Pinnacle Ridge, St. Sunday Crag

The weather forecast for Saturday is excellent. It’s a bank holiday weekend. Patterdale gets busy! So meet time is 9 a.m. in front of the Patterdale Hotel.

There is a pay and display car park opposite the hotel. Last time I was in Patterdale there was also some parking occasionally open to the public at the cricket ground behind the church. I haven’t been able to establish whether this will be available on Saturday, but may be an option. Wherever you park, the meeting point is in front of the Patterdale Hotel as we will take the pleasant path from the back of the hotel through Glaramara Park.

I will be leaving Cockermouth business park at 7.45 if anyone wants a lift from there – pick-up in Keswick en route can be arranged. Contact me at judithbrown3@aol.com.

Pinnacle Ridge is a grade 3 route, mainly easy but with a short section of about diff climbing – we will have ropes available, bring a harness if you wish; tying in direct/with slings is also an option since the crux section is short and not too demanding. I propose continuing the walk to Fairfield and return via Grisedale.

What a contrast to the first time I tried to organise a club meet to Pinnacle Ridge. On that occasion we could not even see the crag through the swirling mist. This time we were blessed with gorgeous weather. An early start was rewarded with ample parking at Patterdale (despite Glenridding parking spots already being chocker). We approached via Glaramara Park, which is very pretty but doesn’t gain much height, so was followed by a taxing slog direct up the hillside where we picked up the track beneath the crag.

But Pinnacle Ridge is such a high quality scramble that it’s worth the effort – really interesting scrambling with quite exposed sections and the notorious ‘wall’ – which is often greasy, but this time was bone dry. Mark did the honours of leading this diff pitch, belaying the rest of us up it. The climbing section is followed by some gyrations along a short knife-edge arete which maintains the excitement. It was a stirling team effort, with special thanks due to the members who carried gear and helped those of us who needed a little additional assurance on the tricky sections. Such a pleasure to be part of a supportive team where the focus is on everyone having the most enjoyable day possible.

After a lunch-stop on the ridge we walked along St. Sunday Crag ridge to Fairfield, and returned via Hartsop Above How to a much-needed drink back at the Patterdale Hotel.

The scrambling team was Celia, Anne, Mike K, Mark W, Steve D, Steve P, Cath P, Judith, and new members Craig and Kevin. We were joined for the walk-in by recent member Sharon along with Libi the Lurcher.