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YYFY!!! (Read 2286434 times)

BenF

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#1800 Re: YYFY!!!
June 17, 2010, 07:49:44 am
As an aside: what exactly is being awaited from Wirral? Is it just the Breck stuff?

No, I think the Breck if done.  I understand that there are a few otehr venues being written up.  However, I know nothing more than that; the Wirral being positively foreign to me.

Scouse D

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#1801 Re: YYFY!!!
June 17, 2010, 10:42:31 am
Cheers Ben, look forward to seeing the pics.

BenF

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#1802 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 02:23:00 pm
Sorry about the wait Dave (and others), but here's a few photos of Harmer's Wood from the other day.  Thought I'd put them on this thread because a) this is where people will probably look, and b) they don't really fit anywhere else (quality photos they are not) and it seems daft starting another thread just so a few people can see photos of an esoteric bit of Cheshire.


A shot giving the general feel of the main quarry.  You can see most of the main walls in this photo.


Rich climbing Babyblock.  A fantastic problem at around 7a+ or 7b... he's just completed one of the best moves in Cheshire!  The arete to the right is one of the best of the aretes in the main quarry.


Low grade crack fun being climbed by a low grade crack whore.


Me on a brilliant slab, although it's a bit steeper than the palm down would suggest.  This is one of the problems climbed by the earlier developers, before Andy and I got stuck in.


A photo from the smaller quarry.  Although smaller, it is pretty highball!  You get the fear topping these bad boys out.

SA Chris

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#1803 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 02:34:11 pm
The arete looks ace in the first pic. What's the sign on the tree, a warning not to hit it if you fall off.

Some topouts look um challenging.

Johnny Brown

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#1804 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 02:47:39 pm
Bastard. Twenty years in Cheshire and I never heard of this place. It looks like Nesscliffe for boulderers.

BenF

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#1805 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 02:49:46 pm
On the whole the top outs are fine, just a few needed excavating and a couple need a hanging rope in the smaller quarry.  Trees/roots on the top can also help if the top is particularly dirty or overgrown.

The sign was put up by the trust who own the wood, to remind climbers not to belay off the fence.   

tc

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#1806 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 03:00:05 pm
Bastard. Twenty years in Cheshire and I never heard of this place. It looks like Nesscliffe for boulderers.

Likewise, an entire mis-spent youth on Merseyside sandstone and I've never been to Harmers Wood. Where is it??

Pantontino

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#1807 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 03:30:03 pm
Wow, this place looks great!

Good work Ben (and Andy).

Probes

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#1808 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 03:36:02 pm
Wow, this place looks great!

Good work Ben (and Andy).

I second that, looks brill, good work.

Probes

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#1809 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 03:44:56 pm
I just googled it and found this on someones flickr. Having not been to helsby, is this more potential new route stuff?...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51827103@N00/3517743195#

wiain

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#1810 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 04:00:31 pm
The arete looks ace in the first pic.
:agree:

andy popp

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#1811 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 04:02:07 pm
Well done for getting these up Ben.

Glad everyone likes the look, in fact (and this is no criticism of Ben) the photos don't quite do it full justice. To start with, its higher than it looks in most of these, tho' like Ben says, most top-outs are fine.

Chris, the arete in the first photo is the also in second shot but from the other side, brilliant, about V2 5c? In the first shot the obvious line of chalked holds immediately left of Richie is stunning V4, the best highball in Cheshire? In total there are about 40 problems, the vast majority completely non-eliminate. The setting is idyllic. Guided tours gladly given

There is some new route potential but I have one project I'd like respecting for at least at little bit as its taken quite a bit of cleaning (digging the topout etc.) and I haven't been able to try it properly yet. Pretty please?

SA Chris

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#1812 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 04:12:37 pm
There is some new route potential but I have one project I'd like respecting for at least at little bit as its taken quite a bit of cleaning (digging the topout etc.) and I haven't been able to try it properly yet. Pretty please?

Do you need something to pull you out of the motivation lacking doldrums? Surely a project under threat should do it? :)

Some of theose corners look like they could produce some fun bridging technical trickery.

BenF

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#1813 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 04:23:37 pm
Right, thanks to JB saying 'bastard' in his reply, I can't access this page at work! So I'm using my phone.

As andy says, it is better than it looks, although it can be a bit mossy in places. And as JB said, its like a mini nesscliffe for boulderers. Kind of like pex but with smaller holds and no scallies.

The amazing v4 that andy mentioned is truly wonderful and I think I have a photo or two of it, so I'll try and get it up on here too.  As for the photo probes linked to, I don't recognise it, but andy and I do have other sandstone gems up our sleeves (mostly due to andy's hard work to be honest).

