Lakes calling!
After a glut of grit venues it feels like a trip out west is overdue. BP leads a quest for terra incognita and the team signs up for a day out in the backwoods of Borrowdale. The venue is found in a sylvian setting around Kings How on the fells east of Grange. The walk in passes a gloomy looking Black Crag and pushes on up to the the sun soaked ribs and walls of;
Christmas Crag
Messrs P and B head off the beaten track
The crag comes into view in about 45 mins
10 mins to go
CB gets straight on the case
Christmas Rib HVS 5b
The moves to here are proper hard
BP leans in and plays close attentionAt the edge of gullibility
A bit bold up to here
Finally two good units keep things cooking
BP roasts a way up the hard moves
A tricky transition left on a good side pull coming up.
Good climbing
It can be done!
BP straight into the next course, a well protected 4c to get tucked into.
The crag looks out across a mouth watering vista
Yummy
The interest is sustained most of the way to the belay
AT brings the grades back down another level
Just enough gear to keep happy
Variation finish stepping out right at 2/3 height adds a bit of spice
CB back in front
Fizzing away on Alka Salsa at HVS 5a
BP gets his dose of rock dancing
Much steeper than it looks from this angle
Another good route a few metres left
Sherry Trifle HVS 5a
Can't be passed up
Video below
(click bottom right for full screen)
So time to move on to check out the lower tier. In hindsight this was not a good idea. Played lip service with just one route, CB again in the lead on another HVS 5a. Two pieces of gear in 15m.
BP follows with an element of surprise...
Who in his right mind would lead up there?
CB
Walk out
Upper Black Crag now much more inviting
Party visible on Troutdale Pinnacle
More pics here
L-R
Happy Christmas
Sherry Trifle
Alka Salsa
Christmas Pudding
Christmas Rib
(Yule Be Surprised not in shot)
Running
to
Stand Still
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