Category: Ridge Scrambling

Bernia Ridge traverse

1/2/2020

Enjoying some airy scrambling on. the Bernia

Storm Gloria has disappeared and the sun has made a welcome return. Temperatures are soaring and winds light. Near perfect conditions for a traverse of the Bernia ridge.
Last winter Wayne had booked to do this with us, but conditions didn't come good on the days we were both available. So rather than just going for it on a 'so so' day, we waited until yesterday. The wait was well worth it.

The whole ridge to ourselves, didn't even see any Goats this time. Dry rock, far reaching views inland as far as the Sierra Mariola and Serrella, and across the sea to Ibiza. About as good as it gets then.

We moved swiftly without any rushing. Without a cloud in sight there was no reason to be rushing anywhere, this is to be savoured, and we did. As Wayne is an extremely competent sport climber, projecting routes in the mid 7's we only used the rope for the abseils and 1 pitched section, all else was soloed.
Some may be wandering why such a competent climber would hire a guide for a relatively easy route? There are plenty of reasons, here are a few:
Route finding; reduced stress; help with kit prep; timings.

This is mountaineering after all and a world away from single pitch sport climbing. Mountains have loose rock in abundance and knowing the difference between solid and loose is pretty crucial on exposed mountain terrain.
Benightments are all too common in this area and usually avoidable. Poor prep, lack of planning, and inefficiency are usually the cause. A guide will hugely reduce the risk of this by having a well thought out plan and being efficient.

If thinking of bigger objectives during a visit to Costa Blanca and feeling a little unsure. Get in touch. We'll do our best to help and are very happy to simply share information if that's what you want. If wanting to hire a guide for the day, we can arrange that too.

After a fantastic time up on the ridge, we were back down at the road by 3pm.

Thanks for reading

Mark

At the start of the ridge

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Lake District activities for families

3/9/2019

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Enjoying the brilliant scrambling on Raven crag

This summer has been our busiest to date, with pretty much non-stop activities happening daily. So a BIG thanks to all who joined in the fun, we really appreciate you choosing us for your Lake District adventures and activities.

September too is looking nicely busy, but with a more generous helping of downtime, so time to do some of our own exploring in preparation for yet more fun times next summer and beyond. This exploring has already began and I'll be writing about one such place in the next blog post.
It is also time for us to start preliminary planning for our winter activities in the Costa Blanca. It's only a month until I head out to sunnier climes, so time to be thinking about any shiny new equipment that may be needed for the coming season.

This post shows some a few recent days out amongst the beautiful Lakeland Fells with many lovely people. Firstly, an afternoon spent Scrambling on Raven crag in Yewdale. We had a warm, sunny day, dry rock that is super grippy, and our reward for reaching the top was loads of Wild Bilberry and stunning views over to Coniston Water. We were joined by 2 families, including 4 youngsters. This proved to be an ideal afternoon activity with just the right amount of challenge to ensure the youngsters were all stretched.
You will find some organisations impose a lower age limit on various activities and we can understand why this is so. However, we only have advisory age limits as each individual is different, with some adventurous 5 year olds being very able and more willing than much older kids. As an example, we are taking a 4 year old rock climbing next month! Along with his parents of course!
We have taken quite a few youngsters through the upper section of the Church Beck canyon in Coniston and to the remote Esk Gorge. All have absolutely loved the experience. But these are not first timers, they have been on similar activities previously, so we and they know capabilities.

The photo below showing us dry scrambling alongside Stickle Ghyll was the start of a mountaineering style day in Langdale. This family had contacted us looking for a scrambling day based on Langdale and at some point Jack's Rake was mentioned. We put together a flexible plan of scrambles that would take us to the summit of either Pavey Ark or Harrison Stickle. As with many of our days out, flexibility is key to success. We began scrambling within a couple of minutes of the National Trust car park at Stickle Barn and followed the Stickle Ghyll water course all the way to Tarn Crag. And yes we stayed dry all the way :-)
We then meandered our way through the rocky spurs and buttresses of Tarn crag, deploying the rope for some short, steep sections. Whilst walking around Stickle tarn it became clear that some weren't keen to go up Jack's Rake, whilst others had unfinished business there. So the team split into the 'picnic by the tarn' and 'Jack's Rake' teams. Naturally I was in the Jack's Rake team with Tim, who was quite apprehensive about the scramble ahead.

