UKC

Hello

Anyone done skeleton ridge on the Isle of Wight?? I ask as my friends and I are hoping to make an ascent this summer. I am specifically after info on gear people have used and how to approach the base of the route.

cheers!

In reply to MattG: bump

In reply to MattG: Theres a picture of that girl "rockstar" I think her user name is, climbing it, she has a profile on here, you could mail her?

In reply to MattG: Approach is a 300ft abseil from a piece of scaffold pole in the moat of the Needles Battery. Then walk/scramble along the beach. Low tide required.

In reply to Paddy Duncan: cheers everyone

In reply to MattG: Would love to join you. All my climbing partners think it's strictly for nutters.

In reply to Paddy Duncan: I am not sure when I am going, also would need to check with my mate who I am going with, I'll let you know if anything looks feasible. I have had it recommended to me that all people on the route can lead more than HVS,

In reply to MattG:

a brilliant day out!!! do it...

I'd recommend all climbers can lead HVS, seem to remember there being a few in-situ campicescrews and pegs - but the belay above the 'crux' was pretty sparse - determined by the strengh of your thighs against the ridge... great fun!

I remember finding the chalk surprisingly solid - placed a few friends in the cracks and the odd peg - but beware of the flints - we had a few foot holds go..

Take lots of slings for spike runners.
We climbed in rock shoes. We had problems on the first pitch as it was so slimey... had to wade out during low tide ...

Had 3x50m ropes tied together for the abseil - it was recommended to us to leave the ab-rope there with jumars/prussiks in place 'just in case' - I think that's a good idea.

Whatever you do don't forget the camera!!

In reply to Si V:

Ian Parnell wrote an entertaining article about this route and some other adventures in 'Climber' a year or two ago. Well worth reading if you've not done so already. This route should be on the list for anyone with an ounce of adventure in them. It's a terrific, unique, experience. The approach, with ferry crossing, obligatory Isle of Wight tea shoppe and bus rides through 1950's villages is all part of the fun.

The abseil is about 70m from a stake in the moat of the battery to the beach on the south side of the ridge. It's not steep ground and there are plenty of ledges so getting past the knot is fairly easy. The foot of the route is often wave-swept so low tide and a calm sea are advisable. Tide times are on the climbers club website. You can traverse just above the sea level to the start if the waves are not too big. We also found the most useful items of gear were very long (16') slings for pinnacles on the ridge. A few long pegs and a warthog or two are very useful. Conventional pro. is only occasionally helpful. I can't think of any Friend placements. Don't forget to let the coastguard know what you're up to and have fun.

In reply to MattG:
what grade does it get, and how long does it typically take?