Swinging between the Hail

The day began with my opening the curtains and seeing the sunny weather had not yet been replaced by the forecast snow and a text message “What you doin’ today? Wanna go climbing?” to Ian. The day ended with the forecast snow (and winter temperatures) driving us away from our chosen crag (Raven Crag, Walthwaite, Langdale).

The picture above shows Anna & Ian coiling the ropes as a particularily severe hail storm drove us away, leaving the crag layered with a collection of marble sized hail stones. Ian thought they were nearer to the size of golf balls! 😉

In between all that we managed a couple of great routes despite the frequent snow/hail showers and the less than ideal (i.e. bloody cold 😮 ) temperatures and therefore fingers.


Ian completing Militant Tendency (HVS)


Swing[ing] to the Right (E1)


Belaying Anna on Swing to the Right

7 thoughts on “Swinging between the Hail”

  1. The routes were really good; thanks guys for hauling me up the hard bits!

    [Makes yet another resolution to eat less cake, do exercises for upper body strength, train at climbing walls, go running for cardio-vascular, etc., etc. …. 😕 ]

  2. Ah ha, but have you noticed that I have removed much of the tree from the picture with Photoshop! 😉

    But as regards the route, yes, I did it years ago with Frank Yates (remember him ❓ ) – a real struggle I thought. But I think Anna mentioned on Saturday that she’d done it with Sarah (?) and thought it okay. 😯

  3. Yep that’s right, Sarah led pitch 1 and I led pitch 2 – specially enjoyed the fun exit through the tree! Perhaps it is a route that lends itself to technique not height and strength??! 😀

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