There is a group going to recce the route off Sca Fell to Sca Fell Pike (anticlockwise BG). Does anyone know what the best alternative is to Broad Stand i.e. Foxes tarn or Lords Rake?
There is a group going to recce the route off Sca Fell to Sca Fell Pike (anticlockwise BG). Does anyone know what the best alternative is to Broad Stand i.e. Foxes tarn or Lords Rake?
Martin,Originally Posted by martin
on John Fleetwood's winter BG we used a route that went between Foxes Tarn and Scafell East Buttress, due to ice on Broad Stand. This worked well. Hard to explain from the top, probably best for reccy to go up the route first from Mickledore.
Drop down from Mickledore, not too far, then find a trod (climber's?) that hugs the base of the impressive East buttress. Once past the buttress work upwards on grassy rakes and trods, you'll see Foxes Tarn over to the left and below.
Hope that makes sense, can't comment on Lords Rake as only done this and Broad Stand.
Cheers, Ali.
Well Lords Rake is shorter nad has 150' less climbing than Foxes Tarn, but Foxes Tarn has a far lesser chance of being crushed to death by a large boulder. The stonefall hazard in Lord's Rake is just not worth it IMHO.
I ran from Scafell PIke to Scafell on Sunday (as part of a 3 day training-BGR in wonderful weather) via Foxes Tarn and it cost me about 12 mins, i.e. i was 12 mins slower than going via broad stand.
Enjoy your run!
ST
Here's the link showing how to get up Broad Stand
And another link for Bob Graham athletes.
Some good pics of Lords Rake as well.
Thanks for the replies. I was hoping Lords Rake would have been a bit more stable this year.
Well i did see some people on it on sunday, but i didn;t fancy my chances. It might just be me being a bit overcautious.
We were there on Saturday but we didn't fancy the solo up Broad Stand given the amount of Ice still on the slabs and in the gully. We reckoned if there was more than one person waiting for a rope then either way would be quicker than waiting.
As i went by on SUnday, there was a group waiting to go up. The chap who went up first was ok, but as i watched from the safety of Mickledore, the second person slipped and was well held, but flippin eck it was a bit of a moment. I've gone up there unroped easily enough before, but i gave it a wide berth on sunday.
Wonder how i'll be there after 12 hours on the go?!
ST
We once had a "race" from the top of Scafell to Mickledore. The route described by Ali in post 52 via Foxes Tarn/traverse under Scafell East Buttress was actually very slightly faster than via Broad Stand. Certainly if Broad Stand is wet or icy I would always go down via Foxes Tarn/East Buttress traverse.
I would never entertain the possibility of going down Deep Ghyll/Lords Rake. It is very slow because of loose rock which makes it also very unsafe. We did try it recently and it was at least 10 mins slower than the other 2 options.
On a clockwise round (which I would always recommend) Broad Stand is definitely the quickest provided you (and your pacer) are confident on rock and it isn't wet. Even if you rope up it can still be quicker.
I fully intend to be tied on before two burly blokes pull me up without my having to expend any effort.
I'd be very interested in finding the route Ali describes, it sounds like a shorter version of the foxes tarn diversion and will check it out on my next (clockwise) recce. If i find it, i'll take some photos and pop some lines on them before posting them.
ST
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