the first , and what looked like the best, pitch. It looked like just the kind of challenge he thrives on, and so it proved.<br />
<br />
Derek as always lead the very steep ice fall in style making it look a lot easier than it turned out to be. When it came my turn to follow I realized just how steep it actually was and I arrived at the belay pumped. A combination of wet gloves, pumped arms and possibley hanging in leashes meant that when the blood did start to come back into my hands I was doubled over in pain. Whilst I was grimacing from hot aches which almost had me in tears, Derek showed his usual compassion by having a chuckle and taking a photo for the record.<br />
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2542763459?profile=original" alt=""/></p>
<br />
With blood now returned to my extremities I set of on the right hand traverse to where I expected to find some “ ice filled grooves”. What I found were grooves but no ice, and they looked steep. I didn't fancy that and so looked further right....more of the same. “Well” I thought “ maybe that 's what grade 5 mixed looks like!” I could feel Derek and the team which had now followed us starting to get impatient with my dithering and so I committed to “have a look”<br />
<br />
That often used but wholly inappropriate phrase “ have a look”. As I found out very quickly, if you don't then like what you see, its tough shit mate...your committed.<br />
<br />
I didn't like what I saw. Some of the things I didn't like were:-<br />
<br />
1.An almost vertical blank series of rock grooves with half frozen clumps of turf at intervals.<br />
2.Very little protection of even a “psychological “ quality.<br />
3.A huge gaping void below.<br />
<br />
After climbing what felt like about 10m above my last bit of gear I realized this was now serious! I was climbing at the limit of my ability, starting to get pumped, had one crampon on a small bit of turf which threatened to give way at any moment and the other with one point on a small edge. At that point one tool ripped and my feet skated off....I was now hanging by one tool thinking …..so this is how it happens!! ( my second thought was .. climbing leash less...fuck that!!!)<br />
<br />
Its at moments like this that you find that bit of strength you didn't know you had and I quickly had the other tool in and my feet back in position, all be it on a slightly smaller bit of turf!!<br />
<br />
I now resolved to not go anywhere without putting in some runners and began excavating the one crack I could find. What seemed like a good half hour ( was probably longer!) passed with lots of hand swapping and hammering of nuts into cracks which were too small for them. I now had two small nuts in, neither of which I would be happy to lower off, but perversely now felt happier climbing above.<br />
<br />
There were no more runners to the sanctuary of the belay which arrived after about ten more meters of dry frozen vertical turf. I threw a sling over a block and relaxed.....the next pitch wasn't my problem....and thank god cos it looked even harder!<br />
<br />
I could tell was also finding it hard because the rope suddenly went surprisingly tight as he took a lob and I could just imagine his axe ripping through the turf just as mine had. ( I never told him I'd almost fallen – it didn't seem like a good time)<br />
<br />
When he arrived at the belay he didn't have the look of someone who was still enjoying “the challenge”, though to give him his due he geared up and had a ferret around to find a way through what looked like grade VII ground above.<br />
<br />
At this point sanity reared its ugly head and we decided to bail of and live to fight another day. Before we could do that though we very kindly dropped a top rope down to the team below who's leader was now shouting “ watch me, watch me” at increasingly regular intervals. He first refused the offer until not having moved for quite a while, sanity caught up with him aswell.<br />
<br />
My bomber belay block now underwent a little closer inspection as I was about to trust my life to this single bit of the mountain, and worryingly it seemed to only be attached to the rest of the mountain by a thin layer of ice!! and a tap with the ice tool brought a sickening hollow sound.<br />
<br />
Derek by this time was beyond caring and to be fair it was the lesser of two evils. Derek went first and the thing stayed put but I still felt a bit sick every time I bounced on the rope as I followed. Two quick abseils and we were down and mighty relieved to be there.<br />
<br />
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2542764547?profile=original" alt=""/></p>
<br />
Within minutes the other team had followed our lead and bailed.<br />
