Catrin and Tanya Day 1 - 9th April

Tanya starting up pitch 1

I met Tanya and Catrin for a week of climbing in North Wales, on the Monday morning - but it turned out to be the worst weather of the week, and it was very tempting to go indoors from the beginning. I wanted to try and find an outdoor alternative which was possibly dry and which would suit everybody. We headed for Carreg Hylldrem and took a look at the Hylldrem Girdle (HVS 5a). The rain was coming down heavy and constant, but the main climbing area on the route was dry. Lena was going to give me a hand today - so she took up position, belaying in the tree at the start of the first pitch and belayed everybody across.

Catrin starting up pitch 1

I led the pitch and found the main holds dry and still chalked up, so all was well, but the rain was being blown into the crag more than usual by the wind, and so much less of the climb was dry compared to doing it in the rain on previous occasions. Catrin was the only person with the wisdom to wear waterproof trousers (!), so possibly she stayed the dryest, and Lena was the wettest, belaying in the tree for so long! The pitch was dry enough to use chalk but my rock shoes were fully saturated.

Lena starting up pitch 1

Tanya had a good fight with the wet holds and damp 5a climbing, she hung around a couple of times but her natural determination got her to the belay. Catrin enjoyed the pitch, but was cold at this point, so did really well making cold hands hold onto the rock. Lena seconded well, being fully cold! This was obviously a hard start to the week, but a good adventure for everybody.

At the end everybody needed to retreat to the comport of warm indoors to try and dry for the next day.