Wasdale

[geronimo]

i managed to finish this for the first time but no certificate. perhaps i was too slow?

[L.F.F.]

i managed to finish this for the first time but no certificate. perhaps i was too slow?

Oh dear. Hopefully it's on it's way.

[vespa]

I see that lords rake has taken another bod this week is this still a good way to go on my bgr i ask myself and was this person a runner ?

[Splatcher]

I see that lords rake has taken another bod this week is this still a good way to go on my bgr i ask myself and was this person a runner ?

If the reports I read are correct the fall was not on the BG route, but that's not really relevant. What is, is that it was icy. Anywhere above steep slopes or cliffs is intrinsically dangerous anyway. If there's ice about it's a lot more dangerous. But...if you understand the dangers & can turn back if you have to, then you can face those dangers & make rational decisions & generally stay safe. If you're not sure about Lord's Rake then investigate it from below in good weather. If you do that & are still not sure, investigate the Foxes Tarn route - again, beforehand in good weather. It's not whether you're a runner that matters, it's whether you understand the dangers & how to manage them. If in doubt, don't do it.

[vespa]

hi andy i am in the lucky position to have 2 rock climbers on my crew who will take ropes up if need be but as this area has been closed off before and there may or may not of been movement by the time we get there i also need to take into cosideration my nav and pacers foxes tarn may be the answer, as to turn back yes for sure its all about knowing your ability and the ability of those with you, i was just curious whether this person was a runner as they said on news they mentioned the right equipent with having forces background I probably understand condition and dangers better than a lot of others i will reccie again in better weather

[Splatcher]

Understood. Ropes wouldn't help to make Lord's Rake safe from rockfall. If that chockstone goes, so do you. It's unlikely to happen when anyone's under it though - you turn up the WWT just before you get to it. If it's icy then personally I wouldn't go that way on my BG - I did when recceing, but I could afford to turn back if necessary. As it happened the ice on my recce (last winter) was only a hazard on the exit from the WWT, i.e. the fall risked wasn't a long one, & I got up without problems.

My guess, & it's only a guess, is that the fall was from further along the Rake, beyond the chockstone, which is an alternative way up. The route crosses Red Gill & I seem to remember there's a steep slope down to your right which could be pretty dangerous if iced up. The reports refer to the fall being from "above Red Gill" though, so it could have been from the summit plateau, i.e. nothing to do with Lord's Rake at all.

[Martyn P]

Understood. Ropes wouldn't help to make Lord's Rake safe from rockfall. If that chockstone goes, so do you. It's unlikely to happen when anyone's under it though - you turn up the WWT just before you get to it. If it's icy then personally I wouldn't go that way on my BG - I did when recceing, but I could afford to turn back if necessary. As it happened the ice on my recce (last winter) was only a hazard on the exit from the WWT, i.e. the fall risked wasn't a long one, & I got up without problems.

My guess, & it's only a guess, is that the fall was from further along the Rake, beyond the chockstone, which is an alternative way up. The route crosses Red Gill & I seem to remember there's a steep slope down to your right which could be pretty dangerous if iced up. The reports refer to the fall being from "above Red Gill" though, so it could have been from the summit plateau, i.e. nothing to do with Lord's Rake at all.

My thoughts exactly Andy. I got caught in a snow storm on the Rake earlier this year and took cover in Red Gill, there is a climbable (but seriously not recommended) chimney to right as you go up it and that brings you out just below the summit plateau. It sounds like that was where the fall was from, meaning there must have been some pretty dreadful ice about.

[Hank]

On my round at the end of April this year there was a decent frost/icing over the rocks from Bowfell onwards. Thankfully it hadn't been particularly wet beforehand, though it was a pretty slippy in places. Lords Rake and the majority of WWT was fine but, as Splatcher mentioned above, the exit to the summit plateau was iced up and has the potential to be a little tricky. I'm guessing such conditions could be found on in to May if the weather's cold. Worth bearing in mind.

I always stay well right when going up Lords Rake as I'm sure it's possible most of the way up to take shelter on that side from a rock-fall as you can get out of the "chute". Whilst I don't think the chockstone's going anywhere anytime soon, I make sure to cross the rake and get out on to WWT as quickly as possible!

[L.F.F.]

Well that's the campsite booked.

Now just got to get entry to the race itself...

Not long now.

[Corniceman]

Can anyone clarify how you enter Wasdale this year. I have looked at CFR website but it doesn't seem to say either postal entries or online entries. I have also looked at Sportsident but it doesn't list Wasdale as one of its events. Sorry if I am missing the obvious?