Carrock Fell - best bits in summer

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SA Chris

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Aug 15, 2003
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In Keswick with the fam for next week, and hoping to grab a short session or two with or without son and one medium pad. What's the best bit of it to hit to get a decent session in 5 - 6C range without too much wandering about in head high bracken getting consumed by midges? I've got of the Rockfax Guide. Thanks
 
I’ve been in summer twice on my own and found the Northern group I.E. the right hand end been, the easiest to negotiate in regard to the bracken. However I’ve always had 2 pads with me.
 
I've only been once, but in similar conditions (in summer, with small kids, 1 pad and similar grade range).

A shade harder than you've asked for but I enjoyed playing on Rouse's Wall 6C+.

Little Groove 6B was also accessible and fun.

Sorry, I don't remember much more than that, but sure some locals will be along soon.
 
In my experience anywhere further up is a bracken fest in summer so probably best avoided. If you haven't been to Carrock before, I recommend starting at the Boardman boulder. Close to the road. Shouldn't be much/any bracken to get through. Some really good problems there, especially Boardman's Arete and Rouse's Wall. And plenty other problems in that area too. As for midges, just make sure it is windy otherwise I suspect you'll get munched.
 
Yeah, first time for me. Will see if the fan will fit in the pad, helps with midges a wee bit...

Thanks for the advice guys.
 
I'll be in a similar situation but a coupla weeks later Chris ;D (although also with a keen 11 yr old climber in tow..)
 
Intended to have an afternoon at CF, left Keswick in sunshine and dry, got cloudier as I got closer to boulders, and first raindrops fell as I loaded pads on back and slammed van door. At first, it was light enough that I could get one or two probs done, but after doing Boardman's Arete and having a wobble on the upper slabby bit, sat under the overhang, tried a few moves on McHaffie's Crack, but could barely pull on and the stream underneath the boulder started soaking pads, sacked it off and drove back to Keswick where it was sunny again, and only started raining a bit in the early evening.
 
I was gutted. After the Sunday washout (King Kong Wall saved the day) it was just about the only significant rain we saw all week.
 
Glad you made it out, but sorry you didn't have the best time. Fickle lakes weather, I guess. Ironically I've found Carrock is often dry when it's raining in the rest of the lakes. Hopefully you make it back at some point. It's got some genuinely fantastic bouldering.
 
JamieG said:
Hopefully you make it back at some point. It's got some genuinely fantastic bouldering.

Definitely, and if there’s any chance of it not being in summer then so much the better. I consider Carrock similar to grit in terms of the conditions for decent nick there. Plenty of other lakes venues are less conditions dependent.
 
Yeah, what i saw looked really good, been on my wishlist forever. We also went on a walk to Fleswick Bay, which is a nice spot too, but it was seeping too much to have any more than a play on a few things. Lovely spot though. Will try and get back, we can get to Keswick in about 4:20, similar to Reiff and much easier driving.
 

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