UKC

'Not in this life' at Anglezarke quarry has a black dot next to it (where stars are usually given)

Can anyone tell me what this signifies? Have looked in the guide but can't find any mention of it

In reply to goose299:

The dreaded black spot - which is used to indicate climbs where the rock is particularly loose or unstable.

E

In reply to Enty: It's mentioned on page 20 under 'Other Route Information'.

In reply to goose299:
Cheers guys. And al, I mustn't have looked hard enough. Thank god for ukc

In reply to goose299:

Your welcome.
G

In reply to goose299:

Not to be confused with the dreaded "dagger".

E

In reply to GOD:
HA HA epic

In reply to GOD:


I'm going to await the first pedant who tries to question divine infallibility.

In reply to goose299:

The Black Spot - signifies a route of such awfulness its presence in the guidebook is only there to warn potential new routers away from its environs should they otherwise think there's a "gap" between two routes.

On an historical note: the black spot was used as it's the nearest symbol to the shape of Almscliff that is found in old typeset.

ALC

In reply to a lakeland climber:


Almscliffe, hmm... what can we say? 'The moves are so easy; it's just making them that's so hard.'

Mick

In reply to goose299:

It was a printing error and was meant to appear next to all Lancashire routes.

In reply to Bulls Crack:

Oi! Many of the 1 and 2 star routes in Lancashire would get 3 stars at Gogarth.

In reply to Calder:

4 stars in The Peak.

E

In reply to Enty:

Damn straight.

In reply to Calder:

But no stars at Horseshoe Quarry

In reply to a lakeland climber:


On a slightly more true historical note, the black spot was used because when I asked the printers for skull and crossbones, they couldn't do it.

Phil

In reply to goose299:
Going slightly off tangent, has anyone got a copy of both 'the brick' and the new 'slimmed' down version of Lancashire rock.
I'd love to see a picture showing the difference in size. I think the new slim version is still rather hefty so imagine the brick to be huuuuge

In reply to goose299: The Lancashire Brick is about half as thick again and a bit bigger than the original On Peak Rock.

In reply to ByEek:
I've never seen a copy of On Peak Rock either

In reply to ByEek:

And has its own bouldering

In reply to goose299: I've posted a picture as soon as the mods ok it I'll post on here.

In reply to Al Evans:
Cheers

In reply to Al Evans:
done

In reply to Toreador:
Bloody hell!! You'd need to employ a sherpa to carry it for you

In reply to Toreador: Actually Toreador, that has to be a record for the photo mods

In reply to BlownAway:


Great idea, Phil. What a pity they couldn't do it. A black spot is good - but a skull and crossbones would be far better (and somehow strangely enticing)!

Mick

In reply to BlownAway: The black spot is a historical concept, first time I ever heard it mentioned was by Les Ainsworth at a Lancs guide meeting in the early 70's (or late 60s), who proposed a whole set of black blobs just like the star system, it was several years before his futuristic vision came about, though we had some good debates what routes should get black blobs and how many . I think one of my routes, Hari Kiri at Trowbarrow won that particular debate being awarded 3+ black blobs

In reply to Al Evans:
i just happened to read this thread at the right time and popped over to the photo mod page

In reply to Al Evans and Mick Ward:

Hi Al

Did Les actually use the black spot? I thought he hadn't, although Kari Kiri would certainly warrant one! I remember looking at it with Cronners, shaking our heads and walking away.

We definitely introduced the dagger symbols into Lancashire I think; mainly for the harder unrepeated routes (I suppose they were kind of a status symbol in a way) but also for those of a 'dubious' nature as well.

Hi Mick

It was more a "wouldn't" actually. They thought the skull and crossbones idea to be a tad too avante garde for the times.

Phil

In reply to BlownAway:

Just checked my guides: the 1979 and 1983 editions don't have a black spot for Hari Kiri and the brick doesn't describe the route at all but there are three routes in that area with a black spot next to their name. I don't have the 1987 edition.

There's no mention in the two earlier guides about a black spot, only in the brick.

ALC

In reply to a lakeland climber:


There is in the 87(?) guide.

In reply to BlownAway: Yes and Hari Kiri is in there with a resounding black spot. With a very humorous description I may add