UKC

Hi,

Had a climbing course running this weekend. The instructor working did V-Corner on Helvellyn on Saturday. Due to suspect snow conditions he decided to abb off the route rather than top out up the exit slopes. If anyone finds gear left behind on the route could you please get in touch, would be great to get it back. I have a list of what was left behind to confirm, various hexes and wires, petzl sling etc.

[email protected]

Thanks, Paddy.

In reply to paddy cave:

Winter climbing course in suspect snow on Helvellyn ?

In reply to GrahamD:

Winter climbing course teaching how to AVOID suspect snow on Helvellyn!

Conditions became suspect as day went on, instructor reacted accordingly and abbed off, good stuff to learn about I'd have thought!

Would that be the instructor who took the 20m fall when he was avalanched off? We spoke to two guys at the Youth hostel car park who'd left gear behind when they'd had to ab off.

We climbed in Brown Cove, as we considered the conditions to be a little volatile and a spindrift avalanche, half-way up our climb confirmed this so we promptly bailed out! A very good training exercise, but we knew what we were going in there to do - we'd gone prepared for these conditions.

All I'd say is it's avalanche prone at the moment, so I wouldn't recommend anyone going up there to retrieve kit in these current conditions. I'm a little surprised the initial post didn't make that clear.

In reply to Trish Darling:
As we walked off from Gladstone knott yesterday, you could see the cracks developing in the snow as you trod on it. Haven't seen that in the Lakes before. Was very glad not to be anywhere near any sizeable patches of snow. Nevermind areas where there is old snow, with 2 different sections of fresh snow ontop with a layer of surface hoar in between! Tasty.

NMM

In reply to paddy cave:

I've abseiled off V Corner when it's been in dodgy nick too. I left some gear and forgot about it. I get out in the hills quite a lot and find lots of swag. I imagine your instructor mate gets out even more than me so won't be short of old/spare gear.

You win some you loose some.

I'm sure Woody will do him a good price on some new stuff...