I parked just up the hill from Curbar village and soon found myself on Baslow Edge where there was an amazing view of Curbar Edge and Froggatt Edge to the north.  I think you just might be able to make out my car on the road below.  There were a few folk climbing here on Baslow Edge, but I didn’t bring my climbing gear since I was planning a relatively long walk and didn’t want to spend too much time climbing and not make it back to collect the kids in time.

I soon came to Eagle Rock and I wished that I had brought my climbing shoes since this stone just calls out to be climbed.  Legend, according to the author of the route instructions I was following, claims that this rock was a favorite of ancient witches of the area and that local lads used to climb it before becoming betrothed.

There are some interesting monuments to the Duke of Wellington and Admiral Nelson along the cliff edges as well as a decent view of the Chatsworth estate, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.  I have a vague plan to go visit there sometime.  There is apparently a farmyard and adventure playground that might add appeal to the younger set who have perhaps become a bit jaded about seeing more enormous stately homes.

I also came across a fold of highland cattle.  For some reason, a group of highland cattle are not referred to as a “herd” but as a “fold”.  Anyway, these beautiful animals are well adapted to harsh conditions and low quality pasture and have been transplanted far and wide from their native Scottish Highlands.  I love the color of their shaggy coats.

I came upon more rock faces that I could only look at whistfully since by this point I was running short of time.

I did complete the walk and get back in time to pick up the kids and even had a couple of minutes to kick back in the sun and take these pictures from our garden:

Spring is coming!

I can understand why it is called an edge.  The edge is a sharp line of rock dropping off a heather-covered plateau.  A footpath follows the contours of the edge and many other people were out enjoying the beautiful weather.

According to a UK climbing website, Froggatt Edge “is a virtually continuous face of exceptionally clean and quick-drying rock of the highest quality up to 17m high… The edge is home to some of the best slab climbing in the country.”

I’m still a novice at climbing on rock, and I felt relatively cautious about the bouldering routes I choose, but I found plenty of interesting and challenging spots.

I’d love to spend more time exploring Froggatt Edge.

Quite a few of us scrambled up the crack and made it atop this boulder.

I came back later with my rock climbing boots and found a few other routes.

We also went for a hike up Boulder Pass into the McDowell Mountains.  The pass is the last dip on the left in the range over Dana’s shoulder.

We stopped for lunch along the way and River found a choice spot to eat and relax for a few minutes.

There are plenty of cacti such as this prickly pear and  I think everyone had an encounter of some kind with these thorns.

The really unique thing about Boulder Pass is that water draining from the surrounding mountains has eroded passages underneath the boulders in the stream bed.  It is possible to ascend the pass by climbing under the rocks.

Unfortunately, I was too busy scrambling around myself and helping the kids that I couldn’t keep the camera accessible.  Everyone did some remarkable climbing!

We made it to the top of the pass after some considerable effort.  The kids all had a blast and loved climbing around on the rocks.  We also explored a cave that has been furnished with a wood stove, table, and other accoutrements converting it into a relatively comfortable campsite.  The view over the valley from the pass is quite remarkable.

I walked through this beautiful woodland on my way to an area known as the Plantation Boulders.

It was quite cold on the rock, especially in the wind.  There was a thin layer of ice on this pool.

I ate lunch on top of a rock known as “The Mental Problem”.  From here you can see some of the boulder problems I did on “The Long Block” and “The Photograph”.   I picked up an excellent guidebook, Stanage – the Definitive Guide, which helped me get oriented. 

Here is someone nearing the top of the route known as “Goliath’s Groove”.

In other climbing-related news, River and Sage came to the Nottingham Climbing Centre last week during their half-term break.  River learned how to belay her sister!

Then she had a go at it herself.

They had a great time climbing!

I think we’ll probably all try to get out to Stanage sometime soon.  Climbing outside on the gritstone is terrific.