Aiming to make the best of a limited weather window, Delphine and I made our way up to the Peak District with initial thoughts of a day at Burbage North but the overnight and morning rain had swollen the green covering to a slippy mess so after a brief inspection we headed for the more sheltered and immaculately clean rock of Birchen. It proved to be a great decision.
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| Delphine below Sail Buttress after seconding Ratline |
A grey start brightened slowly and after we warmed up on Powder Monkey Parade Delphine worked her way through the Birchen classics (Topsail, Sail Buttress, Porthole Direct) while I added some interesting climbs to my logbook. Highlights included the Crow's Nest and the Ratline, the latter of which was either a soft touch 5b or somewhat easier for the tall. Either way, after some consternation on the ledge before the crux, it punched the 5b club ticket. Efficient climbing and taking our turns on lead gave us 9 routes in the day and a relaxed return to Cambridge with the obligatory stop for a mini fish and chips from the Union Jack in Chesterfield.
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| Delphine making the crux moves on Sail Buttress |
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