<br />
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2542767967?profile=original" alt=""/></p>
<br />
This pitch was undoubtedly the hardest thing I've climbed in winter and without doubt the most committing. However we survived to learn the lessons, first and foremost, don't underestimate the seriousness of those little words...” I'll just have a look” or “I'll give it a go” ...they may be your last!<br />
<br />
<br />
P.S Axes for sale...one careful owner.Amphitheatre buttress, Craig yr Ysfa Sunday 13/12/09tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2009-12-13:2535987:BlogPost:64282009-12-13T21:41:49.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
300m - Grade V Diff<br />
Weather was -1 degrees in the Valley. Low cloud but dry.<br />
Approach - from Cwm Eigiau 1 - 1.5 hrs<br />
<br />
Derek, Will., Mark Davies and Rick<br />
<br />
Up and away by 6.30am, it was always going to be a biggish day, but events conspired to make it even longer, with our early start rubbed out by a patch of ice.<br />
<br />
The day didn't start well with Marks car sliding backwards down a very iced up single track road and ending up in a ditch. About 1 hour later and with the help of another 5 delayed…
300m - Grade V Diff<br />
Weather was -1 degrees in the Valley. Low cloud but dry.<br />
Approach - from Cwm Eigiau 1 - 1.5 hrs<br />
<br />
Derek, Will., Mark Davies and Rick<br />
<br />
Up and away by 6.30am, it was always going to be a biggish day, but events conspired to make it even longer, with our early start rubbed out by a patch of ice.<br />
<br />
The day didn't start well with Marks car sliding backwards down a very iced up single track road and ending up in a ditch. About 1 hour later and with the help of another 5 delayed walkers, we managed to manhandle the car back on the road and get to the road head.<br />
<br />
An easy flattish walk in brought us to the base of the buttress and the fun began. Though cold the rock was dry and the climbing of the highest quality. The kind of ground which is hard enough to be interesting, well protected and of a consistent grade. I haven't enjoyed a climb quite as much for a long time. Never too committing but long enough and absorbing enough to hold your attention for the best part of 4 hours.<br />
<br />
Will got straight in there and swung the leads with Derek, impressive considering its only his 2nd multipitch route and conditions where such you could easily add a grade or two to the guide book V Diff its given. By the top pitch we were climbing through Hore frost covered rock with gloves on, big boots and sacks, quite an initiation for a relative novice on the big routes.<br />
<br />
I would defiantly recommend the route for those looking for a quality mountain day on an easy but long route.<br />
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2434486770?profile=original" alt=""/></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2434479514?profile=original" alt=""/></p>Instructional Video for all you new memberstag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2009-12-11:2535987:BlogPost:64222009-12-11T21:23:01.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uxtg7raPDYo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_GB&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never"></param><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uxtg7raPDYo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_GB&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" width="425" height="344"></embed> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param></object>
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uxtg7raPDYo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_GB&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uxtg7raPDYo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_GB&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Eastenders meets Corronation Street in little Chamonixtag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2009-04-18:2535987:BlogPost:35532009-04-18T22:30:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<b>Jack of all...master of none!</b><br />
<br />
<i>Featuring Rick Riding ( as himself) and Mark Davies (as Jim Mitchell)</i><br />
<br />
Winter had deserted us, but "a penciling in" in my book is a firm commitment, so snow or no snow I wasn't about to let Mark of the hook that easly. A "penciling in" for a trip to the Ben became a couple of days in the lakes and yes I did feel a bit guilty that he might miss his daughters birthday and would be away on his own birthday...but I resolved to make sure the sacrifice…
<b>Jack of all...master of none!</b><br />
<br />
