I.N.S.P.R.E. February 2016

The second in the Its Not Shit Please Repeat Everybody series is a little number by G. Smith of Bigness fame. I was informed of its existence many years ago by Mr Panton, who knew I was looking for jamming boulder problems to whilst away my hours on. He related that although it was ace, and he had put pretty pictures and a news item about it on Northwalesbouldering.com (article Here), no one had reported doing it.
Running jam (for this is the puppy) suffers like many potential classics due to its awkward location; in this case nestled in the Cwmffynnon-Mallory-Mymbyr confluence. This is a confusing jumble of heather, grassland, boulders, hummocks and bog. Riddled with re-entrants and other mountain leader terms, it can be frustrating and bothersome to navigate around. This may be why G gave the wrong grid reference.
My first visit was on a lovely sunny day, map in had I headed up towards Mallory, before veering off at a relevant contour. This I duly followed to the supplied reference and peered around. Looking at the map, I peered again. What followed was akin to a carefully coordinated manhunt. I became intimate with the CMM confluence, and after sometime, fell over the boulder. It was ace.

Thus it was with some trepidation that I set off last week to rediscover Running Jam, and provide a slightly better approach description (and grid reference).

Here it is:

 As you may have ascertained, although I dragged two pads up, the boulder was sadly gopping with last nights rain, and no actual bouldering took place. However, this was a) good training, and b) provided a more accurate w alk in estimate. I certainly looked as ace as I remembered it, and there is scope for a mid traverse diversion up the face..

Right, brass tacks.

Its a 45 min walk in; once over the first bridge follow the stream towards its source until it has an obvious lefthand bend, with a hummock and large flat boulder. Here you see the view above.

A is Running Jam, B is the Mallory boulder, C is the first boulder you're hoping is the Mallory boulder, and D is BOTM February 2007. Best approach is fairly direct, aiming for the large quartz slab. Map and proper grid reference is Here.

The map website is incidently my new favourite thing, as it allows me to bore my friends with accurate weblinks to obscure craglets.

Enjoy, the hillside has much more to give to the persistent, and Running Jam is ace.

P.S. Wellies are a must on this one....

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