Return to the sharp end

There is something oddly satisfying about a well seated nut. When both surfaces sit snugly against the crack sides and you know it's at least an 8 out of 10. There is something even more satisfying to find you can still place gear well, two years since the last time you tried.

Neither the Simple Chick (a play on surname, not a reflection on intellectual capacity) or I had led outside for some years, and in April, I had had to deal with the aftermath of my other climbing partner landing in an unconscious heap. I'm sure you can appreciate that, given those circumstances, although we wanted to get back on the sharp end, we most certainly didn't want any kind of epic. 

Windgather left

After weeks of deliberation, discussion and seeking the advice of others, we decided that Windgather was the way forward - this also gave the Simple Chick an excuse to acquire Rockfax 'Western Grit', which of course she didn't just want, she definitely needed. For me it was uncharted territory - I had never climbed in the Peak before.

Ready for the off...

Making use of one of my leaving presents from Orkney, we selected a really easy but recommended route. I volunteered to be first up to the plate, organised my gear on my harness, tied in, checked my belayer and set off. It was still before 9 am and my hands and my muscles were cold. I felt like my gear placements took hours, but I wanted them to be right, however long that took. Happily topping out, the biggest problem was building a decent belay. It was not ideal in terms of angles, but I was happy with the two large nuts and big hex that I had in place. 

The Simple Chick commandeers  ALL the nuts

The Simple Chick and I carried on, swapping leads on the different routes that we fancied. It was lovely to be somewhere where there were enough climbs at the right grade for us to pick and chose. I was very impressed by her gear placements, she was precise and exact and by her third climb was looking really slick. 

BUNS!

Following a large picnic, the highlight of which was the Simple Chick's buns, we agreed that we didn't have much left in us. The Simple Chick picked her final route and after lunch, off she set, placing my new yellow hex, for the first time on a route, as she went.

Spot the hex...

Topping out (incidentally non of my top-outs today resembled seals), we discussed her belay placements (good) and took some obligatory selfies, before again agreeing that it was time to head home. The six routes we had climbed may have been low grade but we had had the confidence to go out on our own and try, having thought hard about our venue and our approach. Standing at the top of the final route, I knew we had achieved everything we had set out to. I was proud of us.  

A happy Simple Chick and Northern Clamberer