Number in series 8; Year of publication 1914 - Fell and Rock ...

30 THE FELL AND ROCK CLIMBING CLUB JOURNAL.
friction played an important part in negotiating the next
few feet.
We had now reached the last of the sloping ledges seen
from below, which terminated in a miniature " tenniscourt
ledge." Here we held a council of war for further
upward progress seemed highly problematical. A doubtful
looking heathery ledge, descending in the reverse
direction to our route, was inspected with a view to
keeping open a " line of retreat " in case of need, not
however affording us much satisfaction.
Immediately above our heads the overhang was very
pronounced, whilst about 15 feet up on the left, a narrow
sloping " mantel-shelf " appeared to be the only means
of exit, as a very forlorn sort of hope. A good belay
would have proved acceptable here, but a leaf of rock
behind which we tried to pass the rope was not sufficiently
split from the main mass. How we longed for a narrow
strip of iron to insert behind the leaf as a belay pin ! On
a future occasion I tried this somewhat unorthodox
method when making the ascent with a large party,
and found a large nail or cold chisel, picked up in
the farmyard at Thornythwaite, to answer the purpose
admirably.
Just below the " mantel-shelf " was a " one-footsquare
" ledge, and having gained this vantage point I
could reach to clean out behind the former. (Result : a
broken pocket-knife.) After more time than I care to
confess spent here I made the next move, though not
without one or two experimnetal attempts. A rib of rock
jutting out at right angles to the main wall acted as a
steadier, and with left foot pressing against this and right
leg resting on the " mantel-shelf " I was able to reach
forward and grasp the flat top of the rib and pull up on
to it. This operation required very delicate balance, as
the " shelf " was barely six inches wide, with no holds to
speak of on the wall.