The Goat and Stone

Been in the pub for the last couple of days…

Ok, so some poetic license required, but it’s a nice title! Went to Goat Crag yesterday, and had a session on the Bowderstone today, both times with Strong Andy.

Goat Crag comprised Praying Mantis, Tumbleweed Connection and Bitter Oasis, each one a classic. Goat Crag (Borrowdale) is somewhere I haven’t spent a great deal of time given the general mossness greenery of the place, but it’s been dry for a while, so you could at least try and work through it. Spotting footholds was particularly difficult with the multitude of shades and shadows of green, but it all added to the fun. Protection seemed very difficult to come by on all routes, but there’s a reasonable spattering of rusting ironmongery to clip if you feel optomistic enough…

Gold star for Andy for some expert route cleaning at the top of Bitter Oasis – small, then large, sheets of moss, followed by heather, then some turf. He rounded off with a huge lump of all of the above, which found it’s way straight to our ‘sacks at the bottom with a satisfying thump. The sheep were moderately less impressed than we were.

I felt tired this morning (an hour and a half of snooze button hitting) until Andy rang, saying he’d finished his mornings work early. A quick 3 pints of tea and a bacon butty later, and I was off to The Stone.

I’ve not bouldered on the ‘stone for a few weeks, so struggled to warm up on the usual problems. I did feel motivated though, so was keen to jump on Picnic Sarcastic early and try to work the finish. A few goes later, and I’d remembered the subtleties enough to get to my previous high point. After a bit of beta from Andy, a new found ‘good bit’ on the crucial right hand sloper/side-pull/crimp, and suddenly it felt stable, perhaps do-able. Concentrate on the present, shift weight, left heal over and toe hook, solid. Slap left. Missed, but I’m still on, slap more. Getting better, there’s an edge, fingers curl round, udge again, yes! Match hands and hang off it and smile…

Happy days. I’ve struggled for motivation since doing ‘Right Wall’ and ‘The Quest’, trying to understand ‘why’ I climb. I still haven’t answered that question, but I feel I’m closer to understanding that that there isn’t an answer. Either way, my mojo’s back and it feels good.

I’ve got team training tomorrow, but I’m hoping to get to Reecastle afterwards to lead a little route I’ve been playing on recently. It’s a bit scary, in that the gear isn’t too good, and is even worse at the bottom where the hard bit is, but hey, it’s all good training. Fingers crossed…