To celebrate the end of lockdown rules that stop us enjoying the outside as a club, the BCC headed off to Lower Cove, in the Mournes, as our second climbing trip of the year. It was very successful, with 15 people (and not a single person more) turning up to participate. We also had a good split of faces, ones I’m tired of seeing and some new ones that was a great pleasure to greet.
Lisa arranging gear before the crux of 'Kram'. Photo: J. Roberts
Our meeting time was at 1000 at the Carrick Little Carpark, and no one was totally late. After making sure we had all the gear we needed, since the hour long walk to crag was something I personally wasn’t going to do more than I needed to, we headed off and I’d forgotten how quickly the walk ins felt when there was a good bunch of people to talk to. Once we were next to the crag, Lisa (Meets sectary extraordinar) organised climbing partners, the more experienced partnered off with the less experienced at similar levels. Little did my (un)lucky climbing partner know that they were in for a hell of a day.
Two groups on ‘Half Corner’ (Left) and ‘Munching Mandy’ (Right). Photo: R. Scott
Rónán leading ‘Dot’s Delight’. Photo: M. Mccracken
Most of us decided to head to the first corner, where a lot of the good quality easier routes are at; however, I had forgotten much extra effort it was to get up there. After sweating through my base layer, I asked my climbing partner, Mike Mccracken, what his experience was and he said seconding at VS was the most he had done. To test his ability, and totally not for me to get used to climbing on Mournes granite again, we did the lovely VS ‘Kram’. To my surprise Mike cruised it easily, since it has quite a bouldery crux. Next we tried ‘Krammed’ the slightly harder and not well protected line next to Kram. Saying that I managed to protect the route very well with my biggest and smallest cam in parallel and even informed Rónán of this, who, after he’d climbed the route, politely let me know I was full of shit. Anyway, Mike struggled at first with the more technical crux, but once again got up. I later learnt I had misheard Mike and he had actually said the hardest he had LED was VS, which meant I knew I could push him a lot further! After we did ‘The Great Treacle Sponge Robbery’ (best name ever) I decided to get scared on ‘Left Arete’ (not as good as a name) and finally finished off Mike. Luckily he said he had had a great day out, so I didn’t have to feel guilty for essentially torturing a person.
That was my account, but we were all mostly climbing at the first corner and everyone looked like they were getting the most out of the day. We all left at separate times during the day and I ended in my car before it started pissing it down. Hopefully the people still at the crag didn’t get too wet; however, I never asked.
By Jamie Roberts
Lisa on something, busting a move. Photo: J. Lau
Kyle and Jenny topping out of ‘Aristocrat’, I assume. Photo: Chris Craig
Kyle and Jenny, also busting a move, on ‘First Corner’. Photo: R. Davison-Kernan
Rónán and Chris also on ‘First Corner’. Photo: J. Roberts
Rónán drawing his climbing strength from his surroundings. Photo: J. Roberts
Kyle leading ‘Meat Grinder’. Photo: J. Roberts