<i>Featuring Rick Riding ( as himself) and Mark Davies (as Jim Mitchell)</i><br />
<br />
Winter had deserted us, but "a penciling in" in my book is a firm commitment, so snow or no snow I wasn't about to let Mark of the hook that easly. A "penciling in" for a trip to the Ben became a couple of days in the lakes and yes I did feel a bit guilty that he might miss his daughters birthday and would be away on his own birthday...but I resolved to make sure the sacrifice would not be in vain? ( i'm not sure I succeeded!)<br />
<br />
We had decided to mix a bit of mountainbiking and climbing over the two days, so we headed straight for the new MTB venue at Whinlatter Forest. Now I hadn't done much biking for a while but like they say its not something you ever forget . The first indication that there was a flaw in this theory was the sound of a small landslide as within 5 mins of setting offI was off the trail and rolling down a steep slope with my bike on top of me. I obviously didn't expect a lot of sympathy from Mark and need less to say I didn't get any, though the word incompetent was utterd for the first time ( and not the last) as he draged my bike back onto the trail.<br />
<br />
I now had an injured left thumb to match my injured right one ( from a previous sking accedent) and despite not being able to change gear with my left hand, the rest of the ride went fairly smoothly, if a bit more cautiously.<br />
<br />
We'd knocked off both red routes in about 2 hours, and it was still only mid day, so we decided a bit of cragging at shepards whas what was called for.<br />
<br />
Thinking we'd start on something easy, it was off to brown slabs and a nice VD. Unfortunatly half way up what had been a slight dampness in the air turned to full blown rain which definatly effected the grade somewhat and added a little to the interest. Matters wern't helped by the fact that I 'd forgotten to ask what colour marks rope was and as a result we had both turned up with identical ropes - another black mark against my competence level - though I did get a lot of fun out of winding him up by shouting -" thats me on blue" at every oppotunity.<br />
<br />
Undetered we headed over to Little Chamonix, my reasoning being, if it can be climbed in rollerskates a bit of rain shouldn't effect the grade too much. As it turned out it was't the wet which stopped us in our tracks it was the boys from Albert Square!<br />
<br />
As Mark came up to the first belay he thought he'd stepped straight into the Queen Vic and true to form immediatly slipped into character with his best Phil Mitchell impression. The two lads on the belay were'nt quite sure what to make of that, but they had bigger problems to deal with as we were about to find out.<br />
<br />
To cut a very long story short, at least an hour was spent passing the time with these lads as thier "leader" called for slack, of which there was plenty, but rope drag ment he was going nowhere fast. We did offer to remove the offending runner, but with already 4 ropes in play, one tied to an"eastender" half way up the second pitch, but not held by anyone! We thought it best not to complicate matters any further and resigned ourselfs to a long wait and the possibility of picking up the peices.<br />
<br />
For the first time that day I felt compitent ( its all relative) , it didn't last.<br />
<br />
When we did finaly get our turn, Mark led the top pitch in style, our two blue ropes running freely,much to the admeration of the Eastend boys.<br />
<br />
I didn't intend to let Marks Birthday go by without some kind of fitting ritual and so had bought a nice big slice of fuit cake to act as a surigate birthday cake. Unfortunatly the next morning when I confessed that I'd got a bit hungry the night before and had "already made a start on it" he seemed to think that the gesture had been compromised!<br />
<br />
Day two - The West Highland Way<br />
<br />
We had decided that if the weather wasn't up to much in the morning we'd do another bike ride and I'd brought my map of cycle routes in the lakes just in case. As I got it out in the hostel something did'nt seem quite right. Why I thought , would Fort William be on a cycling map of the lakes? Needles to say it wasn't and the worrying thing was that Mark was no longer even supprised. We went straight to plan B.<br />
<br />
Troutdale Pinicle<br />
<br />
It turned out to be a bright fine day, clear sky and wonderful views. The route itself was better than I expected, every pitch being interesting and top quality. We were third in a line of slow moving traffic and had the roll of retreaving a trail of abandoned gear for the other two teams, but even this didn't detract from quality of the experiance. I managed to keep myself ammused by shouting " take in on blue" at every oppotunity and Mark kept himself busy trying to disentangle 120m of identical looking 8.5 mm nylon!<br />
