Wheels On Fire 6a+
No, not an episode of Embarrassing Bodies, but a rather fine bolted crag overlooking Crummockdale. Our original plan was to visit Pot Scar, but when we arrived it was soaking wet. So Rob, me, Richard, Ali and Poppy were forced to wait for an hour in Elaines Tea Rooms drinking tea and eating carrot cake to see if it dried out – it was hell. Finally we decided it wasnt going to dry up (this coincided with running out of room for any more cake) and decided to take a look at Robin Proctor's Scar instead.
Which turned out to be a very good decision. The crag was as dry as a bone and its a very pretty spot indeed, one of those crags which stands up impressively above its valley. As we walked up the sky began to clear and by midday we were basking in mediteranean style sunshine. Shortly after we were joined by Jenny, tempted out by the wall to wall sun.
tombstone blues, 6a
The crag used to have a reputation for looseness seriousness but now it is all bolted, with enough routes in the lower grades to keep us busy all afternoon, starting in the 5s and 5+'s. The character of the routes tended to be more or less vertical, with really positive flake holds to get your fingers behind. My favourite routes were Wheels On Fire, which follows a brilliant flake line but at 6a+ saw a bit lot of swearing and the odd rest on bolts from ..ahem.. a couple of people, though Ali and Rob did it cleanly, the big show offs , and Tombstone Blues (6a) which undercuts a big flake then does a slightly precarious feeling high rockover move. A lovely spot, and one for the "visit again" list.
Not quite fully bolted – Central Gully (S**) is still holding on as a last bastion of tradition!