UKC

Hi fellow climbers!

We plan a trip to Cadarese next week and we are somehow concerned about the weather. We have no experiences with granite cracks and would appreciate some advice - there is three days of rain forecasted before our arrival. Afterwards shoud be dry and sunny, but crag is in the N side. How much are granite cracks affected by rain? First hand experience from Cadarese is more than welcome.

Thank you

In reply to Klemen:

Generally, granite cracks dry out very fast because, being impermeable, all the water is on the surface and evaporates off. Only if the crack is itself a drain, with a continual supply of water from above, will it remain wet. For that to happen the crack has to be very steep, with a source of water close to the top of the crack, or it has to be a corner with drainage off the walls into the crack. In an arid spot like Cadarese (of which I have no first hand experience) you should be fine.

In reply to Klemen:

I've never been to Cadarese but, in general, Granite is not porous in the same way as Sandstone or Limestone are, so will dry extremely quickly with a bit of warmth. The only reason they might stay wet is if there is seepage down the route itself, such as significant vegetation above that releases water slowly down the route.