<br />
I think he had a good birthday, though we never did eat the rest of the cake!<br />
<br />
by<br />
<br />
Rick RidingColin & Rick on the Bentag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2009-03-25:2535987:BlogPost:33122009-03-25T01:00:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" height="2736" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2381984622?profile=original" width="3648"></img></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" height="1120" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2381984652?profile=original" width="3968"></img></p>
Ben Nevis March 21st 2009<br />
<br />
Colin and I made the long trek up to the Ben last weekend which actualy ended up being longer than usual due to :<br />
<br />
Blindly following the sat nav, which thought it would be funny to take us on a tour of scotlands lesser known hamlets!<br />
Thick fog and suicidal red deer!<br />
<br />
We did eventually arrive at the north face car park in the wee ours of the morning ( 2am) threw up the tent, jumped…
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2381984622?profile=original" alt="" width="3648" height="2736"/></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2381984652?profile=original" alt="" width="3968" height="1120"/></p>
Ben Nevis March 21st 2009<br />
<br />
Colin and I made the long trek up to the Ben last weekend which actualy ended up being longer than usual due to :<br />
<br />
Blindly following the sat nav, which thought it would be funny to take us on a tour of scotlands lesser known hamlets!<br />
Thick fog and suicidal red deer!<br />
<br />
We did eventually arrive at the north face car park in the wee ours of the morning ( 2am) threw up the tent, jumped inside and set the alarm for 4am. At 4.05am we emerged from the tent to find we were one of the last up and at the back of the queue!<br />
<br />
On the walk up we managed to claw our way back up the queue to some extent, but were passed by some very fit looking types with enviously small rucksacks. A brief halt at the CIC and then on and upwards to our objective, Observatory Buttress. On the way up we had some fine views of Zero and Point Five, which looked very tempting and had it not been for the constant wiz of ice bombarding us from the bottom of the gully and the 10 other people queuing at the bottom of the route I may have given it a go. It looked good and it took all my willpower to convince myself it would be a bad idea.<br />
<br />
So instead we persevered with our original “bad idea”. only bad as it turns out in that when we arrived at the bottom of observatory buttress ( Grade 5) it was running with water and very thinly iced. It didn’t take long to decide maybe we’d leave it for another day!<br />
<br />
Colin had spotted a good looking line on the way up and it turned out to be tower scoop ( grade 3). This provided two really nice pitches which were steep but enjoyable as the ice was perfect and first time placements provided a feeling of security.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Once at the top of this first route we took the rope off and traversed round to the right to the base of Good Friday gully. Unfortunately the cloud had come in and visibility was very poor. I was convinced we had traversed far enough and headed up the obvious large gully in front of us.<br />
<br />
As we soloed up we began to be battered by chunks of ice coming off the left hand side wall and quite a few times we were bracing ourselves as we came under sustained fire. Colin got a direct hit in the shoulder and I got a chunk in the face which I later realised had drawn blood.<br />
<br />
As we approached what looked like a very steep headwall, we realised maybe this wasn’t the gully we thought it was. Hopefully it was Gardyloo Gully, otherwise we were in completely unknown territory.<br />
<br />
We took refuge under a massive chock stone and assessed the situation. Convinced we were now in gardyloo gully, we got out the rope for the final move round the chock stone and up to the cornice or the “sometimes impassable cornice” as it was described in the guide!!<br />
<br />
It proved to be passable , but the pitch was pretty good value for grade 2/3 being a bit leaner than usual.<br />
<br />
A quick trip to the summit and than we were off down Carn Mor Dearg Arete and back to the car.<br />
<br />
13 hours in total and feeling pretty battered by the end of it.<br />
<br />
