Are people really going via Lords Rake? Or is http://www.wasdaleweb.co.uk/news.html overstating how dangerous it is at the moment?Originally Posted by daz h
Lord's Rake
Are people really going via Lords Rake? Or is http://www.wasdaleweb.co.uk/news.html overstating how dangerous it is at the moment?
The current state can be seen here and in the subsequent pictures.
Biriani for endurance, pathia for speed.
I went round by Lord's Rake last summer when supporting a round. The lower part of the rake is just as horrible as it's always (since the 1970s at least) been. The boulder at the top appears to be fairly stable at the moment as does the landslip at the start of the West Wall Traverse but I don't think anyone is taking precise measurements to verify this one way or the other.
If/when either landslip or rock do finally succumb then I doubt if being in Lord's Rake would be survivable as there's simply nowhere to hide.
Bob
http://bobwightman.co.uk/run/bob_graham.php
Without me you'd be one place nearer the back
Would it not make sence to try and set the landslide off now rather than risking someone being in the rake and getting killed?
The same thing occurred to us on Saturday as we made our way up SF.
Perhaps Wasdale MRT could rope it of and set all the loose stuff rolling.
Why not put a fixed ladder on Broad Stand?
Ha ha! Had you going then didn't I!
But......interms of safety, which is most important in all involved with Broad Stand, would it not actually be a good idea?
Last edited by Al Fowler; 29-06-2010 at 11:52 AM.
Actually the reverse tends to be true: if there is fixed equipment that gives the impression of reduced risk you will get many more people attempting to try it who would otherwise self-regulate their behaviour because their skill set wasn't up to it. This leads to more accidents not less as the level of awareness about risks is reduced - "there's fixed gear/ladders/etc so it must be safe". Then there is the issue of who maintains the fixed items - what happens if it is damaged and someone is injured before anyone can repair the damage?
The current situation is self-regulating in that the difficulties and risks are well known and there are (two) alternatives. Last year persons unknown placed a couple of bolts on Broad Stand for whatever reason. These were removed by the leader of Wasdale MRT partly for the reasons I mention above but also that Broad Stand is the oldest recorded rock climb in Britain and the bolts were seen as an act of vandalism.
We can't make everything "safe" for everyone, it is up to everyone to assess the risks for themselves. That assessment includes recognising one's own weaknesses not just the difficulties of the ground.
Bob
http://bobwightman.co.uk/run/bob_graham.php
Without me you'd be one place nearer the back
Joe id say its no more difficult than chrome hill, thats rocky
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