LAKES COPPERMINES MEET – OCTOBER
2008
The numbers were
falling like flies but PP was happy, originally he told us 30 places were
available. So a couple of weeks before
hand when I told him we had only got 13 people going, he was happy. Apparently 16 is the new 30, so we didn’t
have to turn anybody away from the hut.
Eventually 9 people
made it to the hut. Apart from the
walkers and one biker most of us set off to Dow Crag. Forty or so minutes later saw us at the bottom of the crag. Wow, I never been before and it’s certainly
an impressive crag. Not only is it
pretty high from bottom to top but also it is quite wide so there are lots of
routes to choose from and very little queuing to worry about.
Anyway I teamed up
with PP and we managed to jump straight on Murray’s route, which traverses
backwards and forwards over the rock through some very impressive
territory.
Back down on the
ground we spotted that Eliminate A was available and managed to jump on that
without queuing as well. This route is
well justified as being classed as one of the best VSs in the country. It carefully picks its way through various
overhangs, there’s plenty of gear when you need it so your head won’t get too
stressed if you fancy doing the route.
But once you’ve done the first two pitches you are committed to the
route because retreat would then be very problematical.
The crux is probably a
short delicate traverse along the lip of an overhang; a fall here would
certainly be exciting. Thereafter it is
a nice climb to the top up grooves and slabs.
Various other routes
were knocked off by the other teams namely Zoe & Tony and Richard &
Massa.
Back to base then
before out to the pub for scran then.
We all walked down into Coniston for food, no Massa & Richard. Various text messages directed them to the
pub a bit later.
Fortunately for us the
only rain of the weekend was at night.
Next day was the MTB
day. Tony, Zoe and Massa had arranged
to go over to Wallabarrow in the Duddon valley to get some more routes in. The rest of us set off for the Grizedale
Forest with PP leading us out. We were
meeting Mr. Ritchie at the centre there.
We topped out after a steep climb from Coniston and there eventually Richards’s
bike or at least one of the bearings gave out; you’ll have to splash some cash
Richard. Three people retired at this
point, which was a shame because the descent to the centre was a lot of fun. We met Dave at the centre, sporting a an
excellent scar from a skiing injury, cycled back-up to the top of the ridge then
bombed back down to Coniston and so back to the hut. Bloody hell it’s a long drag up to the Coppermines Hut from
Coniston.
Zoe, Tony and Massa
had a good day by all accounts anyway a brief set of photos (Two only at
present!) for you to look at.