As the tension gathers for Spain – me n dave thought it would be good to go outdoors, do a bit top roping – just to get the feel. So off we went to Goldsbrough carr – iv never been, but Dave was up there often last year, working his own boulder problem and having a potter about.
I thought it would be a small, Crag Hill type of affair – how I was wrong. Huge blocks of Gritstone, that looked like they had been thrown up and landed make up the 3 major buttress’ of the Crag. The first was in the shade and didn’t get a look in at these temps, the second had a nice crackline up the middle. “Fiddler on the roof” E1 5c. Now as I said – it was a day for taking no risks, good job too as I couldn’t get this on a top rope, never mind a lead. 1 day though it will go.
The 3rd block had a stunning arete and a few nice lines 5a, 5b ish – E1 / HVS ish on the lead. In typical grit style, these lines had very little gear, maybe a couple of cams in the breaks at most. We top roped em, in fear of broken ankles to go with our broken Spanish.
Past the huge icicles
– was Dave’s problem “mini neb” a really low as it gets traverse and top out. Following a shallow crease under the obvious line, it turns into a hard crimp and pushes out to the top. A really good problem, and I was over the moon to get the flash, after Dave showed me the holds.
There’s everything here from really easy slabby boulders to mega desperate roof problems, cracks, chimneys and all in really good condition at the mo.
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