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the shizzle => bouldering => new problems => Topic started by: andy popp on July 11, 2014, 12:21:57 pm

Title: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on July 11, 2014, 12:21:57 pm
The subtle line of holds and features up the wall about six foot left of Harmers Arete in the roadside quarry. This stunning highball is the best bouldering first ascent I've done in Cheshire; totally independent, continuously interesting climbing, great varied holds, excellent rock, stays dry and clean, a clean solid top-out, and a distinct dose of spice towards the top.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Bonjoy on July 11, 2014, 12:45:54 pm
Good skills. I assume this is the one mentioned in the other thread.  :beer2:
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Fiend on July 11, 2014, 12:49:53 pm
 :punk: sounds good youth.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Will Hunt on July 11, 2014, 12:53:39 pm
It would be great to try this sometime, Andy. How high is high? How many pads would you say is a healthy number?

P.S. Very well done!  :clap2:
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Ally Smith on July 11, 2014, 01:15:26 pm
Good skills Andy - it looked harder than 7A+ when i spotted you on it!
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: SA Chris on July 11, 2014, 02:28:44 pm
Pics? I assume it's a modest estimate of grade.

Well done Andy.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: GCW on July 11, 2014, 02:31:10 pm
I think it's great that OAPs still have the enthusiasm to put stuff up   ;)

Nice one.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Johnny Brown on July 11, 2014, 02:32:12 pm
Fine effort, keen to get over again soon. No idea on the grade but it sounds a bit low given your pedigree and the effort! The done thing in font at least seems to be to add a bit to the grade for high problems...
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on July 11, 2014, 02:49:16 pm
Thanks. Yes, this is the one discussed in the other thread. I was very pleased to do it. I really think its 3*

The grade is possibly soft if anything. I haven't been climbing at all well this year. More importantly I found a better sequence for the top half since Ally spotted me on it; same holds just different hands etc. This has definitely dropped it at least a notch. Given the height 7A+ could be fair.

Will, its at least 25', possibly a touch more. I fell off the last move once and maybe three times just below that, always with at least two pads and mostly with three. I definitely felt the falls. I had three pads when I did it.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: tomtom on July 11, 2014, 02:51:34 pm
Well done Andy - your look of relief at the end was infectious ;)

RE; Grading, having tried the bottom part of it - it feels like a 6C into a 7A/+ move (I'm then stuck but I've not tried it on a rope ;) ) - which then looks like its another 7A/+ move up to a fluffable but easier top two moves. Its about 6/7m high...

Grade calculators do your stuff...
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Stubbs on July 11, 2014, 03:03:28 pm
Nice one Andy, sounds great, any sort of media - photos, video, interpretive dance, descriptive haiku?
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Wood FT on July 11, 2014, 03:11:23 pm
Well done Andy - your look of relief at the end was infectious ;)

RE; Grading, having tried the bottom part of it - it feels like a 6C into a 7A/+ move (I'm then stuck but I've not tried it on a rope ;) ) - which then looks like its another 7A/+ move up to a fluffable but easier top two moves. Its about 6/7m high...

Grade calculators do your stuff...

E6 6c
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Sloper on July 11, 2014, 03:53:44 pm
V4 R?  :spank:
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Pantontino on July 11, 2014, 04:43:37 pm
Nice one Andy, sounds amazing!
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Nibile on July 12, 2014, 07:54:22 am
 :2thumbsup:
Your success is surely due to your visit in Siena!
 :dance1:
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Fiend on July 14, 2014, 12:42:43 pm
Well done Andy - your look of relief at the end was infectious ;)

RE; Grading, having tried the bottom part of it - it feels like a 6C into a 7A/+ move (I'm then stuck but I've not tried it on a rope ;) ) - which then looks like its another 7A/+ move up to a fluffable but easier top two moves. Its about 6/7m high...

Grade calculators do your stuff...

E6 6c

Hah, was just about to ask for a likely old skool grade  :lol:
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on July 14, 2014, 12:52:03 pm
:2thumbsup:
Your success is surely due to your visit in Siena!
 :dance1:

The power of Lore, by osmosis.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: galpinos on July 14, 2014, 05:05:59 pm
Where's the photo?
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: tomtom on July 14, 2014, 06:13:23 pm
I'll try and take some tomorrow afternoon if I get out there...
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on July 14, 2014, 07:32:37 pm
I've got a photo of the line on my phone but its never going to look like anything but a dark, boring flat wall.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: T_B on July 14, 2014, 08:19:11 pm
I like dark flat walls!

