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| "This is the finest mountain walk in the district." |
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A.W Wainwright
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Great Gable is a favourite mountain of many fell walkers and has many spectacular routes, one of the best is the South or Climbers Traverse. A narrow path climbing slowly over the southern face of Gable above the picturesque valley of Wasdale. This part of Great Gable is rightly famous, the first recorded rock climb was on Napes Needle which this route will pass just below. On a high note this is also popular amongst the dead, many people have been choosing this amazing mountain with it's stunning views as their final resting place. Other points of interest on this route will include Sphinx Rock, an often photographed viewpoint above the Wasdale Valley and the Westmorland Cairn, a spectacular viewpoint just below the summit of Great Gable. |
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| The Napes are important in the history of English rock climbing: W. P. Haskett Smith's ascent of the remarkable detached pinnacle of Napes Needle in June 1886 (now graded Hard Severe) is thought by many to mark the origins in England of rock climbing as a sport in its own right, as opposed to a necessary evil undergone by mountaineers on their way to the summit. |
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From Seathwaite we will climb alongside Taylorgill Force and follow the beck to Sty Head Tarn and the stretcher Box at Sty Head. From the stretcher box we embark onto one of the finest routes in the Lake District climbing on a small path below the crags of Kern Knotts to a good path skirting below the crags of Great Napes. Here a short detour will bring us to a fine viewpoint of Napes Needle, one of the most famous climbs and rock features in the area and a short walk away from one of the others, Sphinx Rock. The entire path has wonderful views over the Wasdale Valley and of the surrounding fells, but as we climb higher onto the summit of Westmorland Crags it is bettered by the view from the Westmorland Cairn, looking down over the Wasdale Valley to Wastwater and the Irish Sea. From the summit of Great Gable we will continue over the lower summit of Green Gable before descending over Base Brown and alongside the waterfalls of Sour Milk Gill back to Seathwaite. Each participant will be required to bring suitable equipment for their chosen event, please see Equipment Required. |
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