Sunday , we woke to the sound of heavy rain and after a slow start we decided to have a short walk in glen coe just to stretch our legs for the journey back . I don’t think either of us was too disappointed as the Saturday had been hard work even though we had ended up doing technically easier routes than we had planned .<br />
<br />
Hopefully we might get one more shot before the winters out. The Bens back in condition this week with a new dump of snow and cold temps. I’m not quite ready to hang up the axes yet!<br />
<br />
<br />
RickWhat do you fancy doing ? - your choice!tag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2009-02-28:2535987:BlogPost:28282009-02-28T00:30:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
<p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" height="2272" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2542741661?profile=original" width="1704"></img></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="" height="1704" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2542742223?profile=original" width="2272"></img></p>
<u><b>What do you fancy doing ? - your choice!</b></u><br />
<i>The few days climbing described here were a bit of a revelation to me. In the past I’ve either been winter climbing or summer rock climbing. The bit in the middle where its too warm for one but too wet and cold for the other has been a bit of a frustration. Not any more “ mountaineering” I’m hooked!</i><br />
<br />
Derek and I had planned to spend a few days…
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2542741661?profile=original" alt="" width="1704" height="2272"/></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2542742223?profile=original" alt="" width="2272" height="1704"/></p>
<u><b>What do you fancy doing ? - your choice!</b></u><br />
<i>The few days climbing described here were a bit of a revelation to me. In the past I’ve either been winter climbing or summer rock climbing. The bit in the middle where its too warm for one but too wet and cold for the other has been a bit of a frustration. Not any more “ mountaineering” I’m hooked!</i><br />
<br />
Derek and I had planned to spend a few days winter climbing together in my half term brake immediately after I returned from my school ski trip. ( had I known how much energy 105 kids can suck out of you in seven days , I might have factored in a little more recovery time!) These plans were made in the heady days earlier this month when it looked like winter would go on for ever. Unfortunately the reality of the British maritime climate intervened and I returned from the French Alps to find spring had sprung.<br />
<br />
Scotland was now out, as it was 10 degrees in the valleys and the thought of doing point five in lean dripping conditions made the decision an easy one! I phoned Derek to discuss plan B. As always Derek was more than happy for me to have the final decision on where to go. “ what about the lakes “ I said we could do such and such…he listen politely while I made my “final decision”, before we both agreed that “ maybe Wales would be a better option”, not that he had anything in particular in mind you understand!<br />
<br />
When do you want to set off? How about Thursday morning? I replied.<br />
<br />
Wednesday night we were off and on our way.<br />
We’d call in at Reggie’s and make use of the caravan for the first night, thus removing the need to make a 5am start on the Thursday morning.<br />
<br />
5.30 am we were up and away ( no that is an exaggeration, we did, to my surprise manage a leisurely start ) but what would we climb? We did have some unfinished business on the upper section of idwal, a route we were going to do in winter conditions, but it had been too windy. We decided we’d string something together to make a nice “ mountaineering day out” so we headed off to idwal.<br />
<br />
It wasn’t winter conditions at all, but it was cold and threatening dampness, so winter clothing and big boots were the order of the day. Ever the optimist I grudgingly left my ice axes and crampons in the car and attempted to hide the 6 ice screws I’d brought so as not to look a complete idiot.<br />
<br />
I set off leading up ordinary route on the slabs and soon got into a rhythm. I’d run out about 50m of the 60m rope when Derek suggested we move together on it as it was fairly easy ground and before we knew it we were at the top of the slabs. The next barrier was the Holly tree wall and the easiest way up Lazarus S 4a. Derek almost demanded the lead eager to get his teeth into something “Meaty”. Meaty it certainly was and I could be heard to remark as much ( in not so many words) as I followed him up, my hands now having lost all feeling in the cold. ( I’d climbed it once before with Mark Rothwell and remembered it being tough in rock boots!)<br />
<br />
