It’s not all endless zoom and emails in the BMC hot seat, and by far the most rewarding bits of the job are getting out on the hill with our members. Last week had a high fun to faff ratio.
Thursday was off to Masson Lees for an update on the project being funded there by the BMC’s Access and Conservation Trust. Great to catch up with Nick and Sam, the father and son team who have recently taken ownership of the quarry. Sam’s a keen climber and they’ve both really embraced the idea of the quarry as an incredible resource to be open to all. Carlsberg don’t make crag-owners, but if they did…
Checking out plans for the parking and camping areas…
… and looking ahead, with organiser Neil, to Masson Fest dry tooling festival in October https://www.massonlees.co.uk/event-details-registration/masson-drytooling-fest
I’d had the honour of teaming up with Sam for his very first climb in his own quarry on a previous visit, and this time we shifted the action to the dark side for the excellent Pocket Rocket, 6c, captured by filmmaker Ben who is recording the transformation project.
Friday, it’s off to the BMC Basecamp Gathering – an event to celebrate volunteering and bring the Big Tent community together – literally and figuratively. Stopping off on the way for a few routes at Curbar with Terance, we headed a little beyond the more popular stomping ground. A couple of enjoyable Severes on Flying Buttress, but Calver Wall is an absolute arse-kicker at VS 5a!
Bumped into Rick and Bob by chance:
On to Thornbridge Outdoors in Bakewell for the event. Great to meet so many people from across the country for banter and beers (so much better than zoom!)
Over the course of the weekend I’d planned to climb at both of the BMC-owned Peak District crags, so Saturday was off to Horseshoe (not somewhere I’d normally visit on a summer Saturday). Loads of people taking early steps in their climbing careers and fun to help Terance “show the ropes” to Anthony for his first ever climb…
… and witness Piper’s first lead:
Toasty on the Main Wall, climbing with Minh and Tim – Rotund Rooley felt quite slippery, which might be the sweat, polish or simply me getting weedier.
Here’s Tim showing the way to deal with polish on School’s Out
Also a rare opportunity for Interim Chair Hanne to enjoy the delights of quality Peak Limestone rather than having to put up with the fare on offer at home in Innsbruck 😉
Saturday evening was MC duty for the BMC’s Annual Volunteer Awards – a privilege to be able to recognise the efforts and energies of so many generous people, who do so much to enable the rest of us to enjoy what we do – securing access to crags, organising conservation activities and supporting young people on their climbing journeys. Inspiring!
Followed by a bop and a final beer to round off a memorable evening.
I had to miss Helen’s very well-attended morning yoga session on Sunday…
… to chair a meeting of Members’ Council – albeit a tightly scheduled one (having a crag to get on is a good focus for timekeeping!) then it was off to the other BMC crag: Aldery Cliff aka Earl Sterndale. I hadn’t visited for ages, and I imagine it’s been a while since it ever saw quite the crowd that turned up – well over a dozen of us.
No problem with a bit of “Tetris” parking.
I’d forgotten how good the routes on the main Ash Tree Slab were (there’s now a bolted lower off at 25m but it’s well to the left of the upper wall and not at all obvious). Climbed these with Rob.
Teamed up with Saqib to do The Bender, a fluttery HVS on the right hand side – good lead by him!
Great end to a brilliant weekend, showcasing the BMC at it’s absolute best. Basecamp will definitely be back next year and looks to become a fixture in the UK climbing calendar.
RockAroundTheWorld 