Burrrrrr: Climbing at Symonds Yat 2

Saturday, day off, let's get climbing, come on! We headed out early. Tom at mine by 7.45am, pick up James 8.00am, Dave 8.11am, sorry Dave, minute late! We headed out to Symonds Yat for some more climbing. Need more scratches on my rack. It was a chance to take my new Freelander for a drive too! 4x4, heated leather seats, cup holders for big mugs of tea, high up, I can now see into the fields I race by!!

We got to the Forest of Dean by 10.00am and headed down to the Golden Fleece sector. The walls are a bit higher here than on Intro Rocks, some of them multi-pitch. We got to the bottom of the crag and kitted up. The weather was bloody cold. Min Eggs, anyone? I spotted the 24m Golden Fleece (HS 4b) and Tom had his eye on 'The Druid' a 27m VS 4c. I shot up it so fast I surprised myself, and when I got to a little ledge and couldn't find anywhere for gear, I got a little scared. All I had one quick draw left and I was wondering how to finish this sucker off. My legs where shaking, my mind was playing those funny tricks when you're 20m up, but I pulled it together stuck in a HEX and went for it! WOW what a climb, I'm starting to enjoy this game again! Tom made his route look easy even though he took a bit more time than me, climbing with 1/2 ropes, more faff!! We rigged up and James and Dave came up second.

We moved on through the forest to The Green Grollies Wall and then to Semicircular Bay when I took a quick stab at Trundlebum Rex, a 26m Severe. Again it looked good, nice crack, little bulge and follow up to the tree. Got a bit stuck again in the middle but sorted my head out and went for it. Tom was having more fun on 'White Heart 2' on the Upper Tier, a 16m HVS 5b. I heard a crash through the trees and called out 'Tom' and waited, but nothing. Then I shouted, 'TOM... DAVE...', Nothing. Oh well. We walked up after finishing on Rex and Tom looked a little excited. He had taking a bit of a wipper, a quick 4m plus fall and didn't scream... brave lad.

The fall didn't put him off and we climbed on. I got in 3 more climbs as the snow started to fall. Seven Deadly Dwarves (10m VD), Rootin Toot (10m VD) and Farewell (9m HS 4b). I climbed until it felt like I'd developed a clubbed foot. It was so numb I couldn't walk properly and when James and I topped out on the last climb I almost slipped on the snow and over the edge. Whoops!

Tom went for the big one and bagged the Pinnacle on Long Stone. One of the most famous landmarks at Symonds Yat. He went up 'Vertigo' (15m S), and it wasn't much short of winter conditions. At one point he chalked up his gloves to get more grip! A great day out ended with us saving a family stuck in the snow. Job done!

Peace,

Dan