The gauntlet had now been thrown down. I picked it up and eyed up the next obstacle - Groove Above 4b - made a few half hearted attempts at the “ desperate start” and promptly threw the gauntlet back down…where it stayed!<br />
<br />
Sanity having now prevailed I moved left, tail between my legs to lead “ the Arete - VD “ which turned out to be a lovely pitch, though it did begin to get a bit bold for my liking towards its end.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We now scrambled off right in search of the main prize , Central Arête a 600 ft VD. However just as we thought we’d found the bottom of the route the clag rolled in and it began to rain. After some lunch inside the survival shelter a peek outside revealed things had gone from bad to worse and we bit the bullet and descended to the comfort of Pete’s Eats for a big mug of tea and an early dinner.<br />
<br />
Day 2<br />
<br />
After only getting a total of 2 hours sleep, Derek took a little longer than usual getting his kit ready for the day ahead. For once it wasn’t my snoring which was to blame but the result was the same. A night spent in the kitchen of the Pete’s Eats bunkhouse, mattress on the floor and a light with an overly sensitive motion detector! Derek was not a happy bunny at breakfast!<br />
<br />
The night before we had decided where to go the next day. It was to be my choice and after a bit of research I thought it would be nice to go up into Cwm Cneifion and do Sub - Cneifion Arête and continue on to do Cneifion Arête itself afterwards…we had a plan.<br />
<br />
Next morning found us up bright and early and walking in to do Groove Arête on the East face of Tryfan with the added bonus of a quick trip up little try fan to warm up….something Derek had been thinking of doing for a while!!<br />
<br />
We arrived at the base of little Tryfan still a little jaded from the poor nights sleep. “ How about we just solo this scramble up the edge of the slab” suggested Derek. Before I could select one from the many “ why that might not be a good idea” that were battling for space in my thoughts, he was off and the only option which seemed to remain was to follow and not slip!<br />
About ¾ of the way up I could tell that some of those “ why this might not be a good idea” thoughts were now competing for space in Derek’s head, as the “scramble” unsurprisingly turned into a climb.<br />
<br />
Suitably exhilarated and now wide awake we headed up to Grooved Arête. The climb itself was fantastic and doing it in big winter boots and heavy sacks just added to the experience. Some of these easier graded climbs I’d passed over and never gone back to as I moved up the grades, but to go back and do them in a “mountaineering style” was great.<br />
<br />
The day ended sat below Adam and Eve on the summit with fantastic views and in great company .<br />
Derek complimented me on such a fine choice of route.<br />
<br />
That night we didn’t have to stumble far as we stayed in the bunkhouse at the farm below Tryfan. ( an excellent clean and warm place - highly recommended)<br />
<br />
Next day was a unanimous decision. We’d put the big boots away, don the sticky rubber and go and do something hard in Llanberis.<br />
<br />
The morning was very cold and the wind had picked up as we made the short walk up to Milestone buttress in our big boots and winter gloves!<br />
<br />
“ This looks like a fantastic line”<br />
<br />
It looks bloody desperate, I thought , but I offered to lead because at least I could see how desperate this was…god knows what was round the corner.<br />
<br />
Direct Route VD ( polished as hell & inadequate runners! - authors note)<br />
<br />
For once in a very long time that little voice warning me that there was a very real possibility of things going pear shaped was listened to and I backed off the pitch from about half way up. Derek then made it look easy and I went on to follow with that little voice having been silenced by the rope going up rather than down!<br />
<br />
Each pitch was as good as the last and the crux lived up to its name. The only time I haven’t carried my camera for months meant I missed a once in a lifetime shot of Derek jammed in what can only be described as an “ off width” crack, head down with feet kicking in the air…muffed sounds of distress coming from the back of the crack.<br />
Once I’d composed myself again and got him back on belay he lead the rest of the pitch it fine mountaineering style circa 1922 ( ie. Before the development of concepts like style and ethics!)<br />
<br />
