Raven Crag, ODG, Langdale – update from Max Biden

The new abseil slings above and to the right of the crag summit (above the Split Blocks descent) have now been replaced with a plastic-coated wire strop and maillon. The abseil is down the line of the rock rake and wet corner below, better to keep to the left (facing in). It can be done on a single 50m rope (if equalised carefully) but double ropes allow one to descend slightly farther and then be able to move away from the base to make pulling the ropes easier.

There is an old in-situ abseil point in a small cave to the left of the finish of Evening Wall but this is not recommended, as it requires a very exposed traverse on steep grass (no path) above a large drop to reach it.

The Split Blocks descent can still be done but is now even more exposed than it used to be before the oak tree and supporting rock fell away in August. Although that rockfall has not changed the grade of any climb beneath it, the remaining debris and suspect blocks are a good reason not to spend any more time than necessary below this part of the crag (Bilberry Buttress to Kneewrecker Chimney).