Saltdean: Season Three

With winter approaching it was time to begin the season of chalk again. Having been plagued with shoulder injuries for much of the summer I was keen to ease back into things gently to avoid re-injury. I headed to Saltdean together with Julia, another member from the London Mountaineering Club, who was keen to try some chalk for the first time. We met Kirill and his climbing partner Paul at the crag.

Back at Saltdean
Julia and me climbed the usual regulars on the West side including Day Dreaming, Back in Time and Back Off Back On (all C5). I also top-roped (there are no bolts) a direct version of Day Dreaming, which climbs through a low jutting roof and offers much better value than the regular line. Kirill and Paul managed between them to climb most of the routes in this part of the crag.
Julia climbing Day Dreaming (C5)
Julia climbing Back On Back Off (C5)
Paul climbing the unnamed route (C5) between Back in Time & St. Jerome
Rain struck shortly after 3pm. Kirill and Paul promptly retreated to the pub. Julia and me made haste to join them but the shower passed quicker than expected and we were left with some of the most dramatic skies that I have seen in a long while. It seemed a shame not to linger and get one more route done so I quickly nipped up the Strangeness and Charm of the Quark (C5) before we made tracks to the Smuggler's Rest. It's good to be back on chalk.

Dramatic late-afternoon skies
Location: Saltdean, The City of Brighton and Hove BN2, UK

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