Rocks, ropes & conquering fear with Lakeland Ascents

To say I was out of my comfort zone is putting it mildly. Rock-climbing and abseiling are things that in my mind other people do. However, when the opportunity came to spend the day with Lakeland Ascents I decided to give it a go. They do everything from rock-climbing and abseiling to gorge scrambling and winter and ice climbing. My friend Peter was in the Lakes on holiday and I persuaded him to keep me company on this adventure.

Ready to climb

We met Si from Lakeland Ascents in the Stickle Ghyll car-park in Langdale and headed to Scout Crag a short walk away. Scout Crag is for beginners. It still looked pretty high to me though and impossible to climb! As Si got the ropes ready, I stepped into my harness (really not the most flattering thing I have ever worn but for this occasion I did not care – it felt robust and secure and that was all I was after!) Equipped with hard hats we headed over to the crag to begin rock-climbing.

Scout Crag - my first rock climbing challenge!

The first lesson was in knots (which were all checked by Si) and then we were off. Peter went first and pretty much sprinted up the side of the crag then scaled elegantly down. Well that didn’t look too hard. I took my first tentative step on the crag and then another. I was probably all of six feet off the ground at this point but was starting to feel a real sense of achievement. It is all about keeping the weight on leg muscles rather than on your hands and arms. When I was half way up, I found it much trickier as obvious foot holds were not apparent and I began to put trust in some of the tiniest pieces of rock. But it worked. My adrenaline was pumping and my legs were shaking live Elvis at one point but I made it to the top. Yay!

Me on a rock

Then I had to descend. Technically this is the easy part. I somehow managed to get it wrong though and found myself spinning around and dangling on the rope in mid air! I recovered a little bit of elegance but only a little as I got back down to terra firma. However, I was surprised that at no point as I was hanging in mid air was I afraid. I had complete confidence in the ropes and Si and it was well placed. I was never at risk.

I tried the ascent again and this time I was faster as I had a better technique and more confidence. I also managed to get back down more elegantly. Buoyed up with this success, we tried a higher and more difficult part of the crag. Peter went first again and I was in charge of belaying for him, which is where I was holding the rope and controlling the slack etc. Si had another part of the rope as back-up in case I did something wrong. This was demonstrably a more difficult proposition.

Cathedral Quarry

Peter took two attempts but did get to the top whereas I took about ten minutes to get onto the first grassy ledge about a foot off the ground (much to the amusement of Peter and Si) and it didn’t bode well for the rest of the crag but I started making progress with even fewer footholds than before. I only got two-thirds of the way up as my muscles were starting to feel really tired but I was really pleased with what I achieved. I started my descent and once again got my technique wrong. This time I span about six feet around the crag and dangled again. I was unscathed but I did demonstrate the importance of hard hats!

Next we headed off to Cathedral Quarry near Little Langdale. This is an amazing place that I did not know existed. It is a large cave with extensive mining tunnels around it. It is a real attraction for people abseiling and as we arrived it was already busy. The lower crag was full so we decided to head straight for the high crag that meant an abseil of 160 feet. 

The high abseil descent

Again, Si set up the ropes and I watched person after person descend just further along the crag. No-one seemed to struggle. I was feeling very nervous though.

Peter went first again and hopped over the crag and made his way down. No problems at all. I was clipped on and took my first tentative steps towards the edge. My heart was racing. Si gave me the instructions and I stood with my back to the wide expanse below me. I was standing on the tiniest of ledges with the calming words of Si encouraging me to lean back and take the first steps down. I really wanted to but I was shaking and quite literally terrified. Si was very patient and deserves a medal. 

I tried about four times to descend. Peter came back up to give me encouragement. I had full confidence in the ropes (after all, I had spent a good amount of time dangling from them that morning) and confidence in Si but I just couldn’t do it. Peter even went down the crag again to show me the technique. In the end I admitted defeat. I was so frustrated I could have cried.

Me finally braving abseiling

Si had a solution though. We headed off to the lower crag that was now empty. He set the ropes up again and I was absolutely determined. I got into position, leant back straight away and off I went! Hurrah! I had quite a good technique for much of the descent (unlike this morning) and so was very happy. As I got to the bottom my smile could have rivalled the Cheshire Cat. At last!

To finish the day we headed along the caves and tunnels right through the crag to get back out to the car. The tunnels are pitch black so you need a torch and are low so you need a hard hat ideally. I cannot believe I have never been there before.

So having been out of my comfort zone all day, would I do it again? Actually yes I would. I really enjoyed the rock-climbing and would like to get better at that. Abseiling still holds a lot of fear for me but I think if I did the low crag a few times to get confidence in my technique I would be brave enough to do the large crag. I am certainly going to try it again one day.