Good work  :punk:
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: steveri on July 15, 2014, 03:28:02 pm
Great stuff. I kept looking at that other thread disappointed with no news! Looks a great (non) line and you were looking pretty close last time I last saw you. I love the way it looked very possible when J Dawes was on it last year, then became an entirely imaginary line in the winter with no chalk ...and then reverted to slowly revealing its secrets and actual holds again this year.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on August 07, 2014, 06:24:08 pm
(https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t1.0-9/1919639_10152561863084590_63106841143936474_n.jpg)

See, I said it was a boring flat wall.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Will Hunt on June 15, 2015, 01:14:17 pm
I spent a perfect couple of hours in Haydn's Quarry this morning with Andy. Andy showed me this wall and it looked completely blank and featureless (typical Cheshire then!).
After he gave it an ab and a brush, the line came to life and he talked me up it with a stream of perfect beta, so this is perhaps the second ascent?

Locals! Sort your acts out!  :spank:
This is, without question, a flawless wall climb of the utmost perfection. I can't think that any of the problems I ever did at Pex in my youth match this in terms of quality. It does not deserve neglect. The quarry is dry and the holds are chalked. Get to it.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: B0405413 on June 15, 2015, 01:42:40 pm
How high is this problem? Will it be reet with two mats and no spotters?
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: slackline on June 15, 2015, 01:48:41 pm
How high is this problem? Will it be reet with two mats and no spotters?

Scroll through the thread reading it and you'd have got to...

Thanks. Yes, this is the one discussed in the other thread. I was very pleased to do it. I really think its 3*

The grade is possibly soft if anything. I haven't been climbing at all well this year. More importantly I found a better sequence for the top half since Ally spotted me on it; same holds just different hands etc. This has definitely dropped it at least a notch. Given the height 7A+ could be fair.

Will, its at least 25', possibly a touch more. I fell off the last move once and maybe three times just below that, always with at least two pads and mostly with three. I definitely felt the falls. I had three pads when I did it.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Will Hunt on June 15, 2015, 01:53:46 pm
How high is this problem? Will it be reet with two mats and no spotters?

The problem is the same height as this:
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,25951.0.html

The fall would be clean and straight down I think, so two mats stacked would suffice I think.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on June 15, 2015, 03:55:58 pm
Will absolutely walked up this! I was very pleased to see it repeated.

This is, without question, a flawless wall climb of the utmost perfection. I can't think that any of the problems I ever did at Pex in my youth match this in terms of quality. It does not deserve neglect. The quarry is dry and the holds are chalked. Get to it.

Just to be clear, The Dark Ark is the righthand chalked line on the wall left of Harmers Arete, the lefthand chalked line is my ongoing project (more progress today. Very frustratingly both Tom and Will can simply reach where I have a really hard move near the bottom). I'd really appreciate an ongoing chance to do this - especially as I gladly showed Will the cleaned and ready line he climbed today as Prodigal Sons  :-[
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Will Hunt on June 15, 2015, 04:16:59 pm


Will absolutely walked up this! I was very pleased to see it repeated.

It's a very good job you were talking me through it. I was aware that I'd been moving well on the warm ups and getting dialled back into the Cheshire Feel. I definitely clicked into that special zone. Had I had to have a second go after a big fall I think the commitment might have left me at the top! Great stuff. 3 stars!
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on October 30, 2019, 03:40:07 pm
Dolph has just climbed my long standing project left of The Dark Ark at Harmers. He seems absolutely made up with it and says it thin and hard all the way. Comments he made suggest its at least 7C+. Its not as good as The Dark Ark as there's a perma-damp patch (which doesn't really effect the climbing) but this is another very good highball. problem. Will update with name and grade when he gets back to me. There's a video too, which I'll ask if I can share. I'm really made up someone's done and feel like a bit less of chump now for not being able to do it.

Btw. I've put together a short document detailing new problems climbed at established crags since the 2012 guide; happy to share with anyone who might want a copy (obviously it needs updating now).
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Will Hunt on October 30, 2019, 04:01:21 pm
That's great news. I had been meaning to get round to trying this. I seem to remember the lower crux that you were trying didn't feel impossible with a bit of lank. If it's as hard as Mike says then it sounds like I've been saved a wasted trip!
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Ally Smith on October 30, 2019, 04:08:47 pm
Great news Andy - i had an ab down it earlier in the year and thought it was desperate!

I'd be keen for a copy of the local updates document too
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on October 30, 2019, 07:37:48 pm
I seem to remember the lower crux that you were trying didn't feel impossible with a bit of lank. If it's as hard as Mike says then it sounds like I've been saved a wasted trip!

Yeah, I had the rest sorted but was really struggling with reach on that move. Even Mike said it was reachy. Anyway, I think you could definitely do this problem Will.

