A Classic Day in Langdale

We set off with such confidence up Middlefell Butress Diff and Curtain Wall on Raven Crag.  We then climbed up and traversed round to Gimmer – a much easier approach than I remembered.

Once we got to Gimmer we dropped down and climbed up to the start of Ash Tree Slabs VD. There was a bit of a queue but we sat and eat our butties and waited. The first party was making very slow progress but eventually we it got to our turn. Ash Tree Slabs was much more demanding than I remembered and I was glad I had my new rock boots! – we also underestimated the amount of small gear and extenders that we would need so I was scraping the barrel at bit towards the end of the first pitch which was very exposed and interesting. The next route we dropped a bit of a **** as we didn’t have the right book with us which I think lead to us getting totally lost on Oliverson’s variation and Lyons crawl….we are still not sure where we ended up climbing but we ended up a good groove…….one to go back to I think. Mind you I did find a number 5 walnut.

Roger at the top of Middlefell Butress

First Pitch of Ash Tree Slabs

Top of Gimmer we lived to climb another day!