Si and Lakeland Ascents were fabulous. I put my confidence and faith in his skills, experience and knowledge and it was well placed. Si was calm and encouraging and I achieved things I never thought I could. 

Now, when I see other people rock-climbing I can look and say “I did that”. Maybe ice climbing next?

With Si before the abseil attempt

The Pike O'Blisco Adventure

Our walking group (photo by Daxa)

There are always three things guaranteed on a Twitter walk: fun, adventure and chocolate brownies. The Pike O’Blisco walk had all three in abundance.

Our starting point was the Three Shire Stone on the Wrynose Pass and as well as some of the usual crowd, there were new people as well. It is always nice meeting people on these walks and whilst we are all very different and come from different parts of the country, we all love walking the fells. There were nine of us on this walk with five dogs in all shapes and sizes including Tilly. Phil brought along his new puppy Molly and her and Tilly became firm friends.

Molly

We set off on the path towards Red Tarn and whilst cloudy, it looked like the sun could appear at any minute. We were all chatting and admiring the views and the dogs were running around happily. The path was getting snowier with each step but it was soft snow so was easier to grip and it meant Tilly had a great time playing in it as did all the dogs. Red Tarn itself was completely frozen, which upset Tilly as she had been looking forward to a swim but she contented herself with eating some snow instead.

Tilly waiting for me

It was a short but steep final ascent to Pike O’Blisco up quite a rocky path. Needless to say I was at the back but I was delighted to have Daxa for company who is a slower walker like me. We eventually joined the others on the summit and looked out over Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, the Langdale Pikes and the valley below. Beautiful. It was Molly’s first Lake District summit and she seemed pleased with her achievement.

Being "rescued" by Tilly

After a quick chocolate brownie (delicious as always) and coffee stop, we headed on across the slopes of Pike O’Blisco to head down to the narrow road in Great Langdale as our next target was Lingmoor Fell. This should have been fairly straight forward but with snow all around, it proved rather eventful but an awful lot of fun! The snow was thicker on that side of the fell and before long, we were all descending a snowy slope, digging our heels in to try and grip. I think Phil was the first to fall (not helped by having Molly tugging on her lead) and slide a few metres but several people slipped. At one point, there was a short but very steep section and having witnessed the less than elegant descent by some of the group (and noticing at least three cameras pointing in my direction), I decided sitting down and sledging was the best solution. Tilly had already run down it and was playing with Lassie at the bottom but seeing I was taking so long, she came back to rescue me. How sweet! She waited beside me whilst I got myself into position and then (not so helpfully) stood right in from of me just as I pushed myself down the slope so had to leap out of the way!

Tilly action shot from Phil

We got down unscathed and took our turn to watch the rest of the group make their descent. This was pretty much the way the next half an hour went – lots of slipping and impromptu sledging. On one slope, I decided to just sledge all the way and ended with a “ta da” moment with Gina capturing it for posterity. Dave did the same later on but on a rather steeper slope and his efforts to slow down using his walking pole ended in the pole having a 90 degree bend in it!

With all the hard work behind us (so we thought) we were now on grassy slopes but unbeknownst to us, the grass was frozen and Gina had a bad fall and hurt her knee. We did not think it was serious at this point though and just needed rest so we had a lunch break. The views were spectacular down into the valley and to the Langdale Pikes, Bowfell and Crinkle Crags. Molly and Tilly took turns posing for the camera and then Tilly went into “feed me treats” mode (those eyes though are simply heart-melting). Jim decided a traditional sandwich was not enough though and brought out a cooking device with a saucepan and rustled up some potatoes dauphinoise! I need to be a bit more creative with my walking lunches as a cheese and chutney sandwich just wasn’t the same after that.

Lunchtime

Tilly at Blea Tarn

We headed off but it was soon clear that Gina’s knee was quite badly injured so we had a change of plan. When we got down to the road, we split into groups. Some continued to the summit of Lingmoor, Dave, Terry and Adam headed back to get the car and Daxa and I waited with Gina. Whilst waiting, I decided to take Tilly around Blea Tarn as she had missed out on a swim in Red Tarn. We headed off and as the sun had come out she had a lovely swim and chased several sticks. The view along the valley to the Langdale Pikes was mesmerising and I could have sat in the sunshine there for hours. We headed back along the road to where Gina and Daxa were still waiting and before long, Dave arrived in the car (having had a long trek back up the Wrynose Pass) and we all met at the Three Shire’s pub for a drink and to laugh at our adventures.

A girl's best friend (photo from Gina)

Another great Twitter walk. Sadly Gina’s knee was quite badly injured but hopefully she can still run the London Marathon this year. Get well soon Gina!

