[shark]

For the last few weeks I've been going to the Tor, CragX and, when cloudy, Rubicon in the morning. Its been great. And quiet.

[lagerstarfish]

during August the nearest beach is here



for really good beaches you could make a weekend of it and go to Northumberland (and maybe sample the rather good sandstone while you're there)

[Bonjoy]

Routes of one sort or another. Grit when cooler/breezier. Some grit venues are only good in the warmer months e.g Howshaw. Churnet and lime bouldering. Wild swimming is a good fallback when it's really hot.

[andy popp]

I spent one hot, injured and carless summer catching the train to Edale by myself and seeking out Kinder's best easy routes. By September I was fighting fit and had probably my best ever autumn season,  on grit and lime. There's always something you can do.

[tommytwotone]

I devoted last summer to getting better at offwidthing, mostly working my way through the Yorkshire Grit "Dirty Dozen" at Brimham.


Didn't do anything that hard but it was certainly a good fun few months and I'm sure it did me no end of good fitness-wise!

[Jaspersharpe]

I watch/play cricket and drink beer. Actually that's what I do all year.

[fatdoc]

Ride bikes off cliffs in whistler and punter around robin hoods stride with the kids, and try to run 10km under 50 mins, distracted by X runner and total warrior obstacle course events. Could be worse??

[JackAus]

I just took a look a bbc weather to see what you were all complaining about..... 20-21 degrees??? Its middle of winter here and yesterday was 24 and today is forecast to be 25........




Admittedly, it is unexpectedly warm though... During the day it is usually high teens/low 20s...

[moose]

When I just bouldered, I kept on bouldering - shady bits of Caley, Brimham.  Almscliff on breezy days.  Moorland grit if there was a dry forecast and I felt like a walk.  Looking at my old logbooks, most of my very hardest ticks were in July/August.  It took me until then to get my outdoor climbing knack back after only climbing indoors over Winter- early Spring (Reynauds sufferer - "grit conditions" never did it me).  Grit can feel unpleasant in direct sun, but any cloud / shade and you'll be surprised at how hard you can climb.  Humidity is the real killer so hunting out breezy spots reaps real rewards - I always found Almscliff in direct sun but on a windy day, better than a shadier, stiller spot.

[shark]

I remember asking Quent back in the day why he kept bouldering at the same lime venues through the summer and he said there  was a challenge to be had repeating problems in warmer conditions. Its all relative.

[tomtom]

When I just bouldered, I kept on bouldering - shady bits of Caley, Brimham.  Almscliff on breezy days.  Moorland grit if there was a dry forecast and I felt like a walk.  Looking at my old logbooks, most of my very hardest ticks were in July/August.  It took me until then to get my outdoor climbing knack back after only climbing indoors over Winter- early Spring (Reynauds sufferer - "grit conditions" never did it me).  Grit can feel unpleasant in direct sun, but any cloud / shade and you'll be surprised at how hard you can climb.  Humidity is the real killer so hunting out breezy spots reaps real rewards - I always found Almscliff in direct sun but on a windy day, better than a shadier, stiller spot.

Didnt you do slopey traverse (that 7B+ to the right of Morells wall) on a hot August day?

[tim palmer]

Train indoors mainly?
Limestone bouldering?
Go sport climbing?
Eat pies?

Go sport climbing! 

If you want to improve during the summer I think it is the way forward, I found it a really hard to get into but now I enjoy it as much as bouldering. 

I think it is much better training for the winter than slogging away indoors; I lose a bit of flicky bouldering power but my fingers stay as strong or get stronger during the summer.

I would avoid the tor for the most part and go for the better, steeper bits of cheedale and water-cum-jolly (i.e. the cornice)

[cha1n]

I suppose it's all relative to how close to your limit you're trying. I remember when I was in Font and it was getting hot, I could still get up 7As in the sun but if I went and tried one of my harder projects the heat really made a difference.

Perhaps summer is for quantity, not difficulty. Probably gives your body a bit of a rest and all that. That's why I used to do routes down here in the summer because I figured the change in style gave your body a rest. I must admit that the only way I get anything out of doing easier stuff is if I try to cram loads in during a session otherwise I do get a bit bored and nothing irritates me more than failing on a climb due to bad skin!

[tim palmer]

Yeah, I think part of the benefit in doing routes is just getting a lot of mileage and moving well (although I am not sure I ever move particularly well). 

Also I think the mid/highish grade climbing on Peak limestone tends to be on positive holds so helps the finger strength and a bit of heat doesn't matter that much (within reason).     

[Monolith]

Fell running. The more I read about it the more psyched I'm becoming.

[psychomansam]

Fell running. The more I read about it the more psyched I'm becoming.

 

If you ever get bored of reading, let me know...

[tomtom]

Whats with the climbers going fishing thing? I've nothing against it - but come summer my facebook feed becomes full of pictures of Tench (or whatever) instead of bouldering...

why?

[Wood FT]

Whats with the climbers going fishing thing? I've nothing against it - but come summer my facebook feed becomes full of pictures of Tench (or whatever) instead of bouldering...

why?

The recession, sign o' the times. lovely bit of smoked tench.

[bigtuboflard]

Fell running. The more I read about it the more psyched I'm becoming.

I presume you are actually running as well as reading about it?! 

There are some classic races in the summer to go at; Burbage Skyline, Castleton and Salt Cellar (tomorrow night in fact) all of which take in some fantastic local trails. Since I don't climb as much as I used to I find it a great way to keep the weight off so when I do go bouldering at least I don't humiliate myself any more than I need to.

[tomtom]

Whats with the climbers going fishing thing? I've nothing against it - but come summer my facebook feed becomes full of pictures of Tench (or whatever) instead of bouldering...

why?

The recession, sign o' the times. lovely bit of smoked tench.

So when I was a yoof - the only reason we went fishing was so we could get out of the house and smoke bifta's and drink cheap strong lager/cider.... so why does?.... oh.... I see....

[moose]

Didnt you do slopey traverse (that 7B+ to the right of Morells wall) on a hot August day?

I think so (and without the chip too!) - and the Keel and Streaky's  and Secret 7th were all done July / August I think.  I think Ian's Traverse at Brimham is one of the few problems I did in "grit conditions" - as it's a sheltered spot so I didn't have problems with the slightest breeze burning my fingers into blocks of ice. 

That said, I'll admit to finding even shady limestone sport a problem in the recent humid weather - small but positive crimps aren't too bad but slopey crimps and slots feel incredibly toothpastey. 

[fatdoc]

Wonderful time at robin hoods stride today, very cool time tryin the mid grade stuff, in a cool breeze, little sun and no midges. :D

[lagerstarfish]

whereas I was just about to head up to some wind cooled grit when the rain started

[Will Hunt]

Cycling, sport climbing and other activities to make a man weak.

[psychomansam]

Fell running. The more I read about it the more psyched I'm becoming.

There are some classic races in the summer to go at; Burbage Skyline, Castleton and Salt Cellar (tomorrow night in fact) all of which take in some fantastic local trails. Since I don't climb as much as I used to I find it a great way to keep the weight off so when I do go bouldering at least I don't humiliate myself any more than I need to.

Went for a combination with a mate today. We did about a 5.5 mile fell run from strines, stopping after a couple of miles to don rockshoes and spend an hour or so soloing a dozen wee moorland grit routes. Fun had by all