Ally, sent you the updates thing via FB. I decided to chuck in a couple of the "new" crags too. It now has 60+ new problems and variant, some of them as good as anything in the guide.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on October 30, 2019, 08:28:45 pm
Mike is calling it Northern Voodoo and is finding grading this style tricky but has reluctantly settled on 7C+:
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Will Hunt on October 30, 2019, 09:39:41 pm
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Qc4XxDnza/?igshid=7utceug41ufp
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Duncan campbell on October 31, 2019, 08:55:55 am
So Dark Ark goes up to the right of this? Visited Harmers after work over the summer. Lovely spot.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Will Hunt on October 31, 2019, 09:40:18 am
Yes, there's two lines on this wall. The wall right of the corner (Mike's new thing) and the wall left of the arete (The Dark Ark).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCwsfyRnlyY
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Duncan campbell on October 31, 2019, 12:01:34 pm
Looks mega! I have just realised this is in the other quarry, which I didn’t visit the night I went to Harmer’s.

Will have to hope for more work in Liverpool or link it up to a trip to see my girlfriend’s parents.

Would like to do catalepsy at pex too...
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Andy F on October 31, 2019, 05:48:03 pm
Catalepsy is mega, the best problem at Pex (in my opinion anyway) and one of the best things I've ever done.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: a13c on November 01, 2019, 11:33:53 am
Hi Andy, can I have a copy of your updates please? Do I need to pm you my email address? Cheers.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on November 01, 2019, 11:54:44 am
Of course! Yes, pm me your email. Unless I'm mistaken I don't think you can add attachments to messages here. I've added in Stonehills Lane and Overton Neb as "new" crags, but not the Heath, which is all a bit of mess in terms of claims, descriptions etc. Would love to know if you have more to add anywhere.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: tomtom on November 01, 2019, 12:21:52 pm
Got a google drive/Dropbox/OneDrive account Andy? Then you could just post a link? Or I can make it a google doc so anyone can edit it etc..?
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on November 01, 2019, 12:24:49 pm
That would be better. I'll send you the latest version and you can put it up perhaps?
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: Will Hunt on November 01, 2019, 12:31:59 pm
If you're looking for some permanent place to put it then I can pop it on Unknown Stones.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: tomtom on November 01, 2019, 01:34:12 pm
That would be better. I'll send you the latest version and you can put it up perhaps?

Sure. Email it to me?
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on November 01, 2019, 02:23:51 pm
Just sent it to your Hull address.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: a13c on November 01, 2019, 05:36:32 pm
Cheers for the reply/offer Andy. I'll save you the bother of sending them out to all us keen locals and wait for tomtom to put it online!
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: tomtom on November 01, 2019, 05:39:05 pm
Here you are:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/107tkNf11Yu49hhjrwGU3qbYJQIhc167RE4rc255nhbw

I’ve not made it editable - but you can comment. So people can put comments on there if there are updates/changes required. Feel free to share on FB anywhere relevant etc..

(PS I can make it anyone can edit if that’s easier? Doubt anyone would hijack it etc.. but thought easier to go with comments only to start with)
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on November 01, 2019, 06:28:24 pm
Cheers Tom.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: tomtom on November 01, 2019, 06:37:05 pm
Cheers Tom.
no prob. 2 min job. Stuck it on FB too.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: BenF on November 01, 2019, 07:29:35 pm
Good work Andy, and thanks Tom for posting on googledocs.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: a13c on November 01, 2019, 08:21:58 pm
Cheers for that Tom 👍
The tears in the rain extension... Is that the one I did or has someone extended it further? The one I did starts sat on the block thing as far to the right as possible and as a couple of moves into the original, the update says about a standing start adding a couple of moves into the original...
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: a13c on November 01, 2019, 08:28:24 pm
Thought I should add the video of what I'm on about...!
https://youtu.be/H-GhFxeh4mI
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: andy popp on November 01, 2019, 08:51:13 pm
I would imagine they're the same thing Alec. I just didn't know you'd done it. I'd also forgotten you done one on the Life in the Woods block. I'll add that.
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: a13c on November 01, 2019, 08:54:24 pm
Coolio. Cheers Andy. I'd forgotten about that one at stanner nab!
Title: Re: [Cheshire][Harmers Wood][The Dark Ark][7A+]
Post by: tomtom on November 01, 2019, 09:44:21 pm
Was on Tears on Thursday (first session) and chatting to Ste - who suggested the more natural start for the not extended version was standing on the plinth then dropping down and across the traverse... this felt better than starting lying on the shelf/plinth...


Anyway - the trickiest bits are further on.

There’s also a couple of other eliminated on that block on ukc..
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