Being 4.5 miles in the round from Patterdale. Some climbers will say the hardest part of Pinnacle Ridge is actually finding it! With a scrambling Grade 3, many climbers believe the ridge does not merit such a high grade as there are many escape routes.  Looking up from the Grisedale trench you can see the obvious prominent exit area of East Chockstone gully, Pinnacle Ridge is 180 meters to the left of this.  The starting point is a gun like shaped rock known as the Cannon, although before you reach this you will see a small withered tree still standing to the right as you approach the ridge, scrambling on from the Cannon you will come across the giant slabs which are smooth and have little grip, in wet or icy weather these can be difficult to traverse.  I once read that wearing an old sock over your boot will afford better grip, I tried this technique and yes it does work.  From the slabs the ridge continues with no real route finding problems, suddenly you find yourself at the crux wall standing some 6 meters in height,this being the only real pitch on the route and best climbed from the corner.  The crux wall will pose no problems for the accomplished rock climber but I have always roped here . Atop of the crux wall is a prominent rock which can be used to secure a belay .  From there you can see the Pinnacles, many climbers shuffle across them , all afford good grip.  Having Scrambling down the final Pinnacle cross to the left then up the well worn path turning right to the summit of St Sunday.  There are escape routes to the left or dropping down to the easy gully which runs parallel to the right of the ridge.  Whether or not the Grade 3 rating is warranted is I believe a personal choice and best left to the individual climber , the difficulty of the ridge will always depend on the weather conditions with snow and ice the route takes on Alpine proportions ...........Big Hell

Ticklists

Britain's winter ridges, Top ridge scrambles of Britain, Mountaineering Routes in the Lake District, 3 Star Scrambles - Northern Lakes, The Ridges of England, Wales and Ireland, STAUMC Ticklist, 10 Year Walking And Scrambling Challenge, A Lakeland Apprenticeship

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