Our trip to Greatend Crag in Borrowdale to tick a few routes after work and to kick off the weekend early wasn’t a good one! Greatend crag has to be the dirtiest crag in Borrowdale – and that’s after the wonderful dry weather we’ve had. Don’t go there, let the crag go back to nature. Either that or someone needs to pour a bottle of weed killer down it…
I visited this crag for the first time one evening last year, and had a brilliant time on Banzai Pipeline E1 5a,5b,5a,5a. It was totally clean and I reckon the best E1 in Borrowdale (better than Praying Mantis, Raindrop, Dedication, Aaros, The Bludgeon etc to name a few local classics IMHO). I can’t believe its not in the FRCC Selected guide. I haven’t tried any others but hope to return for No Holds Barred one evening soon. The impression i get from others is that the RH side is far more vegetated than the Left side. Its a 20 min walk -in, now go back and tell me you don’t like Banzai Pipeline!
Hmm, well that’s your view…
I’ve climbed most of those routes, and I reckon this is one of the worst E1s in Borrowdale – certainly the worst one with stars in the guidebook.
It takes all sorts and all views – the world is far richer for them! 🙂
friday started cleaning greatend corner, after 4 hours on the route got down to the first pitch head, will go back and finish cleaning this coming week. I did banzai pipeline in the early 80’s fantastic 4 star route, but the corner was too veg. at the time – so i’m looking forward to it this summer, its an increadible line.
Hey Mandy, after you’ve finished maybe it’ll be worth a return trip! Let us know how it goes…