Yew Crag Knotts Zorro Buttress

Tuesdays venue is Yew Crags / Maidstone Buttress. The weather forecast looks dry in the afternoon, (some disagreement between forecasters) and its a fast drying south-west facing crag so this meet is currently on, but I will keep an eye on the forecast!

Yew crags consists of several buttresses about 15mins walk from the Honister pass road in Buttermere. Parking is roadside. Climbs on the crags start with the odd climbs D to S, and starred routes are from HS to E2. Zorro Buttress (25mins walk) is slightly further along and higher on the hillside, this has starred climbs HVS-E2.

Maidstone buttress is also 15mins walk from the road slightly closer still to the head of the valley, with routes in the VS-E2 range.

I intend to be leaving Cockermouth area at around 2.30 – (I could meet people at Low Lorton at 2.40, by the bus stop, plenty of parking) with a view to be at the parking in Honister at around 3.15pm. I will head initially to the Yew Crag Knotts area.

As the crag has slightly dispersed buttresses please let me know if you are going to be there and which buttress you are heading to. If new to the club, or on your own, please come and find me. Although better still organise lift shares and arrive together!

A potentially rain threatened meet turned into a good evening of climbing for those who took the risk to travel. All climbing was on Maidenstone Buttress, purely as it seemed the easiest to walk to from where the first car was parked and there was enough good climbing to keep the small KMC team happy. The rock was dry and rough, the rain held off despite the dark clouds banking through out on the High Stile /Red Pike ridge and with the sun breaking through the views were frequently superb.

All climbs on the buttress were completed, except for the bold looking E2 Maidens Cheek which despite much inspection no one plucked up the courage (was stupid enough) to try. Climb of the evening has to go to Anne, proving she can lead HVS.

The Team headed to the Bridge Inn for refreshment but as it was closed so we continued to the Fish (Buttermere Court Hotel if you must) only to find that they had called last orders (some time before 9.45!) so were forced to the backup plan of the Wheatsheaf Inn at Lorton, except it was also deserted… So all headed home into the glorious sunset, happy but thirsty.