#THISISMYADVENTURE – Bouldering with Hannah Morris
When she started bouldering five years ago, Hannah had no idea that this new found hobby would turn into an all consuming passion for exploring which would take her the length and breadth of the country. We catch up with Hannah to find out more about how she developed her zest for climbing and the outdoors.
How it all began…
West Yorkshire-based Hannah, who works as a photographer and writer, began her climbing journey when studying at university. Whilst she’s always loved the outdoors, the opportunity to purchase a van — a 1991 T4 called Doug — three years ago meant she suddenly had the freedom to just pack up and head off into the mountains whenever she wanted. Armed with her camera and joined by her partner, Nathan, Hannah was able to explore a growing passion for the sport and discover the wealth of locations the country has to offer. Hannah and Nathan now spend as many weekends as they can living out of the back of Doug and bouldering, climbing and hiking all around the UK.
A love of the Lakes…
Hannah’s first experience of climbing in the Lake District came last winter. “I first climbed at Langdale Boulders on a beautiful day in February,” she reminisces. “I really fell in love with the style of climbing; until the top which was exactly my anti-style, a crimpy vert wall with a tricky mantle finish. It was a bit of a battle.” The Langdale Boulders hold a special place in Hannah’s heart, but she also pin points St. Bees as her other favourite area of the Lakes: “It’s by far the most unique place I’ve ever bouldered,” says Hannah. “It’s a pretty otherworldly feeling, with the sea right beside you and the cliff face looming over you. Climbing at St. Bees is how I imagine it would feel to climb on Mars, but without the zero gravity advantage. The rock is full of crimps and pockets which is my favourite kind of climbing. “I hadn’t realised the variety the Lakes had to offer until I bought the new Lakes Bloc guidebook. Flicking through the pages you cover the red coastal sandstone of St. Bees, with its pockets and distinct lack of footholds, the sharp, skin shredding Rhyolite boulder fields of Kentmere and Coniston and the granite of Eskdale. The variety of Lakeland rock is great. Different rock types lend themselves to different conditions and you can hedge your bets that somewhere in the Lakes will be in good condition on a dry day.” While the Peak District is currently one of the most highly regarded locations for bouldering, Hannah believes that the Lakes will only rise in popularity as more people get into the sport. “The Peak District has some classic gritstone and limestone lines as well as easy access,” explains Hannah. “The history of Peak District climbing also contributes to its status as a word class venue. Climbers such as Jerry Moffatt and Ben Moon really put the Peak on the map and established the UK bouldering scene during the 1980s. Many of the best athletes in the sport now live and train there.”
Getting started…
If you fancy having a go at bouldering yourself it is always recommended to learn the ropes from an experienced climber. But Hannah notes that bouldering grades are largely subjective and that there is much debate on how climbers should measure difficulty. But ultimately, climbing is meant to be fun so the grades should be taken with a ‘big pinch of salt.’ “It’s easy to get pulled into the trap of forgetting that grades are little more than a best estimate of difficulty,” she explains. “Whilst we’re pretty experienced in these estimates they’re still entirely subjective. There is no objective difficulty in bouldering because there isn’t a single common trait shared by everybody. Plus, everybody climbs slightly differently.”
FOLLOW HANNAH’S JOURNEY…
Keep up with Hannah on Instagram @_hannahmorris_ Hannah also posts regular blogs, photos and videos from her trips on her website hannahmorriscreative.co.uk You can also find her on YouTube @Hannah Morris
