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Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Come and join us at Parthian Reading this weekend for our first club meet of the year. New members are very welcome.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Our first social meet of they year, good company, food, and gin...at the Gin and Olive in Southsea. Really nice to get together again, with everyone looking forward to this year's climbing season.
Don't forget to renew or join in January to get the discount price of £23.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Good conditions for our last official outdoor meet of the year at Winspit, Swanage. Good friction and being fairly warm out of the wind made it a pleasure ticking plenty of routes. Really made the most of a short winter's day in the sun!
Hampshire Mountaineering Association is with Ruth O'Brien and 5 others.
HMA smashing it at Montesa yesterday and Bellus today. Both fantastic venues, everyone is giving it their all and enjoying it. Shame it's only a week!
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
More rock than you can shake a clip stick at. Loving Spain with quiet crags in the sun. The grades have been a bit stiff, but the routes are long and fantastic.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Lots of good climbing yesterday at Winspit, Swanage. Most of it was steep, featuring tricky cracks that required careful footwork, and even a jump start!
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Another day on Portland, this time in Lost Valley.
Slabs were conquered, red crosses were turned into green ticks, brave juice was summoned and flakes overcome.
A great final day to the long weekend.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association is with Caroline Hopper.
Enjoying the sunshine and gently lapping waves at Godnor, Portland. The approach resulted in some wet feet, much to Steve's amusement! Dinner and wine definitely warrants a Top 50.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association is with Caroline Hopper.
Ok, it's not the South of France...but it's still a holiday! We spread out and and climbed some superb routes. Portland without the drive there and back, a real treat - such a good place to climb.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
A good day for some action shots in the sun on Portland. We climbed at several sections around Blacknor, seeking out low grades and exciting long routes, including a couple of deserving top 50s.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
To attend the vast majority of our outside meets, you need to be able to lead belay.
Chichester climbing wall has set dates for a new adult lead climbing course: 22nd and 29th September.
Full details on their website: www.chichester.ac.uk/the-sports-centre/climb-chichester/
if you want to know more, but it will include lead belaying!
Climb Chichester | Chichester College
*Please note to climb alone in our public sessions, children aged 16 and 17 years need to have a disclaimer form signed by their parent or guardian.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
We finally saw some sun today! But there was no hanging around, as we quickly completed 8 quality routes at Burbage North. All in all a superb long weekend on "god's rock".
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Off the beaten track today at Dovestone Tor battling the weather, but a great location, and a nice (long) walk. Rain eventually ended play so we retired to the pub, you can't win them all...
Hampshire Mountaineering Association is with Martin Lennon.
Off to a good start in the Peak District, Stanage was reasonably quiet perhaps because it was blowing a gale...leaving all the classics free for us! Lots of 3* routes, extreme fish and chips, and a top 50 pint!
Hampshire Mountaineering Association is with Ruth O'Brien.
It was great to be climbing with more members again on Saturday. For some, it was a return after a long year, others even longer... With lots of successes including a first 6a lead! In all, 9 of us enjoyed the leafy views and convient sport climbing at Wyndcliff Quarry.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association is with Caroline Hopper.
Last day in Dartmoor at Haytor, found a breeze, but the routes weren't...so some stiff "warm ups" were quickly followed by the warm downs. A fun, social, and adventurous weekend.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association is with Steve Sutton.
Dartmoor meet is going well, a long day 2 at Luckey Tor. Beautiful crag, nestled along the river Dart. Some great climbing and even a few falls onto trad gear. All done safely! Tom did his first trad lead too 👍.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Sandstone was rained off so we pulled some moves at Parthian Southampton instead, a good turnout and lots of fun.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Last week's Lake District meet went well, 4 members enjoyed 3 days of trad climbing on and around Hare crag, Wallowbarrow Crag, and Long Scar. Hopefully one we'll repeat in the future!
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Six of us managed to make it out to a beautifully tree covered and sun dappled Symonds Yat today in the Wye Valley. We found some fantastic trad routes, a great bit of exposure on the Pinnacle, and..some toilet roll?!
