The Sorcerer, Ghost Valley

The Sorcerer, Ghost Valley

Monday 19 January 2015

Great winter new mixed line

Great winter mixed conditions here in the Lakes over the weekend.

Huw Davis and I headed up to Standing Crag just above Thirlmire, as I wanted to climb the last major line of the crag whilst it was still remained unclimbed. I also wanted Huw to make the second ascent of a great line I'd climbed a couple of years previous with Dean Mounsey which takes an obvious line bounding the left edge of the main crag.

In 2010 I first went to Standing Crag with Tim Lofthousemaking the First Ascent of  'Stand Out' - Grade 4 - A great turfy mixed line, following an obvious groove system to the right of the main crag.

In December 2011 Dean Mounsey and myself headed back to Standing Crag on 2 separate occasions - firstly Dean made the FA of 'Stand Aside' grade 5/6 and I made the FA of 'Fine Line' grade 7/7 (summer rock route grade HVS) which are both great routes on excellent quality compact rock giving absorbing and challenging climbing.

Yesterday, Huw and I headed back to Standing crag - firstly Huw made the second ascent of 'Stand Aside' which he really enjoyed confirming the grade at 5/6.

I then wanted to try the last major line left unclimbed on the crag which takes a leftward trending flake line which gets grade VS in the summer rock climbing guide.

It's was an absorbing 60m pitch of technical and committing mixed climbing on very compact Rhyolite volcanic rock which I climbed on-sight and graded 7/7 - a great long pitch and excellent climbing which we called 'Stand Alone'


Left line - Stand Alone 7/7
Middle line - Fine Line grade 7/7
Right line - Stand Out grade 4
North Face of Standing Crag, Thirlmire, Cumbria.


Huw Davis enjoying the climbing on 'Stand Aside' - grade 5/6, Thirlmere, Cumbria

Huw Davis climbing through the more awkward middle section of 'Stand Aside' - grade 5/6, Thirlmire, Cumbria.

It's cold again today and conditions should only be getting better!

Safe climbing
Ade

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