[Greek]

Had a weekend at Burbage South planned for next weekend for my first time on real rock.  Booked campsite, got Friday off work, bought my Peak Bouldering Guide and i am waiting for my pad to be delivered today.  So all sorted and raring to go, however my 'mate' ( )who was coming with has now pulled out.  I have asked someone else but it is not likely that they can come and the missus is away for that weekend so what do i do??

I am tempted to just go by myself and give it a go, possibly meet folk up there but if the weather is crap then i will have a pretty miserable weekend stuck in my tent or i could spend the weekend playing x-box, watching the footie and going to the pub and put off my weekend for another time.

What do you think??  Anyone gone alone before, how was it?


Cheers fellas

[Monolith]

Rumour has it that John Gaskins sometimes climbs alone. 

Go for it! UK climbing weather is full of ifs and buts, but ( ) staying at home playing on the X-Box and going to the pub seems a fairly contrived and miserable option given your alternative no?

Ask folk you meet for some advice, don't be afraid to approach people. Maybe stray away from highball problems if you're on your own, a little out of your depth or are above a poor landing. It's quite likely you'll bump into another lone climber who, if asked politely, may give you a spot and join you on a circuit for a while.

Enjoy.

[slackline]

Even if it does rain, you could still get out and see a bit of the country you don't live in, or one of the nearby cities.  Check out some of the walks around the Peak, many take in pubs, so you could do a healthy pub crawl!!!

Enjoy time away from the trappings of modern life for a weekend, you'll be back for more once you've got a taste.

[Moo]

speaking of gaskins chech out gravity magazine, article by him on training.

[LucyB]

I used to boulder on my own in the Peak quite a lot, back when I was a supply teacher and had some free weekdays. That was so long ago, I didn't even have a pad - they hadn't been invented. Can you believe we ever did such a thing??

Anyway, it was great. Climbing on your own is possible with bouldering as opposed to routes, and is actually very enjoyable. The feeling of solitude, just you and some rock is awesome.

You'll probably meet loads of people anyway, Burbage S is a popular spot and we're mostly pretty friendly up north.

Enjoy!

Lu

[Greek]

Cheers all.

I think i will just do it, its not like i am going half way around the world.  I guess because it is my first time its always nicer to have a safety net of having someone else there.  Well i think there is nothing left to do than to don my beanie pray for decent-ish weather and just get on with it.

[SA Chris]

How far are you travelling from? I say go for it. Even if weather is poor, head for somewhere you haven't been before, at least you can then scope out things for future visits.

[Greek]

How far are you travelling from? I say go for it. Even if weather is poor, head for somewhere you haven't been before, at least you can then scope out things for future visits.

Am going up from Bucks.  Just had my pad delivered so i am all set to go and a little bit excited.  I will definitely go up and have some "me time".

Cheers all am looking forward to it. 

[SA Chris]

I know folk who travel from further away for afternoons in the Peak. Go forth and seek, youth.

[Nibile]

go go go!!!

[lowlife]

You will not spend much time on your own at Burbage South dude! I've been in quieter riots.
Joking aside...there's a lot to be said for 'me time' , the locals are fairly friendly  and the lie of the land is obvious for first time visitors.

Have fun!

[Vitamin K]

As a billy no mates I seem to spend most of my bouldering time on my ownsome - I enjoy having the time to myself but it is good to go with a few mates and take the piss out of each other now and again.

Anyways, get yourself out there, you will have a good time and no doubt you'll hook up with some folks who will be willing to share beta, offer encouragement or do a bit of spotting if you need it.

[GCW]

As another Billy No Mates I tend to go out on my own 99.9% of the time.  Usually I don't mind as I often spend time working something that I wouldn't if I was with someone else.  Often you end up hooking up with someone anyway.
The only downside is being spotter-less.  But it gives you a buzz sh***ing it on some dodgy, high top out- extra incentive to avoid failure 

[etjoset]

In situations where your are deliberating about whether to head out then I would always recommend that you make the effort and go. The number of days that I've Umm'ed and Arghh'ed and then gone out and really enjoyed myself far exceeds the times when I've gone out and had a bad time.

The weather forecast is looking fairly dry this weekend now but at this time of year there will always be dry venues (lime), even in the heaviest of rain. Rubicon will be a good bet in rain and has a reasonable selection of problems across the grades. Raven Tor and Minus 10 will also stay dry.

[Greek]

Seriously, cheers people. 

No doubts about it now i am psyched and ready to go.  Going to be off my nut this week raring for the weekend


 

[Nibile]

i think after a while youll understand when to go bouldering all alone, and when to wait for a posse.

if i have some project to try, some sequence to refine, or just a couple of hours in the summer, id go for sure, and id be rewarded by peace, insight, concentration, or just doing many easy problems (i would like it to be "many hard problems", but hey, lifes not perfect).
some other times, i really cant go on my own. sometimes i feel the need of other peoples energy and psyche, maybe to feel safer on a move, maybe just to have more fun than concentration maybe just not to feel a lone bastard.

to learn to understand myself deeply on this matter, and to comprehend what i really want aside of my conscious thoughts gave me great joys.

[Greek]

i think after a while youll understand when to go bouldering all alone, and when to wait for a posse.

if i have some project to try, some sequence to refine, or just a couple of hours in the summer, id go for sure, and id be rewarded by peace, insight, concentration, or just doing many easy problems (i would like it to be "many hard problems", but hey, lifes not perfect).
some other times, i really cant go on my own. sometimes i feel the need of other peoples energy and psyche, maybe to feel safer on a move, maybe just to have more fun than concentration maybe just not to feel a lone bastard.

to learn to understand myself deeply on this matter, and to comprehend what i really want aside of my conscious thoughts gave me great joys.

Wow, thats pretty deep especially after i have spent the last hour throwing myself of certain bits of furniture in the house to "test" out my new pad

[Nibile]

i have spent the last hour throwing myself of certain bits of furniture in the house to "test" out my new pad

you need to go bouldering.
now.

[Greek]

i have spent the last hour throwing myself of certain bits of furniture in the house to "test" out my new pad

you need to go bouldering.
now.

 

Off to Amersham for me tonight then

[Blunk]

i think after a while youll understand when to go bouldering all alone, and when to wait for a posse.

to learn to understand myself deeply on this matter, and to comprehend what i really want aside of my conscious thoughts gave me great joys.

Yes

[SA Chris]

The only downside is being spotter-less.  But it gives you a buzz sh***ing it on some dodgy, high top out- extra incentive to avoid failure 

Word on that. My usual tactic was to leave mobile within crawling distance of landing zone in case it all went wrong. Quite scary going for it on some remote boulders in the middle of dartmoor.