Thursday 22 July 2010

Short Roping & Scrambling

Chris taking a direct belay on Broad Buttress

Today was Chris's mountain day. On his MIA assessment he'll have to short rope two clients up and down grade 3 scrambling terrain. This is one of the most misunderstood techniques used by mountaineering instructors and guides but offers real security to folk on steeper terrain. Chris's better half Ellen joined us which gave him the opportunity to work with three people on the rope. We headed up to St Sunday Crag, opting for the quieter Broad Buttress to the right of the classic Pinnacle Ridge. This gave us a real mountaineering route with plenty of route finding difficulties. Despite plenty of low cloud the rock was dry and we made good progress through a combination of short roping and short pitching.

'Text book' short roping on the exit slopes

Chris & Ellen topping out on St Sunday Crag.