Route Feedback: The Duddon Delivers
Posted by: Al Phizacklea, 22.04.2024 I agree with Rick that this is a two star route. However I do not agree with the grade, it’s a full on HVS.
Areas
- Borrowdale
- Buttermere
- Coppermines
- Dow Crag
- Duddon Valley
- Birk's Bridge Crag
- Brandy Crag West
- Browside Crag
- Cheeky Wall
- Cockley Beck Area
- Crag Band
- Far How West
- Foss How Crag
- Foss How North West
- Gaitkins
- Grassguards Buttress
- Green How
- High Close
- High Close West face.
- Horse How
- Lickle Crag
- Little Blake Rigg
- Little Stand
- Long Crag
- Pen
- Seathwaite Tarn Area
- Stonestar South
- Sunny Pike
- Tongue House North Buttress
- Tongue House Slab
- Tongue House Wood
- Tower of flints
- Upper Buck Slab
- Upper Horse
- Upper Stonythwaite Crag
- Eastern Crags
- Eden Valley
- Ennerdale
- Eskdale
- Gable
- Langdale
- Newlands
- Scafell & Wasdale
- Slate
- South Lakes
- St Bees
- Western Outcrops
- Winter Climbs
Click these links to see an archive of all articles, new routes, etc. for the named area.
I agree with Al, and I’m glad that he has posted this comment!
I was really keyed up to lead this route last summer, but eventually chose to retreat after the initial traverse.
The move following the traverse seemed way too hard and bold to be a VS, and after trying it a few times I came back down.
It was a pity because I had this on my tick list for a year and was so looking forward to it, inspired by Rick’s glowing write-up in the new Duddon guide.
(I had just lead Banshees on the same crag, a super route and a solid VS as stated in the guide.)
I hope Duddon Delivers gets upgraded and receives the attention it deserves, as it does look a good route.
Let’s hope that Crag Band sees more suitors as it is a super crag with much to offer climbers of all grades.
Sorry you had a ‘mare, Mike.
As I wrote in my favourite 5 routes piece, the day was quite wet and very cold. Hard to grade accurately in such conditions. I recall some good but perhaps slightly obscure gear to protect gaining the main crack, which is well equipped with holds and runners.
I agree with the above at full on HVS,the runners were slings draped on obscure placements.Route recleaned and possible to pull straight up on good handholds
But lacking much for the feet.
I like draping slings on obscure features but I think you missed the half nut just before the crux. What I cannot get my head around is why after borrowing my jacket and gloves to belay on a cold wet windy autumn day , you thought it was VS to second, yet HVS to lead on a warm midsummer day 🙂
Or is it just the usual sandbagging game 🙂
There is an excellent skyhook on the crux. But only an idiot carries one of those.