Down memory lane..

After Christmas, Easter is a good time to visit family again in England, and after a chance message from Steve who now lives in Plymouth I managed to arrange a joint meeting in the Peak District. I love returning to the Peak, seeing family, the place and of course climbing on the gritstone where I cut my climbing teeth.

Steve topping out on Elliots Unconquerable at Cratcliffe

I think we spent almost 10 years meeting at Steve's beautiful but cold, old Winster house drinking tea and hatching plans for the weekends climbing... Then one year Steve moved to the South of England, I went to Lancaster for a second career and University, Dave moved to Brussels and Kev & Sue moved to France! All change.

Brown's Eliminate - Froggatt

It was a little different being based out of my mum's this year, but the egg breakfasts (obligatory) and chat was good. Steve is still mad for the gritstone and climbing and we headed to Cratcliffe the first day (gulp). The climbing here is great, limited with no easy stuff and well, quite brutal. We, or I struggled up 4 x HVS's nursing bruised, bleeding hands and ego that first night.

Same - I didn't take many pics

Day 2 saw us at Millstone with another 4 x 3 star HVS's under our belt. It's an interesting situation when Millstone seems a light relief after the day before! Obviously finished with a pint on the way back to the full board Youlgreave accommodation.

same!

On our last day given the forecast wind we headed to Froggatt. Again I'd not climbed here for a while. Steve is mad for it and amongst other routes we did some great classics including Chequer's Buttress, The Big Crack, Brown's Eliminate, Great Slab (on top rope - wow, I would never solo this route) and finished on Valkyrie.

I always struggle on Valkyrie, and again had a bit of a mare on it this time! It's a tough route for HVS.  I was slightly heartened when as we were leaving a climber also made the first crack look quite tricky, and he was continuing from the top of it climbing the direct E6 route beyond! A great trip, thank goodness I can have a rest now... I'm sure Steve will be back next Easter! Maybe next time I will do a little training beforehand.