Wicklow Gap

Warm up boulder

Went up to Wicklow Gap yesterday with Simon. The plan was originally was walk into Glanekeera but there was a very cold wind and the rain threatened so we decided to keep close to the road. Check out a boulder Seamus had mentioned near his boulder just west of the Gap, nice little warm up arete and another fingery little move.

Went on down to Seamy's boulder and did the right arete which felt a lot harder than last time, felt like I was missing something. Technique or strength maybe?

Right artete.

 Did the middle line quite quickly, I had a real fight on it last time but I knew the sequence and the top was dry this time. Did it two way from the left stepping in and from the right - the proper start - starting from the sidepulls. Very nice problem, plenty of thumbdercutting.

RHS of Left arete.

Tried both side of the left arete. RHS very technical bardoor and the right is more thuggy using the good incut flake/crack with a blank topout. Just right again is a nice wide layback crack. It's a great little boulder and well worth a visit. Will do a little topo soon.

Simon on the top slab.

Then we made our way up the hill to check out some slabs that I had terraced a while back. Tried two of the three. Did the top one, very nice incut little crimps. The bottom one will go but didn't. And the middle one looks quite hard, but good.

We headed to St Kevin's crack but just as we got there it rained and then stopped once we got to the car but that was that.