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Swaledale Outdoor Club |
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Swaledale Outdoor Club |
| > Home > Newsletter > Climbing > Shepherd's Crag, Borrowdale |
Shepherd's Crag, BorrowdaleSunday 29th April found a hopeful climbing section anticipating a 1st "as planned on the forecast" event with the opening of Shepherds Crag allowing us to keep to the planned Sunday meet in Borrowdale Thanks to advice from Dave Church at Rock Antic that Wednesday, we knew that the National Trust car park just before Shepherds was open but more interesting was the general consensus to use the ferry from Keswick. Plans were laid, enthusiasm was kindled and, typical of British weather, it poured all the way to the Lakes! There were 3 cars out that day; my car with myself, Richard Sample, Andy Saxby & Astrid Svenson, Anth Quinn's car with Sue Lyth, Steve Quinn, Ian Priestnall and Shaun, and also Claire Waddleton's gang of four. The rain seemed to suggest a direct route to Kendal Wall but a quick visit to NeedleSport occurred, meeting up with Claire & Co. Claire decided to then head off to Kendal but we loitered in a coffee shop and found that Team Quinn had the same sort of idea as us. After a few more coffees and chat, we headed off to Kendal but found blue skies appearing over Grasmere! A quick turnaround found us back in a drier Keswick and we walked up to the crag shortly after 1.3 Opm. It was still wet in places but Astrid led off up Little Chamonix with Andy. A quick text message on the mobile to Steve Q found them on the way back and they soon continued a mass ascent of this famous route behind myself and Richard. The weather-shortened day meant nothing else was done but the amazing weather of the following week simply forced those that could to do a Wednesday night trip to Shepherds. Myself and Andy Platell were able to get to Shepherds by 6.3Opm (!!) with Steve Q and Ian P arriving soon after and Andy Saxby, Astrid and Michele Hart also making it. Myself and Andy did Ardus and Kransic Crack, Steve and Ian did Eve and Fisher's Folly with Andy, Astrid and Michele also doing Ardus. The crag was busy but there were still enough routes free to prevent any real queuing, with most of the climbers based in the Lakes. An obligatory drink in Keswick finished a late evening but everyone agreed the travelling was worth it. Neil 'Bomber' Harold |