Peaks: Stanage

Gosh, have we really not been since Peaks: Stanage and Froggatt at the end of March 2024? I fear not. This time it is simpler: off at 7, to Stanage in the morning - after a stop at the Outside cafe in Hathersage of course - lunch back in the cafe with a pause for E to buy new "light" walking boots / shoes¹, and D to buy new rock shoes. And then pm back to Stanage. We were fairly casual about it all and by no means pushing for as much climbing as possible; we had a long lunch hour and more than an hour's sunlight left when we headed home. One minor note: the Popular End carpark is now on RingGo. Unordered pix are here, but I didn't take many. This is all at or near Leaning Buttress.

Morning

GPS. We warmed up on Chockstone Direct S 4a, which I lead (it's the obvious line 2-3 m to the left of D in this pic). We would have done a VDish thing, had one been conveniently available, but S was a good grade to start as it turned out; E and D followed. Then D leads us up Armchair Buccaneer  HVS 5a, which again was a good choice. D has done very little trad leading, but the route takes friends and he managed to get them in, and with his reach and strength he had more margin on some of the sections I found close to my limits. E however found it a little beyond her limits.

Afternoon

GPS. D wanted something harder so top roped an E1 5b, Easter Rib, in his new shoes. E and I did the nice line of April Crack HS 4b and then Right-hand Trinity S 4b which has an awkward bulge at 2/3 height.

Here's D again, on his 5b, at the point where he has strayed a bit too far left off the rib onto a blank section. The woman in pale blue is in April crack; E is seen at the top belaying D. Hargreaves' Original VS 4c goes up the face further left. I slightly regret not trying that... maybe next time.

And then home; back around 9 after an uneventful drive.

Notes

1. For the low low price of £240, gadzooks.