We took our time and discussed good scrambling technique and movement, but also stopping to enjoy the views and increased exposure. I could sense the doubt still present in Tim, but this was subsiding as we gained more and more height. His feeling of elation and achievement when I announced we had reached the top was quite a WOW moment. It's times like this that makes our job so worthwhile. The satisfaction and happiness on peoples faces is priceless. A hop, skip, and jump (no, not literally) and we were back at the tarn and fast catching up with Carman and Edith. Another hugely successful day out in the mountains, oh yes.

Gorge scrambling has been a big hit this summer, and rightly so as it's tons of fun and still tons of fun in the rain. The final photo in this post shows perfectly how to jump into that pool in Stickle Ghyll. Some of the gorges here can be equally suitable for 5 - 50 year olds and complete novices or seasoned mountaineers. They really are that varied.

This goes back to being flexible. And as we know hundreds of routes throughout the Lake District, you can rest assured that we can be flexible not only in our approach but also venue choice and how we help you through the activity.

Thanks again all, we hope to see you again soon.

Mark & Kate

Walking through the wild heathers whilst picking Bilberry

The aim this time is to stay dry :-)

A somewhat wetter ascent of Stickle Ghyll

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Training for bigger mountains

31/5/2019

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Tracy & Vic on a comfy belay ledge, Middlefell Buttress

This last couple of days I've been joined by Tracy and Vic who were wanting to spend time on scrambles and easier climbs so they could get more comfortable with exposure. This is in preparation for a variety of trips they have planned to the Alps and maybe beyond.

We started off with a grade 2 scramble, this quickly moved up a gear to a 'Diff' rock climb in Langdale. These two routes gave plentiful supply of exposed terrain and plenty of technical challenge whilst moving over the rock.

With a damp and windy day forecast for the next day, we decided to scramble rather than try more difficult rock climbs.
And what better for getting used to exposed terrain than the 'Alpinesque' Pinnacle Ridge on St. Sunday crag. This uber classic really does take some beating, and with some wild weather blowing through the atmosphere was simply magnificent.
Yes we all got thoroughly soaked, but there were big smiles all round. Lots of time spent in the mountains climbing and scrambling, sharing experiences and stories, and keeping fit.

Big thanks to Tracy and Vic, some of the photo credits go to them too.

Mark

Tackling the crux of Pinnacle ridge - it was a damp ascent!

A rare shot of me - on Pinnacle ridge

Enjoying dry rock on Middlefell Buttress

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Fell running, Mountaineering, Scrambling, or Sky running....

2/5/2019

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Looking back to Mickledon and Langdale

Since entering (and somehow finishing) the 21km mountain race at L'Ocaive in Pedreguer, Spain, I've been running a bit more often again. Mostly these runs have been on good trails and undulating rather than mountainous and it's been fun...I think!
We're really lucky where we live there are great walks and runs from the doorstep and a couple that have become regular for me are a circuit of Loughrigg (sometimes including the summit), and Wansfell Pike. Whilst Wansfell Pike is loads steeper, I think it's overall an easy run because I have to walk most of the steep uphills. Stretching the legs on the grassy slopes heading back down towards Windermere is a delight and pretty easy on the knees with all that soft grass.

There's been a few trips into Langdale too, to try combining scrambling with running and this has been fun. Stickle Ghyll scramble quickly gains height then over to Tarn crag for a fun grade 3 route followed by a run over grassy slopes to Stickle tarn to link up with the classic Jack's Rake to the top of Pavey Ark. This is such a brilliant route whether walking or running.
What I have found is that fell shoes that are good on grass and mud are completely rubbish on rock and treacherous on wet rock. I'm sure there's a shoes out there that can cope with both, but hey, this sort of footwear can be mighty expensive and due to being so light, doesn't last long.
So today I approached things differently, taking 2 pairs of footwear. A dedicated fell running shoe, the Mud Claw from Inov 8 - these are unbelievably good on wet grass / mud and feel super secure. In my backpack were a pair of 5.10 Tennies with the stickiest rubber around. The combination worked a treat and I'll definitely be doing this again.

