People: Mark Harrison, Steve Wake, and I
Weather: Sunny with some clouds, 23c
Routes
Smooth and Slippery Chimney, Eric, UK 3b
Only Mark climbed this as we discovered an active nest just below the tree at the top. Looked pretty easy from the top. You can see the route directly below the tree in the pic called Eric.jpg and me at the top in "Kev setting belay at the top…."
Two Toed Sloth, Eric, UK 5a
A toughy, strictly speaking we didn’t achieve it direct – traversing towards the left and right off route to make some moves. A good 2nd climb with lots of smeering and slapping. You can see the route in the pic called Eric.jpg – it starts with the two pockets just up left from the date and continues up through the rock illuminated with sun and onto the obvious (small) crack just up right from here.
Isolated Buttress Climb, Birchden Wall, UK 4b
Perhaps a little over graded this once you find the holds. Nice climb which requires some thought and searching for holds, especially if you’re not that tall.
Edwards Wall, Birchden Wall, UK 5c
Either the grade is wrong or we climbed a different route as none of us felt this was a 6a. 5+ at the tops. Good satisfying climb up the corner with a slight overhang at the base.
Spider Wall, UK 5b+
The toughest climb of the day in our opinion. Difficult 1st move on crimps and poor smeers for the feet followed by slightly better crimps then a big pocket, shelf and onto the top section. Team effort, I sussed the bottom section, Mark and Steve the rest. Definitely the most satisfying of the day.
The Jingo Wobbly Sandstone South East England is a great guide but finding the entrance to Harrison’s car part was tough. Bascially, go past Groombridge station (on your left) then take the right at the fork and the entrance to the car park is 100 yds or so on the right. There was a small Harrison’s Rocks A4 paper sign up, but curled so we missed it 1st time past. There is also a wodden Foresty sign. The entrance is just before a tall garden hedge.
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