#lake-district-rock-climbing-course

Anchor building and belaying skills - Lake District Rock Climbing Course

Lake District Rock Climbing Course

This last week has provided some amazing days with glorious sunshine and settled weather conditions. We have been taking full advantage of this with a stack of climbing days.

The big tick of the week has been the magnificent Golden Slipper on Pavey Ark. Returning customers Catherine and John had requested this route some time ago, but good weather was most certainly necessary for such a climb, so there were a few false starts. Thursday was the day and our guide Sam was in place and raring to go. The weather held and the stunning positions this route gives could be fully enjoyed by all. Without doubt a 3 star route, probably the finest of its grade in the Lake District if not the UK. Pitch 2 is the money pitch and gives move after move of delicious climbing on immaculate rock.

Thanks to Sam of LDM for guiding this day on our behalf.

Whilst Golden Slipper was being enjoyed, I was on the Pike O’Blisco crags with Nikolai, a visiting climber from Portland, USA. We had already been out the previous day and grabbed a few routes at Lower Scout Crags in Langdale. That was a nice warm up and introduction to Lakeland rock. But it’s the mountain rock that’s best and that was on the menu for today.

Black Crag, Wrynose has some of the most wonderful rock I have ever climbed on. Solid, rough, textured, and in a delightful setting. We started with a trio of VS’s: Three; Blind; Mice. All providing good quality wall routes. Then time to push a little harder and onto Slipshod - HVS, this was dispatched well so time for some E numbers. After an E1 and E2 skin was starting to suffer and it was time for some easy cruising.

We moved to the nearby crag of Long Scar. The rock here is a little more forgiving on the skin and we stayed on much easier terrain. I think this was a 9 route day. We also spent a little time looking at anchors so Nikolai could better understand how these work.

And yesterday was another climbing day. This time focusing almost entirely on anchor building. Using the valley crags in Langdale I walked Jade and Laurie through a variety of set-ups using 2 and 3 anchor points and equalising these with the rope. Each time we built an anchor Jade and Laurie would then climb the route so they could fully enjoy the fruits of their labour.

Anchor selection, belaying skills, knots, climbing, and guidebook interpretation all ticked. A pretty good day and mostly super sunny.

If you’re looking for a climbing day / half day please get in touch. We can tailor days to suit you. It may be an introduction to outdoor climbing, or you’re wanting to progress to lead climb. Or maybe it’s a guided day on a mountain crag you want. We can facilitate all of these options and many permutations. Give us a call and let’s make a plan.

Thanks for reading

Mark

Mountain Journey