New Beginings

The start of a New Year is always a time for reflection and resolution. As we watched the fireworks from my window last night we took the chance to look back over 2020 and think about the things that it taught us. It’s been a strange year and one that I’d like to leave behind, but there were positives and lessons to take forward.

Towards the end of the year I managed to start climbing again, squeezing in an outdoor session on Dec 30th. It wasn’t the most productive day, with snow making several problems damp and unclimbable but it was so good to move on the rock and remember how it feels.

Grit is one of those rocks that become softer and brittle when wet. The outer layer can be easily damaged, flakes an be broken and pebbles can come out. For this reason it is important to avoid any wet holds and not climb on the grit when it’s wet.

Today I had a plan to start 2021 with a bang and get a rope on an hard grit route. One of my resolutions was to push my trad climbing again.

The weather had other ideas and a thaw followed by some rain meant that everything was dripping. We decided that a bracing walk with some general crag looking at was the order of the day.

Back home and warming up in front of the fire I’m feeling positive about the year ahead.

New Year, New Start. I’m ready.