UKC

Jules McKim pens a love letter to gritstone and the key routes in his gritstone learning. This is an extract from his book Schooled by Rock: Studies in stone and high places, which was published on 1 October.

So far, climbing had taken me to Swanage and the Avon Gorge, North Wales and The Lakes, Cornwall, The Cairngorms and The Peak. My personal geography had expanded through looking for places to climb and I wanted to go north again, back to the gritstone. There was just something about it. It had been an easy choice: geology at Sheffield University.

Read more

Marvelous, thank you.

Si.

My word, why have I got two "Dislikes" for that? 

Just illiterate disagreers, no big deal

This writing gets me and I get it. It’s gorgeous. 

"Without geography, you're nowhere." ?!

You're always somewhere!

Great writing and article.

Really good, captures many of the great experiences, good and bad, that makes UK cragging (and the grit) so great.

Allthough reminded me I need to get on Moonwalk, eek, allthough just thinking about the nervous thrill of a good, hard (for me) route lurking out their, almost like asking out that girl, way out of your league, when you were a teenager (allthough moonwalk is something I'm more likely to commit to) will keep me entertained on a long train journey home tonight, so thanks.

Good writing.  Leave nothing but skin. Take nothing but lessons.  Love it.