Hampshire Mountaineering Association is with Steve Sutton.
"Are the grades harder on short routes?" was Tom's perceptive question after a few routes at Dungecroft Quarry, we soldiered on climbing 13 of the little blighters..."Can you see scratchy bottom?" and "Heros of Swanage/Portland" were favourites, nice cracks that get no stars in the guidebook?!?
Hampshire Mountaineering Association is with Gemma Louise Flear and Steve Sutton.
A successful return to rock climbing🪨🌞! Nice to meet new members and those we haven't seen for a while. The Lost Valley, Portland provided a quiet venue ideal for getting back in the swing of things. Also great to see some impressive first lead climbs outside!
Hampshire Mountaineering Association is with Martin Lennon and Steve Sutton.
First meet of the year! A stroll in Hampshire from Buriton, good views of the rolling downs and warm in the sunshine. Accompanied by skylarks we spotted a hare, and a few swallows. Hopefully the next meet will be back on rock.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
We can't get out climbing, but we do have some events online.
Last Month saw Gear Up for Ice Climbing, and the Virtual Pub Quiz.
Tomorrow evening we have Equipment Care and Maintenance - Part 1.
Please check your email for invites.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
In case you haven't seen the latest from BMC, news about access at Southern Sandstone which we need to pay attention to: thebmc.co.uk/modules/article.aspx?id=9067&utm_source=BMC+Email+Subscribers&utm_campaign=73b5509d97-lockdownlowdon_nov&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_06481fa93e-73b5509d97-1812325&goal=0_06481fa93e-73b5509d97-1812325
Protect the sandstone - stay away, for now
We’re asking all climbers not to climb on the Southern Sandstone crags during Lockdown to help us prevent irreversible damage to the rock. The BMC Access team report.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
It was a little busy, but we found enough space at the far end of Subliminal, Swanage. We climbed lots of mainly lower grade routes, all on good rock.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
It was a fine day for climbing at the Cattle Troughs, Swanage. Everyone enjoyed the pleasant climbs in the main area, with a couple of us also checking out Flake Ledge. A long day in the sun, perfect.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Anyone else interested in climbing on Sunday?
The weather forecast is looking good.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Lovely sunny finish to a day's climbing on Portland, shame about the heavy rain to start! We slid around in the mud before getting up a few good routes.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Any more people interested in climbing next weekend?
Email by 2pm on Thursday.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association is with Ruth O'Brien and Steve Sutton.
We're back! First outside meet of 2020 at Ban-y-gor. Down from 6, 2 of us made it to the delightfully quiet crag. Lots of variety and good routes, including slabs, cracks and overhangs, requiring footwork and thuggery in equal measure. (The sock is evidence of litter picking, starting as part the HMA's 50th Anniversary)
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
3 places are still available and the weather is looking good.
Get in touch before 2pm tomorrow if you would like to go (if there are still slots, then after this will be OK).
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Just in case you haven't seen this, Chichester climbing wall is open again.
We believe they intend to offer two sessions from next week onwards 6-7.30pm as well as the 7.30-9pm.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Just in case you haven't seen it there is a temporary closure of Erridge Rocks. Read full details here: www.thebmc.co.uk/temporary-restriction-of-climbing-at-eridge-rocks
Luckily lots of other crags are open for social distanced business as usual but it is worth checking the latest access permissions www.thebmc.co.uk/modules/RAD before heading out.
Temporary restriction of climbing at Eridge Rocks
The huge increase in climbers at Eridge Rocks since lockdown lifted has resulted in rapid wear to the fragile sandstone the makes up the crag. Unfortunately, this has now reached a tipping point where a temporary restriction is needed to give the crag a chance to recover before irreparable damage is...
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Inspirational watching on BBC 4 tonight.
The story of Jesse Dufton, the first blind person to lead a climb of the Old Man of Hoy.
Hampshire Mountaineering Association
Despite the slight relaxation around exercising, club meets are clearly still a no go. If you are thinking about heading out on your own, the BMC have issued very clear advice which we would encourage you to follow. Also bear in mind that a number of crags remain closed.