Starting from The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Langdale I ran along the wide track through Mickleden and across the bottom of Rossett Ghyll before ascending to Angle tarn. Once at Angle tarn I knew the bulk of ascent was behind me and relaxed into a steady pace to Esk Hause. A few walkers were enjoying a break in the shelter there. I continued on to the Hause proper and descended on the Western side of The Tongue, following Calfcove Gill. This was pretty rough and what I should have done was descend on the Eastern side of The Tongue where there is a better path. Never mind, at least this allowed me quick access onto my chosen scramble.

Cockley Pike Ridge - one of the longest continuous scrambles in the Lake District and the setting alone should merit 3 stars. Set high above Upper Eskdale and The Great Moss, with views over to Scafell, Slight Side, Esk Pike, and Crinkle Crags, it's pretty fantastic.
I changed into the 5.10's and set off. This scramble is a mix of broken rocks and small buttresses, it's easy to vary the route to make it more difficult or easier. Today I stuck with some midway ground, so felt about grade 1. By now it was raining quite a lot and freezing cold in the breeze (well I only had shorts & T-shirt on)! Without rushing but going at a steady and controlled pace it was about 25 minutes to reach the top. Over too quickly for sure, but I had covered a big distance in that short time, apparently about 300m of height gain. My legs were trying to tell me this but I hadn't been listening!!

The scramble terminates at a big cairn by the summit of Ill Crag. At 930m above sea level it's one of the big Lakeland tops. By now the mist was think and the rain persistent, so pretty chilly. I did a quick shoe change and considered putting a lightweight jacket on, but didn't bother. Then it was a dash across the plateau to find the main path back to Esk Hause. Back in fell shoes and being initially off-path felt hugely insecure and I did take a tumble. Thankfully, once on the well used path leading to/from Scafell Pike the rocks are cleaner and offer more traction, so no more falls.

The run back to Langdale was pleasant, easy, and fast. Oh and loads of fun. The weather improved too, with blue sky making a reappearance.

So was this a fell running, mountaineering, scrambling, or sky running day? I'm not sure, but if only able to pick one I suppose it has to be mountaineering. That's certainly what it felt like.

For guided walks, scrambles, rock climbing, abseiling, gorge scrambling, and a host of other activities please do give us a call to discuss your plans. We're always happy to offer advice and guidance, and simply happy to chat about the Lakes and share what we know with you.

Thanks for reading

Mark

Upper Eskdale from Cockley Pike Ridge

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Another day another spectacular ridge - El Realet

9/1/2019

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Afternoon sun over El Realet and Castellets

It's been a very busy time for us just now, with ridge after ridge, as well as walking and running routes, and exploring more of the brilliant 'trad' climbing Costa Blanca has to offer.

Almost to the day 4 years ago we traversed 'El Realet' ridge near Finestrat and until today we hadn't been back. Well, there are so many other fantastic ridges and climbs.

But today we made a return visit and it was great to re-live the excitement this knife edge scramble has to offer. Starting fairly easy at about grade 3 but it doesn't take long for the exposure to build up quite dramatically. This coupled with a few harder moves definitely means this one stays in the memory bank for a while.
We used a selection of techniques to allow us a speedy yet safe traverse, these included 'moving together', 'short-roping', and 'pitched climbing' all interspersed with short sections of soloing where appropriate.

We spent a little over 4 hours on the ridge. Long enough to soak up the atmosphere, but never long enough to be satisfied, for these places are truly amazing.

A couple of equipped abseils at the end of the ridge brought us down to easy ground and just a little bush-whacking to reach the road.

All in all a fantastic day out, thanks to Kate and Kim for joining.

For more information about these places or to arrange a guided day, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We'll help as much as we can.

Mark

On the initial section of El Realet

The first of many very narrow and exposed sections of ridge

Back on easier but still very exposed terrain on this amazing ridge

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Bernia Ridge traverse

Lake District activities for families

Training for bigger mountains

Fell running, Mountaineering, Scrambling, or Sky running....

Another day another spectacular ridge - El Realet

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