All Hail Bowfell!

Bowfell, Crinkle Crags and The Band

Pike O'Stickle

Bowfell is a pyramid-shaped mountain and stands at 2,960 feet/902 metres. The pretty name does not give a clue to the sheer scale of crags and boulders that surround and adorn it. It is often cited as a favourite by fell walkers in the Lake District as it has superb views.  Sadly, until my latest visit I could not vouch for the views as my only ascent of it was on a day where I do not think I saw anything other than my feet owing to the thick cloud.  I have been meaning to go back for a long time and now I live so close I ventured forth early one relatively sunny morning in September with my mission being the Climbers’ Traverse.

Crinkle Crags from The Band

The Climbers’ Traverse features in Wainwright’s Pictorial Guide to the Southern Fells and the drawings he includes of the Great Slab and Bowfell Buttress really inspire the imagination so I was determined to see them for myself.  I started at Old Dungeon Ghyll in Langdale, taking advantage of the National Trust car-park and headed along the long track to a route called “The Band”, which although long, is a gentle ascent with nothing of any difficulty.  The views were amazing.  The Langdale Pikes could be seen in their full glory with the shattered screes of Pike O’Stickle and its large craggy summit in view most of the way, along with Crinkle Crags and Pike O’Blisco.  The views down the Langdale Valley became increasingly extensive and even a Herdy sheep was stopping to soak up the atmosphere.

Flat Crags

I made great progress to the where the path splits (why is no one around when I manage to keep up a good pace?) and headed off to the Climbers’ Traverse.  Now I have done some scary (I think) routes up fells including Sharp Edge, Jack’s Rake and Striding Edge and Climbers’ Traverse is nothing like those.  However, the path is narrow on the edge of the fell and therefore on the right heads straight down into the Mickleden Valley so you do feel quite exposed.  Each time I took a photo I had to  hold onto a rock otherwise I felt I was falling, particularly when I was trying to capture the rocks above.  I have never had vertigo but I think I may have experienced a very mild form of it along that path.

Crags & blue sky - hurrah!

Before long, the imposing and aptly named Flat Crags come into view and you start to really get the feeling that this is going to be a great route.  Around the corner, Cambridge Crags and Bowfell Buttress also appear – large vertical jagged crags that appear as though they are defending the summit and from the path, it is hard to imagine there is actually a route up.  

Bowfell Buttress

The Great Slab with Pike O'Stickle in the background

My main purpose in doing this route was to see the Great Slab.  This is exactly how it sounds – the most enormous sheet of flat rock stretching across the side of the mountain just below the summit.  I was a little concerned I had missed it as I could not see it above me anywhere so I wandered a bit further down and was just peering over the edge at the foot of Cambridge Crag to see if it was below me (sometimes I should not be let loose) when I turned around and there, right above me was simply one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen in the Lake District fells.  A vast expanse of rock pebbled with mosses and cracks at an angle on the fell.  It was as though a giant had come along and created a dining table that had tilted over time.  Mesmerising.  

The path takes you up next to Cambridge Crag amongst and over large rocks and boulders and I bravely climbed to the other side to take some photos.  The Great Slab with Pike O’Stickle in the background is my favourite.  Reaching the top of the Great Slab, I wandered off the path to stand at the top of it and look down into the valley.  It really is a unique feature and so different from the rest of Bowfell, which is large crags and many boulders.

The top of the Great Slab & rolling mountains ahead

Heady with the sight I had seen, I reached the summit of Bowfell and had the strange but frequent Lake District view of beautiful sunshine and rolling mountains in one direction and grey cloud and rain in the other!  Which way to sit whilst having a coffee was therefore not a difficult decision and I can absolutely see why so many people love Bowfell.  Even whilst the weather was far from perfect, the views were spectacular.

Admiring the sunshine in front of me, it was rather a shock when a few minutes later hailstones started pelting me from above!  The heavens had opened on Bowfell so I hot-footed it (or rather cold-footed it as it was rather chilly even with a woolly hat, gloves and ski jacket) down to Three Tarns and then back along The Band to Old Dungeon Ghyll again.

Strange grassy hillocks towards Martcrag Moor

Climbers’ Traverse rates as one of my favourite routes up a mountain now.  It was everything I hoped it would be.  However, one of the strangest sights of the day was unexpected - looking from the Climbers' Traverse towards Martcrag Moor you can see little bumpy grassy hillocks that are a result of the last Ice Age.  A sight like this along with the rock formations, views, sense of exhilaration and sheer adventure of it make Bowfell everything I love about the mountains of the Lake District.