Overview - Christmas holidays again, and a slight added apprehension due to last year's events. However, presents with the family, a wander around the Tate Modern, and we're off to the Peak. Initially very wet (two days at S. Burbage and an I-forgot-my-rock-shoes-day at Frogatt netted virtually nothing), which led onto a rather blustry day on Stanage Plantation
I've always claimed to love arete climbing, but looking at this classic "easy" arete boulder problem, it was clear that I'd have to get back to trusting pure-friction climbing quickly. Having been up and down to the crux (two hands on the arete), I got back there a forth time, dithered badly, and force my way passed it. The rest just feels high. Beautiful. Correctly starred.
Problem 5 (B3)
Problem 9 (B2)
Problem 11 (B0); Very easy arete - perhaps a nice warmup...
Problem 12 (B1); Off the boulder, but must try the start off the grass
Problem 14 (B3); Didn't feel quite that hard...
Problem 13 (B4); Think the move over the lip is nuts, try it from the right
Problem 15 (B1)
Led - I'm sure the stars will appear if this gets done in better conditions, but I did it in what felt like gale-force winds and slight drizzle. I started out thinking it was HS, got told half-way up that I was now on a S, then got down and realised it's real grade. Thankfully it wasn't S, as that would have made me very depressed... Nening seconded.