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The Crack, Gimmer Crag

By Hugh Stewart June 10, 2018 Leave a Comment

A classic climb dating from between the wars. Its co-protagonist Graham Macphee commented on the staging of hard climbs as time goes by, ” An inaccessible crack- The most difficult climb in the Lake District –  An easy day for an undergraduate” . This climb shows clearly that with ageing this works in reverse in just 14 years. Well almost, it was never easy.

Well my first guidebook graded the three pitches 4b,4c, 4c, so even if you don’t understand what that relates to, it means the first pitch is technically easier. I seconded this in 2004 and thought it was the hardest bit, teetering across a wall with a polished foothold down and along, and a sideways jump to the next handhold. It is now graded 4c, and was not the hardest bit on a recent outing on our decent dry June weather, which I next thought was the second pitch, an upward diagonal traverse on a good foot crack with no handholds. OK if you have good balance. I don’t, particularly, and age has obviously not helped as this was remembered as fine. The hardest that is, until the crux on the final pitch, which I fell off, probably as the left foot slipped, annoying as I’d changed the right boot due to wear (see post Holy Tree Corner), but kept the left! Need I say I was seconding? Now this is 9.30pm a long way up from the ODG hotel and the last drink, usually called somewhat before 11pm, so I unashamedly pulled on a long abandoned piece of gear,  to get up this grunt, and the long up along and down descent past where the late evening sheep had been seen hoovering the vegetation on the opposing spur. Ian was dispatched down at the Mickleden track to run for last orders, looking like a training squaddie with his son’s military rucsac full of the gear and two ropes – I still have a bad knee, and I’m sticking to that – which he managed, bless him.

Boots worn, and boot worn on right! see Holly tree Crack post
The last pitch, between the stars. Photo: Ian Chadwick

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Hillwalks from the Settle to Carlisle Railway Stations

24 walks into the hills surrounding the historic and iconic Settle to Carlisle railway, based on the stations between Settle and Appleby. The area has some of the finest walking of the north Pennines: the Craven district around Settle; the Three Peaks area; Dentdale, and Mallerstang and the upper Eden valley.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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Mountain Biking Adventures: Multi-day Routes in Northern Britain

Over the last two decades, mountain biking has developed enormously as a “sport”. We greatly admire the technical and athletic capabilities of modern day mountain bikers and recognise that many excellent guides have been written and custom-built trails set up. In this guide we try to reopen a sense of adventure and wilderness to mountain biking, providing multi-day routes with a remoteness, continuity and “arc” missing from many modern guides with their focus on day and half day outings.

UK £13.95 ( inc. P&P)

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Settle to Carlisle – Hill Walk with Return by Classic Train Route

With over 22,000 ft of ascent in 105 miles set out over 8 days, this walk sets out from Settle, taking in the classic summits of the North Yorkshire Dales, Howgills, Eastern and Northern Lakeland Fells, to arrive at Carlisle. The return journey to Settle by one of the classic train journeys. Illustrated with photographs and route maps.

£12.95 (P&P may apply)

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Malham Tarn and More

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The middle Pap of Jura – Bienn an Oir

This route has been written about many times, but as we disagree with the Cicerone guide's recommended route and this was the first eight mile plus mountain walk I'd done in 18 months, we thought it worth a celebratory shout. Why just the middle Pap? Because it's the easiest as you might imagine,

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