Enjoying the great second pitch of Thirlmere Eliminate
“The weekend looks set to be wet again.” says Ian, “Lets get out Friday evening if it stays dry…”
We choose one of our favourite roadside crags, Castle Rock, to meet and I choose Thirlmere Eliminate for the four (Anna, Ian, Laetitia and I) of us. It’s a classic route, BUT, with the constant rain almost all week the route was very damp and greasy – not an ideal combination for a route with poor protection! The ledge before the final pitch was soaking and super green and slippery. After a stint belaying I was wet through – the water was running down the wall and across the slab, then down my leg!
We decided to escape and abseil from the sturdy looking peg at the belay and slip away for a pint at the Thirlspot pub rather than risk sliding off the wet rock and getting hurt. Better fun than most will have had on a Friday evening; two great pitches of rock climbing and a pint of bitter with friends…
Ian getting ready to escape from our soaking belay ledge
It was really greasy at the top of pitch 2…… lucky you’ve got such tight buttocks Pete!!! 😆