And chris, the corners look fun, but they generally disappoint. The quality is in the harder wall climbs really. The aretes are great but easy, the walls are where its at. Tiny edges and monos.

tomtom

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#1814 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 04:25:30 pm
Where is it? I'd love to go and have a look and climb..  :bounce:

TomP

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#1815 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 04:57:27 pm
This does look great. I'm moving south for a bit and need places like this for the weekend climbing commute. Can you give us some directions or should we wait for the topo?

BenF

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#1816 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 07:24:16 pm
The topo is to be within the forthcoming BMC Cheshire guide, but I'm not sure when it'll be done.  Until then, it's easy to find...

Harmers Wood is located just behind Helsby Hill.  Approaching Helsby on the A 56 from Frodham turn left on to Old Chester Road at the end of the long straight and after you have passed Helsby High School.  After a bend turn left onto Bates Lane and after 500 metres turn steeply right onto Hill Road North and park up at a small car park (with a big sign) just after a sharp bend.  Enter the woods on the obvious path and turn left on a subsidiary path after 50 metres.  The main quarry is obvious.

Andy and I will obviously be offering guided tours to anyone keen to climb there, if we can make it.  However, its far too hot to climb anything that hard at Harmer's at the moment.  Autumn will be a good time to get there.

Will Hunt

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#1817 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 07:42:15 pm
 :o :o :o

That looks incredible!

Andy F

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#1818 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 09:50:47 pm
Looks fab  :great:. Will deffo head up sometime, baby and Limestone permitting.

Steamboat Stello

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#1819 Re: YYFY!!!
June 21, 2010, 10:49:50 pm
Incroyable! Wheres this place been hiding! Looks like it might be quite sheltered in sunnier conditions. Whats the best weather for a visit?

andy popp

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#1820 Re: YYFY!!!
June 22, 2010, 06:17:47 am
Unfortunately it seems to get sun all day and is very sheltered from the wind - combined with a thin, just-off vertical face style (hence difficulty in trying my project, which has some very dirty crimping). So not now basically. Spring and autumn; there are seepage points that need to dry back after the winter.

A few points now the cat is out of the bag. Locals seem to have a good opinion of climbers thanks in no small part to the careful diplomacy of people like  Martin Boysen and Tom Leppert who have been quietly enjoying the crag for literally decades. The woods are now owned and maintained by a trust of local people (who stepped in when it looked like developers were going to buy the woods) who have invested a lot of time and effort in securing funding for the purchase, clearing undergrowth, fencing off the top of the main quarry, installing a bench and table at the entrance to woods etc. The woods are quiet and unspoilt and enjoyed by many locals, esp. dog walkers. So its important we behave well here - basic normal etiquette. In particular:

- its common to meet walkers on the steep, narrow and often blind lane up to the woods; drive slowly
- park sensibly
- don't tie ropes to or otherwise damage the fences installed round the top of the quarry; they are there to stop children, dogs etc. falling
- you are pretty hidden when in the quarry but loud whoops of victory, cursing etc would be heard by anyone walking in the woods

Sorry to sound preachy. Ben and I may be there this evening
« Last Edit: June 22, 2010, 06:35:00 am by andy popp »

BenF

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#1821 Re: YYFY!!!
June 22, 2010, 08:03:03 am
Well said Andy re: the woodland.  I'd add to this that the trust are generally very keen to see climbers using the quarry, as long as we look after the place.  They have (and continue to) put a lot of work into raising fundsd to buy the place and then clearing the place up, with the intention of it being used by a range of different users (it helps the trust with funding applications if they can demonstrate that different groups use the wood).  Only last week I met up with some of the trust who were keen to know if they can make it even better for climbing - this could include removing dying trees and rubbish.  The cleared area with the log seats is intended as an "outdoor classroom" and groups from my school have already used the wood for short visits. 


fatneck

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#1822 Re: YYFY!!!
June 22, 2010, 08:34:37 am
It really is a lovely spot and t'would be a shame if access were to be jeopardised by foolish behaviour. Glad the cat's out of the bag! Good work to all involved  :thumbsup:

SpanishJuan

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#1823 Re: YYFY!!!
June 22, 2010, 08:55:33 am
Bugger, I went there a few months ago and thought how nice it was to have a peaceful crag mainly to myself and the missus. oh well, at least I got to enjoy the "easy arêtes" without uber wads  :lol: at my flailing ... once :-[

BenF

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#1824 Re: YYFY!!!
June 22, 2010, 09:25:17 am
Bugger, I went there a few months ago and thought how nice it was to have a peaceful crag mainly to myself and the missus.

Don't worry, I doubt it'll ever be that busy.  I think it will remain pretty esoteric as it's out of people's way and not really the kind of crag people tend to boulder at these days (ie it's not grit or the cave).

 

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