18th July 2000. Barnesmore Gap Climbing ReportThe club outing to Barnesmore Gap for the 18th July was a resounding success. Only 4 of us turned up, but if you count the midges there were 10,000,004 of us there altogether. We were Pete Smith (me), Martin Ryan, Ronnie Smith (no relation to aforementioned Pete) and Brian Johnston. I don't know the names of all the midges and there wouldn't be room on the website to list them individually. The weather was spanking; warm, clammy, overcast and midge-friendly. Martin and I both lost 10lb on the walk-in. When we reached the crag, Brian and Ronnie had already done Head of Steam VS and were high on the buttress doing Donegal Junction HS. I decided that the warm-up had put me in a fit state for Head of Steam so I led this. Martin hadn't been to the crag before and was impressed with the quality of the rock. He felt that VS 4c was a nice grade for this route! (Take from that what you will). I then led Jeepers Sleepers HS while Brian cruised his lead of Age of Excellence VS. This latter route has been called the "Best VS in Donegal" (and that wasn't even Alan Tees talking); but Ronnie and Brian reckon that "Project Q at Crag X" might be a better route.............watch this space. With nightfall falling in a falling sort of way, and the midges still not sated, we retired to the vehicular transportation device and got home at 12.30. A thoroughly good night was had by all, confirming that Barnesmore Gap is one of the special spots to climb in Donegal. |