New Places

Back in April I started the year thinking that July, August and September should now be called 'The months formally known as Summer', but thankfully I was wrong, after last years 18 month autumn it was fairly well justified to think the crags might never properly dry again. But they did, and climbers being climbers make the most of this. Not least the FRCC. 

'Immaculate Fool' VS 4c Birks Crag

The Fell and Rock Climbing Club are a Lakeland institution, without their efforts climbing here would be very different. They produce the most comprehensive series of climbing guidebooks and hold archives of historic routes. The good weather has seen a flurry of activity working towards producing the latest editions with previously unearthed crags being cleaned and new routes recorded. A new crag appeared on their website so I had to go and have a look, and found a few really nice little routes had recently had first ascents. The problem is if these new routes don't get climbed they become overgrown and unattractive. So next time you are out, consider one of these new venues, there are some cracking routes out there.

Brant and Slape

Over in Eskdale teaching climbing the other day on Brantrake crag. Strange name, but Brant is a fairly common name in upland areas. An old word derived from Norse meaning steep and rake refers to the angle[of the crag], but often in the mountains describes a grassy break running up through the crag, such as Jacks Rake on Pavey Arc. And the rain, thankfully has been showery, and the warm rock drys quickly.

 

There is an awful lot of Norse influence in the place names of Cumbria and similar to the Gaelic names in Scotland, with a bit of knowledge, can give plenty of clues about the area you are visiting.  



Brantrake

So if yer on a brant crag, an it starts hossin' doon you'd better gan yam afer its te slape!