07/02/07

Access issues...

On Saturday 17th Feb there will be a BMC volunteer action day to clear the scrub from the central area of Boulder Ruckle (Thunderball, Thor, Snowdrop etc.) The action day will start at 10am and finish at 4.30pm. Volunteers are needed to hand-cut small bushes and carry them to an on site shredder. Some of this work will need volunteers to be roped, please bring an old rope and your harness if you can. All hand tools and gloves will be provided, as will a lunch of soup and pasties, and fish and chips and a pint after the event! Travelling and parking expenses can be re-imbursed and overnight accomodation can be arranged if you want to stay on and climb on Sunday.If a hurricane or monsoon is forecast the event will move to Sat 24 Feb. To participate let Scott Titt know at this address.
In other access news the National Trust will be closing Dancing Ledge to the public for the 7 days beginning 18th March to undertake essential path repairs. During this period, no-one will be able to access the climbing there.

Marti Hallett on his recent new route,
Premenstrual Princess, F6b+, Winspit

Marti Hallett is continuing with his one-man 'restoration' mission, with rebolts of Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Hiccup and Mariana's Trenchcoat at Dancing Ledge.The rather shaky first bolt on the War of the Wardens has also been replaced with a 'through-bolt'. Whilst in the vicinity Marti added two new lines either side of 'Date with a Frog'. On the left is 'B4 Destruction', F6b+, whilst the steep prow to the right is still a project. At Winspit the ivy to the right of 'So Naughty' has been cleared to reveal two lines. The left one is VS 4b(FA:Brian Watson) and the left hand one is VS 4c (FA: Scott Titt).

Over at the Cuttings Steve Muncaster has got the new routing bug, and added a line up the left arete of the Sod: Little Sod is 6b+. Steve has a number of other lines under development at the moment- watch this space! The 'new' crag below the Wallsend North approach has been under development by Tom Beaumont, with the left hand line giving 'Faith, Hop and Charity' F6a, and the right hand one 'Short 'n Sexy', F5, on nice looking flowstone. On Wallsend North itself Tom has also added the continuation of the Poop Scoop flake to give 'Pixie and the Milford Powerhouse', F5+. Tom has also climbed a previously unrecorded route on the Triple Slabs, left of 'Vertical Trill';'A Nugget of Purest Green' F4.