New Runs

[robbeale]

Having 4 days off a week gives me plenty of time to paddle and climb, but when the crags are damp and theres not enough water i like to check out potential new runs! I have plenty to keep me going in the Winter but was wondering if anyone knew if anyone has paddled Randale Beck and Riggindale Beck near Haweswater. I was there today and Randale beck especially looked awesome!
I'm not concerned about getting a 1st descent, so if it's in condition, get up there and take a load of photos! But the first day it is up i'll be there anyway!
Anyone else got any ideas for new runs or are they all top secret!!

[ned]

Not had a look myself, but louis has mentioned them before. Always worth asking stu miller about such matters though!
Rydal beck is screaming to get done, but needs a load of water to be possible and is going to be pushy (paddy cave and friends have been working it for while and have done one of the big drops - vid clip as part of the rainchasers movie comp gallery) . Top of the troutbeck looks more hassle than its worth but someone needs to go and do it sometime. I d really like to get the full run of crosby done again. I'm not sure if anyone has been up to run the first hard section?
Has anyone been up to the Esk waterfalls and tried the whole section yet?
Also was up in Wasdale during the summer and the gorge on over beck just might go - again it will be pushy though and need water to open up the lines!
There seems to be a fair bit still left to do further east as well.
People can get funny as doing new run usually takes time and effort - scouting in low water, clearing trees, trying different water levels etc. So if you know someone is on a project, its worth giving them a nod.

[robbeale]

I spoke to paddy and he said they'd now done all of Rydal. At least, they walked up as far as they felt worth it! I also had a look at the waterfalls on Measand Beck. They look ace. There's something about exploration by boat, it's addictive!
Has Stuart got a site, if not get him on here!!
Would Louis mind if i went and did the Haweswater ones?http://photos-901.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v80/195/71/509558901/n509558901_70050_8216.jpg


http://photos-901.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v80/195/71/509558901/n509558901_70049_7959.jpg
Photos of Randale Beck, low water obviously!

[ned]

Louis only looked at them from a way off when walking with a group so i dont think he can have any real claim. Besides he is sunning himself in Austria! Go for it. Give us a shout if your going up.
Good effort on rydal.
I'll see if stu has picked this place up yet when i next speak to him.

[robbeale]

If this rain keeps up, i'll be there on Monday! I'll borrow a decent camera aswell so the pics should be ok. Its a gamble though because it takes a while to get there, so if we go and they're not up, it's a day wasted!

[steve ed]

I will be up for some mid week exploring most days i can be finished early afternoon

[robbeale]

Sounds good steve. PM'd you my number!

[robbeale]

I popped up to Haweswater today during my split shift from work, not enough water flowing down yet,will be there on Monday defo though!!

[Poke]

Just looked back at this old thread..
Did anyone manage to get out and explore some of these runs in the end?

[callwild]

Cheers Tim resurrected.
I notice this now which I had misssed

I spoke to paddy and he said they'd now done all of Rydal.

interesting , does that mean the big chockstone fall has been run?
and the gorge below it has some nasty rocks unless pumping!!

[Jonny Briggs]

Has anyone checked out Sourmilk Gill coming out of Easedale Tarn above Grasmere?

[ned]

I went up sour milk a while ago and though it had some masochistic potential but others seemed to disagree.

sour grapes I thought ;)!

[callwild]

yep I'm one that agrees to disagree about sourmilk Ghyll.
At the top where there is a reasonable gradient it is too bouldery which i dont think would ever be covered. The steep main fall is over 100 ft with many ledges and no pools.
http://www.tintdude.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/trust.gif

Possible from the base along valley floor to Grasmere, http://www.tintdude.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/dunno.gif

[Rick]

Has anyone checked out Glenridding beck, higher up than the ussual put in by the youth hostel?

Each year we stay at the Youth Hostel, ussually bash down the Beck, was stonking last year, end of world was insanely nuts. So we checked out higher up aswel.

There is actually quit a bit of interest up above the ussual put in. One paticular interesting drop, a 20 foot freefall into a deep big plunge pool against a wall. Possiby one of the smoothest drops in the area. Other than that, there is lots of grade 3, a few Grade 4 slots and slides, was a bit pinny. Some sections were extremely full on and steep. You can inspect everything on the walk up. We put in about 500m below a brick bridge/dam looking structure. We portaged a Dam lower down aswel which is directly infront of the Youth Hostel. Looked dirty and canyoned in and running through a tree.

It's a long walk up, but certainly worth it if the rest of the Beck lower down looks 'epic'.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/rick_atkinson/Untitled-1-1.jpg

Anyone else checked out up there?

[callwild]

Yeah I've looked often enough and all looks good down to the dam. Never done it yet.
What about the big fall behind YHA ? First few drops below dam looked blocked but the big one maybe!!

[Rick]

Yeah I've looked often enough and all looks good down to the dam. Never done it yet.
What about the big fall behind YHA ? First few drops below dam looked blocked but the big one maybe!!

Do you mean the beck which runs down from the mines or just the biggish drop directly infront of the YHA?

If it is the one directly infront of it...

The one under the bridge, just above the YHA went quite easy, alot of buming and grinding of rocks, and in low water, it looks very dirty. The exit drop is a bit of a boulder choke. Went easy in high water though.

The dam and just infront of the YHA:

We scouted it alot when we were there (high, high water) the actual fall from the dam didn't look out of the question, landing into a narrow, but deep plunge pool, and riding the rock high river left would have been the line, and trying tog et some speed before going over the dam. Over rotation or fudgin up would have meant A+E though! I'd imagine the higher it is, the easier it would go. The drop lower down, number 2, would have gone easy enough, however, there was a tree/bush on the entry lip, maing things hard/sketchy! It lands in a big enough plunge pool. Then the third fall was a dog leg/chicane type drop, was very chunky and falling back on your self from the river right wall, would have gone,

Portaging the one directly out of the dam, then running the other two would probably be the wisest option if you wanted t bag the other two. It would mean climbing gear and ropes would be needed though. All easy enough to inspect, good footpaths and no hassle of anyone.

Not that you'll need telling but safety would be hard, as it's canyoned in nature with high walls. We decided to portage. A) the light was going and we wanted to get down the rest of the Beck. b) safety c) our balls wern't big enough that day.

Were back up in March, first weekend, will get some pictures, hopefully, we'll have the same levels as last year.