Posts Tagged ‘torrent’

Barbecue Summer

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

Scugdale in the rainIt was raining when we optimistically left Wetherby, and was still raining when we rather less optimistically arrived at Scugdale. After 10 minutes sitting in the car, Davids Kay and Dickinson arrived. Everyone else was either on holiday or had chosen not to ignore the weather forecast.

It stopped raining so we dashed to the crag and looked for something to climb.

A strong westerly wind meant that it was all surprisingly dry, apart from the north-facing buttresses, which were not-so-surprisingly green and slimy. We picked one of the few remaining sub-VS routes that I'd not done before: Hybrid, which starts up one route, makes an exposed traverse round the corner on surprising holds, and finishes up another route. It was raining lightly by the time I got to the top, and raining a little less lightly by the time Carmen joined me.

When we reached the bottom again, the rain was bouncing off the ground. Carmen briefly considered a deep water solo of Razor Rib, but a tsunami warning had just been issued so we swam back down the hill to the car and sailed home.

Routes climbed:
Hybrid (HS 4b)
Blaeberry Buttress
Blaeberry Buttress Direct
Blaeberry Crack
er, that's it.

Unaccounted for ? AK's OMM

Friday, October 31st, 2008

A brief OMM report. Alan Kitchener. Long Score.

Spent Friday night at Seathwaite in Will’s campervan..luxury!

8.20 start..very windy but not raining…yet!!

Big up from the start to our first control near Glaramara summit. Then sw to Esk Hause avoiding the very tops and getting two more controls on the way. Then ne to a control near Sprinkling tarn and on down to Styhead. Conditions now atrocious, both of us blown off our feet.. North and a rising traverse to a control near Base Brown then ne along high ground past Brandreth. Had to link arms to make any progress. Two more controls and an exciting waist deep crossing of Warnscale beck. Avoid the temptation of getting more points on Haystacks and decend the path/torrent to the campsite at Gatescarth.

Pleased with our efforts (175 points) but disappointed to find event cancelled.
Set off to walk over Honister but almost immediately managed to thumb a lift to the top of the pass. Passed some amazing sights along the road. Walked down into Borrowdale and along to the campsite through waist deep water. Another relatively luxurious night in the campervan followed by a push off the field and an uneventful drive home.

Much concern from family on return home following crazy reporting by media. I have written to the BBC to complain about their coverage.
AK