Page 43 - 2018 AMA Winter

more challenging E-grades, this crag has something to challenge all climbers.
As the climbers went vertical, the scramblers went diagonally. With John Hoban leading the way, Mark pushed his scrambling prowess to new levels tackling some tasty grade 2 routes over a long Saturday and shorter Sunday. The first route took them up and over Cam Crag Ridge in Langstrath, an area offering many of the Lake District’s most popular scrambles. For those breaking into grade 2 scrambling, this is an excellent starter route with few difficulties. With the summit achieved, a short sharp descent handrailing Combe Gill took them back into Borrowdale and the base of Dovenest Crag. This final scramble was to prove the highlight of the weekend, unexpected in its challenge and uniqueness, and highly recommended. The chosen route was Attic Cave which, under normal cir- cumstances, could easily go unnoticed. But now you know. This is a route that is deserving of your full attention. It winds its way through, up and over rock – under chock stones – and at its crux, through a very narrow and steep passageway into the cave itself. Better still, as there is no vertical exit, you get to experience it all again in descent. This concluded a long day in the Sun for the scramblers (some 71⁄2 hours) who still managed to beat the climbers back to the White Horse Bunkhouse in Scales. As the climbers slowly drifted back (just) in time for last dinner orders, Mark was tucking into a
hearty meal of lamb shank and a pint of the Lake’s finest ale.
TocompletethestoryoftheLake’smeet, the scramblers’ final day took them to Raven’s Crag in Yewdale for a short, sharp scramble of about 150m ascent to a cairn near the culminating ridge. This is another route that provides considerable interest and satisfaction for those progressing to grade 2 or who simply want to tackle some challenging sections on near vertical rock. The scramble is over quickly and its easy access from the roadside make it a great half-day route.
This meet was exactly where the AMA should be. It provided opportunities and ‘mountaineering for all’, developing novices and giving instructors the freedom to build their own instructional and climbing competencies in preparation for assessment – for the good and benefit of the individual, Association and Army. This would not be possible if not for the time
and effort of the dedicated few who make these meets happen. Ryan has done a sterling job as our Meets Coordinator often delivering the programme single-hand- edly. It is only right that I thank him for the support he has given me with the meets I’ve organised – cheers mate! I also find it reassuring to see more members of our Association come forward to organise events often in new and interesting places. I encourage more of you to do so. This year’s meets programme has been excellent because of the collective effort of our broad membership.
“Yet more and more people are turning to the hills; they find something in these wild places that can be found nowhere else. It may be solace for some, satisfaction for others: the joy of exercising muscles that modern ways of living have cramped, perhaps; or a balm for jangled nerves in the solitude and silence of the peaks; or escape from the clamour and tumult of everyday existence” (Arthur Wainwright).
John scrambling on Ravens Crag, Yewdale
Scrambling Ravens Crag
Jon on Troutdale Pike
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Ravens Crag in Yewdale