Me and a pal spent all Saturday up at Hen Cloud. I'm ashamed to say that in many years of climbing I've only ever been once before so we decided to make my 'first day tradding in 2007' something different. I was under the weather (in fact I spent all day Sunday and Monday on the settee) so decided to have something of an 'easy' day and ticked the four big HVS's.
Warmed up on Bachelors Route - A classic character building traditional route and very enjoyable.
Bachelors Left Hand - Absolutely superb... finger cracks, delicate slab moves, thuggy wide crack.
Hen Cloud Eliminate - Deceptive.. relatively straightforward until you think you've reached the end and then it's nails.
Encouragment (OK it's an E1, but it felt no different to the others) - A superb route Rich fell off the first pitch making the move L and I chucked myself of the second, pumped and full of what I then realised to be a very bad cold.
Delstree - Superb but absolutely nails... what a finish to an exhausting day.
All these routes are pretty demanding and I'm pleased that they stayed at the grade for the reasons outlined in the grade. Go to it if you've never done them, it's a great day out.
