Black Crag Capers

 Thursday August 5th

The prospect of a dry spell in the Lakes for a few days prompted CB to suggest a look at some less frequented classic(?) routes, on the assumption that they might possibly be in the kind of condition to merit that status.

A day for later in the week seemed to fit best.  Unfortunately the dry spell hadn't materialised, but that minor point of detail made no difference.  So an early start from Darlington was enough to be in time to bag a place in the lay-by parking before Grange.  From there it's only about half an hour to walk through the meadows and up in the woods to the foot of the looming walls of;

Black Crag, Borrowdale

The walk in didn't bode well.  The track across the meadows was sopping wet in places.  The stone path up through the woods proper slippy.  It seemed to get drier near the end, nonetheless the lower walls were stubbornly damp.  CB wandered along left, and returned with the welcome news that the Coffin and the Shroud would remain on the bucket list for now.  After a bit of humming and haa-ing the conclusion was that another crag was not an option.  A float up more familiar terrain seemed a good compromise.  No other parties were enterprising enough to be up there so a route combining pitches from three others would offer good sport.  

L-R

The Coffin (white)

The Shroud (white)

Todays route "The Troutdale Triple Whammy"

Optional extra (orange)

A - abseil station

CB gives the signal.

UP THERE!

Walking in reveals some superb vistas

P1 of Troutdale Pinnacle (crack variation), was despatched despite the damp by AT at about 4a.

CB follows this with a lead on P2 of TP Direct at 4c (below)

Decent runner arrives, CB backs it up with another one.

Great climbing, adequate gear.

The eponymous pinnacle dominates the pitch.

AT leads through and crosses the roof traverse to belay as per P4 of the voie normale.

CB fishing out some left behind gear

A rock 2

Short clip here

The normal route keeps going up the pinnacle

© Pterodactyl UKC

CB leads through onto Holly Tree Corner P3

Clips the tree

The transition into the short corner is a bit awkward.

Steady climbing leads to a another corner which is delicate and very bold for about six metres.

Big tree equipped for abseil

Whatever you do avoid throwing the ropes down into the trees.

Back at base.  Ran out of time for a second route as usual, not to mention the quest for new ropes at Needle Sports.  Plenty of adventure already so decided the day had reached its culmination.

That first pitch looks a lot more inviting now it's dry and the sun is shining on it.

Character building in the wet.

A BIG DAY IN THE NORTH

The camouflage isn't working

Another party arrives on departure otherwise the crag was all ours.