The sun decided to shine last week and knowing it was our very last chance to get away before the end of the holidays we packed up and headed for the Lake District. The main agenda for our trip was to pack in as much climbing as possible. It was an absolute blast and my feet and hands haven't ached like they did last week in a very long time ! Like a lot of things in life you don't know until you go...rest days were unnecessary and the more we climbed the better we felt, the stiff joints soon eased up in the sunshine.
We headed to Wallawbarrow crag in the Duddon valley first and after a grand day out there headed up to Langdale. The sheer amount of climbing in the Lakes would keep anyone busy for more than a life time no matter what grade your climbing. It is so varied and interesting that every outing is a treat, especially when the weather is fine.
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| Taking in the views at the top of Wallabarrow |
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| Wallabarrow Crag |
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| Looking through the trees on the 1st belay of Digitation |
One of the many highlights for us was a route named Slip knot on Whiteghyll crag just up from Dungeongill. It's graded a VS 4b which on this particular route is in the exciting "out there", fresh air kind of climbing that definitely gives a thrill you don't experience every day of the week. You do need a head for heights, balance and a certain amount of technical ability to enjoy the experience. It's a great climb and as the very friendly climber on an adjacent route said "it's proper climbing "and I have to agree.
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| Top climbing on Slip Knot |
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| John on the 2nd pitch of Slip Knot (lots of fresh air beneath your feet !!) |
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| Gillean enjoying the challenge too! |
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Looking down from Slip Knot
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| Harmless cloud photographed whilst on Slab route no. 2 Whiteghyll |
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| Skies over Whiteghyll |
The beauty of the Lakes is indisputable. Although the crags have a real mountain feel about them we did want at least one day to get away from it all. Gillercombe buttress on Gillercombe certainly offers up some splendid isolation. We headed off reasonably early hoping to get on the climb before any other party but all our huff and puff up the hillside was unnecessary. Apart from a big group of scouts spied from the summit in the early evening sunlight we never saw another soul all day.
So far from roads and dwellings you could hear a pin drop when you stopped for breath and a view.
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| Looking down from Gillercombe Buttress |
With a couple of hours to spare before dinner we squeezed in a last route at Quayfoot Buttress and then on Saturday headed to Shepherds and Castle rock before zooming up the road late evening.
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| Wild meadow flowers at Castle Rock near Keswick |
Thinking it was all over for the week my thoughts were drawn towards the studio and all the work still to complete before the Art trail...not to be.... again the
weather forced us out for more play!
A trip to Peel and Crag Lough ended the week on a high note with plenty to reflect on.
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| The sun eventually came out later on |
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| Hazy sunshine |
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| John going for it on Pinnacle Face |
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