Rockfax Description
A phenomenal route that traces an audacious line across the face taking in territory reserved for much harder climbs. Often touted, rightly so, as one of the best climbs in the country. Start in a small corner right of a block.
1) 4a, 24m. Move up to ledges on the right. Work up and left across the wall to meet the right-leaning crack just above a small clump of vegetation. Climb up the crack past a spike and continue in the same line to a grassy ledge and belay.
2) 4b, 18m. Take the poorly-protected short wall above to below a steepening. Traverse left to a groove and follow this to a belay at the beginning of a traverse line that leads right.
3) 4a, 18m. Continue the traverse for 10m and then climb up to a ledge. Traverse right to a belay just before a pinnacle.
4) 4a, 25m. Gain a pinnacle on the right. Move back left to a crack and climb it until an exposed move right accesses the top of the huge pillar. Continue up the wall above to the top. © Rockfax
UKC Logbook Description
A true classic, winding its way through some very impressive rock architecture. Start right of a rightward-leaning crack/corner in the centre of the wall.
1.) 20m, climb the wall just right of the crack, until a step left can be made into the crack, which is followed to a ledge. An ascending traverse right leads to a ledge at the foot of a wall.
2.) 17m, the wall above is climbed to a broken ledge and corner on the left. Climb the crack in the corner followed by the right wall to a slab that leads to a corner.
3.) 15m, semi hand traverse 10m right in a sensational position to a corner. Climb the rib on the right to a ledge.
4.) 23m, ascend the small pinnacle on the right, then step left into the crack which is followed to a rock ledge. Easy climbing leads to the top of the ridge.
H.M. Kelly and R.E.W Pritchard Jul/1923.
Classic Rock , Classic Rock Climbs of Great Britain by Bill Birkett , 50 Best HS Routes in the UK. , Kendal Wall's Best 100 climbs in Britain , CLIMB Mag's Top 100 routes in Britain , My List , Best Multi-pitch Severe and Hard Severe , Lakeland's Best Multi-pitch Routes up to HVS , 2016 Targets , Tom Ripley's best UK HS climbs , #RadTradGirl UK HS/VS climbs Easter 2017 , Lakeland's Greatest Pioneers , Arc'teryx Lakeland Revival 2017 , The Great Gumclub Ticklist , The Original 'Classic Rock' List , Adventure ticklist 2018 , Lakes Hard Severe and Mild VS , One day multipitch , UK Holiday Plans , The best the lakes has to offer for mere mortals (because it's not always as wet as kez thinks) , Nuts of Legends , Ultimate HS ticklist , Steve Ashton's 100 Classic Climbs The Lake District , Lake District Classic Rock Challenge , Mountain Rock , ROCKFAX Lake District: Top 50 , 2020/21 Trips , Lakes Classic and Hard Rock Selection , A Lakeland Apprenticeship , Lakeland VS Walking Tour , Snowdonia and The Lakes Classic Rock Summer Challenge , Turbo-Punter's Tradification , Lakes 2022 , Dan’s Delights , Gwen Moffat: Space Below My Feet , Lakes Trad Ticklist , ROCKFAX TOP 50s upto e3 , Lakes ticklist
User | Date | Notes | ||
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jamieevans | 18 Jan, 2022 |
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βeta: Ab station down to the right just before end of last pitch, 2x50's to the guilt then easy out. Back staircase looks like a death trap. Fixed rope that was in place was worn past way through so now removed. | βeta? | |
Show beta
βeta: Ab station down to the right just before end of last pitch, 2x50's to the guilt then easy out. Back staircase looks like a death trap. Fixed rope that was in place was worn past way through so now removed. |
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Ab Wilson | 27 Jul, 2021 |
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βeta: There's a slot just above the first belay that will fit a small cam - zero or maybe number 1. This is the only way to protect the belay on the second pitch. The next gear is several metres higher. | ||
Show beta
βeta: There's a slot just above the first belay that will fit a small cam - zero or maybe number 1. This is the only way to protect the belay on the second pitch. The next gear is several metres higher. |
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eldre070 | 3 Jun, 2021 |
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βeta: Ran P1 and P2 together and the same for P3 and P4 (with little rope drag). Fantastic route, worthy of its reputation. | ||
Show beta
βeta: Ran P1 and P2 together and the same for P3 and P4 (with little rope drag). Fantastic route, worthy of its reputation. |
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Purple | 21 Sep, 2020 |
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βeta: The in-situ abseil rope mentioned in very recent feedback entries was gone. The abseil station was in good condition however - approx 30 metres descent into lower Great Hell Gate. | ||
Show beta
βeta: The in-situ abseil rope mentioned in very recent feedback entries was gone. The abseil station was in good condition however - approx 30 metres descent into lower Great Hell Gate. |
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daryln | 19 Sep, 2020 |
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βeta: Used the in situ abseil rope to get down. It doesn’t quite make it to the scree and appears like another ab is needed but it’s an easy (in walking boots) 3m traverse off to the right (facing wall) to the floor | ||
Show beta
βeta: Used the in situ abseil rope to get down. It doesn’t quite make it to the scree and appears like another ab is needed but it’s an easy (in walking boots) 3m traverse off to the right (facing wall) to the floor |
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JayEdwards | 23 Aug, 2020 |
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βeta: The in situ static rope at the top to abseil down the gully doesn’t reach the bottom. I would abseil down on your own ropes | ||
Show beta
βeta: The in situ static rope at the top to abseil down the gully doesn’t reach the bottom. I would abseil down on your own ropes |
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tbm | 25 Jul, 2020 |
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βeta: Some seepage on the bottom two pitches, but avoidable | βeta? | |
Show beta
βeta: Some seepage on the bottom two pitches, but avoidable |
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Grade: HS 4b ***
(Bowfell)