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CCMC Trips
CCMC trips usually happen every couple of weeks, though the frequency reduces if the weather goes crap. As well as single-day and weekend trips out of Cambridge, we run more extended trips over the holidays and have been known to have regular wall meets on weeknights during term time.
Sections
Coming Trips
There are currently plans for a Fontainebleau trip at the start of the 2012 Summer vacation...
Recent Trips
In Michaelmas term, the weather was mostly crap so we didn't do that much. The Freshers Meet was very wet indeed but still fun (largely because of Andy dropping Stuart and then proceeding to extract a hex from a crack by whacking it with a large piece of tree). We then had the winter meet after New Year in the Cairngorms. The snow was melting fast when we arrived but we still got a couple of days' climbing in before the really nasty weather arrived. This dropped a load of snow though and so after a very cool day of mountain biking we went back into the corries where Tom, Steve and Jim climbed Hidden Chimney (II/III) and Andy and Mat followed The Haston Line (III/IV) on the Mess of Pottage. Both excellent routes. At the same time James Dynes and Gordon Shannon climbed Broken Gully (II/III) on Fluted Buttress, sadly ending in Gordon doing himself a bit of an injury on the descent. One broken leg, a huge group of mountain rescue volunteers (on an international meet!) and a load of press coverage later, Gordon's fine and will hopefully be back and climbing again soon :-)
On 11th October, a group composed of Joe, Stuart and Andy managed to sneak in a fun day of climbing at Burbage North in the Peak District. Much fun had by all, especially due to Stuart's impressive display of fat bastardness in ordering a meal at the pub which contained four different steaks as well as a variety of other meats. As far as climbing went, "20 Foot Crack", "Mutiny Crack", "Ash Tree Wall" and "Monkey Corner" provided most entertainment — Andy is already plotting a return so he can take on "Wednesday Climb", which was ruled out by the sun going down. A very cool day, followed by party at James/Ed/Tom's house.
At the end of the summer we got a few meets in the Peak District and Tom and Andy spent a few days on the Scottish island of Arran with intentions to climb big routes. Tom sprained his ankle while traversing the A'Chir ridge so plans were scaled back, but we'll be back! No photos since Andy's camera (and headtorch) got nicked on the way home. Bah.
After (most) exams a few of us headed down to Cornwall to spend a few days climbing in brilliant weather, beautiful locations and on perfect compact granite. Amazing — we've really got to go again! Following on from this, after May Week, 4 of us headed out to Chamonix for a fun but "lean" Alps expedition. Photos are to be found in the gallery.
During Lent term we all went to Burbage South for a day, where Tom trashed Andy's rope and we all abbed off The Prow, which was cool. There was then a gap while Andy went extreme ironing and skiing in Canada and Alan headed off to be hardcore in Northern Sweden, but all came back together again for an end-of-term trip to High Neb (at Stanage) on a beautiful sunny day where much was done.
In Michaelmas the weather was crap so not much happened — Andy climbed VDiffs at Stanage in the rain and Andy, Steve Fitz and Alan spent a wet afternoon at Cherry Hinton. Spot the recurring theme! Over Christmas, Andy and Tom did some big route niftiness in Northern Ireland and then lots of us headed up to Scotland after New Year for some of the best winter climbing in years. Loads of routes done, unheard-of technical grades and swimming-pool human pyramids...
Regular/Local Climbing
Toby's Wall: this delightful garage conversion just off Newmarket Road features lots of crimpy little holds and has more recently acquired ice axe 'holds'. Good fun, unless you rip a tendon (I know!). You'll find us there from 8pm onwards on Wednesday nights. Directions: head down Newmarket Road, past the football ground and turn right where the swimming pool is signposted. Take the second left and go left at the end; Toby's is #28 Rawlyn Road.
Peterborough Wall: a converted pair of squash courts with a stalactite in the middle, lots of bouldery routes up to about UK 6b/c, a 'Bat Cave' upstairs and some pullup boards, traverses and a campus board. And 'The Roof'... Anyway, it's a cool place but it's quite a long way off so we have to drive there...watch out on the mailing list for spontaneously occurring Peterborough meets, often on Thursdays for some reason. Directions: turn up at the p'lodge on some appropriate day (ie when one's happening) and get driven there. A couple of quids for petrol, ta.
Cherry Hinton: a big manky chalk quarry in (no surprises) Cherry Hinton, which is the bit of Cambridge that comes about a mile after the railway station. It's full of amusing choss which crumbles as soon as you look at it but we still enjoy attacking it with ice axes since a) you might as well b) you can knock bigger bits off that way. Everything we've tried has been top-roped or just an abseil but if you've got no fear/brain then leading may be possible - your belayer may be in more danger than you! Directions: head down Hills Road over the railway bridge and take the immediate left on to Cherry Hinton Road. Head down this past The Rock pub and over a couple of roundabouts until you reach the crossroads at the entrance to Cherry Hinton. Take a right and then the next left on to Lime Kiln Road. You can either park your bike at the gate on the left or go up the hill and climb through the hole in the hedge. Go in at the bottom if you've not been there before, or you may fall off a big chossy cliff!