The traditional handshake on the top and a quick abseil down our single 8.5 mm rope ( a detail I’d forgotten to mention, we’d climbed all week on a single half rope which just added to that pre war feel - the leader never falls!!!) and we were down at the bottom both having had our fill and happy to do a bit of retail therapy in Betws y Coed on the way home.<br />
<br />
A fine , memorable few days which just go to show just getting out, is what its all about.<br />
<br />
RickClogwyn Ddu Pillar Chimney IVtag:mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com,2009-01-26:2535987:BlogPost:22412009-01-26T19:00:00.000ZRick Ridinghttps://mountaineeringclubofbury.ning.com/profile/RickRiding
Getting out of a warm bed for theses early starts doesn’t get any easier, though experience tells me its always worth the effort…but that doesn’t help much at 4am!<br />
Stuff down some breakfast and it’s off to meet up with Derek and the lads. Mark and Colin are meeting us at Derek’s and just to wind them up we're sat in the car, engine running looking at our watches as they pull up!<br />
<br />
We go through the usual routine. Watching the thermometer in the car as we approach N. Wales, willing it to drop a…
Getting out of a warm bed for theses early starts doesn’t get any easier, though experience tells me its always worth the effort…but that doesn’t help much at 4am!<br />
Stuff down some breakfast and it’s off to meet up with Derek and the lads. Mark and Colin are meeting us at Derek’s and just to wind them up we're sat in the car, engine running looking at our watches as they pull up!<br />
<br />
We go through the usual routine. Watching the thermometer in the car as we approach N. Wales, willing it to drop a few degrees, but seeing it steadily rising. At Ogwen cottage it’s about 5 degrees and there’s a disappointing amount of snow visible. At least today there’s almost no one else in the car park, no need to rush or sprint up the hill. (But we do anyway….old habits die hard!)<br />
<br />
We’re heading for Cwm Cneifion (Nameless Cwm…though for someone with dyslexia like me, all welsh Cwm’s are nameless!)<br />
Slowly the snow starts to appear, not too firm, but spirits lift the higher we get and the better the conditions become. For once we can actually see the Cwm and the route is obvious. Finding the route can sometimes be the hardest part of the day for me.<br />
<br />
The route looks good and we are the only ones in the Cwm and a relaxed gearing up session begins. Colin and Mark decide to do Hidden Gully (Grade II) and head up higher into the top of the Cwm.<br />
<br />
Since I stole all the best pitches the last time we were out, I offer Derek the Crux pitch (I know he likes that sort of thing) and we work out a sequence which will take us to it. Derek leads off. Straight away there is a small steep step and then a long ramp on poor snow. Conditions are thin and what snow there is variable in quality.<br />
<br />
The next pitch is a steep narrow gully. I probe it cautiously before wedging myself in the gap. Its narrower than it looks and I get wedged in it, secure for now but now the problems getting out again! As usual, no runners for about 15 – 20 feet, but then I get a coupe of good friends in and relax. After this it’s another easy ramp up to the flake and the crux.<br />
<br />
Derek did look at the grade 5/6 direct pitch , but it wasn’t formed and it would have been bold in the extreme. Sense prevailed and he did the grade IV traverse, which turned out to be one of those memorable grin inducing pitches. A beautiful horizontal crack line which you could torque your axes in and then a really thin slab where will power alone kept the crampons in contact. I heard a squeal of delight ( relief ) as Derek got across this!<br />
<br />
The fun wasn’t over yet though. From the next belay I had to traverse out to gain another slab which would take us to the top. The ice was very poor and the pitch was getting harder and harder for the 2nd as I managed to pull most of it off. A very delicate long run out ( 2 runners in 60 m) got me to the top and after a very long wait ( problems communicating) Derek followed.<br />
<br />
Buzzing from this climb, we were keen to get another done before the end of the day and so made our way over to Hidden Gully and abseiled down the top section. On closer inspection the gully we thought about doing was almost ice free, so we solo’d back up hidden gully and walked round to descend Gribin Ridge.<br />
<br />
A bit of luck meant we met up with Collin and Mark who had just climbed Tower Gully I/II and we descended together.<br />
<br />
The weather had cleared through the day and the views were now stunning, with views back towards the routes we had just done.<br />
<br />
I great route and a great day with fantastic company, I’ll be getting up at 4am again!<br />
<br />
<br />
Rick