Trickle by trickle

A real surprise this evening. Despite the weather looking distinctly unpleasant we went out to Stanage. We expected the rain to start before we got out of town, but somehow it held off and looking over our shoulders for menacing clouds we found ourselves walking up to the edge. The crag was empty, just one other guy bouldering in the plantation.

Our aim was to play on Shirleys Shining Temple, even walking up we did not really expect to do anything. It was raining only 2 hours before and the path was still wet. We found the route to be just as the guidebook described... extremely blank, so we turned to an adjacent line that had caught our attention.

The Trickledown Fairy E5 6b is a short delicate climb that goes straight up the middle of a small buttress. Colin worked the moves, and after a couple goes had it wired. I followed in a similar style, and we realised that we could possibly lead it.

Dark clouds were surrounding us, and if we waited long enough perhaps our choice would be made for us. But the rain held off and Colin made his bid, looking really smooth, he executed the precarious moves precisely, and then he had done it, his first E5. Belaying Colin had me psyched out, but it would have felt incomplete to leave now, so I got established on the route. I moved up, and got ready to make the move that would commit me completely. But something felt wrong and I shuffled back down. I thought I had blown it, but still I knew I could do the moves so what was stopping me? I got back on and executed the moves. It was shaky but I did it. A great evening, and totally unexpected. You just have to get out and do it.