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Important Note: Dated 18.10.03 - Recently a slab of rock has broken away from the side of Lord's Rake and signs have been put up warning of danger should the slab come away and tumble down. It will one day but we took the chance as it was a long way round and we didn't have the time to dwell. And conditions were perfect, everything still. My advice to you though is not to be as foolhardy as us. Wait until the slab has broken away before you climb up Lord's Rake. |
Lord's Rake is not classed as a scramble. It is a steep gully that leads up onto the Sca Fell plateau and is covered in scree that is constantly breaking away from he sides of the rake. It is the scree that makes the climb difficult as you are constantly striving to keep your feet under the loose scree as it slides down the mountain. I feel it is best climbed by keeping to the right hand side during the ascent because there are more opportunities on this side to get good handgrips on the rock than on the left hand side. By going up the middle you are just making the climb more difficult.
After passing the slab that has broken away the rake drops down to the second of three stiff climbs. This one does not have the benefit of being an enclosed gully as the hill falls away to the left. As with the final third climb to the Sca Fell plateau it is now imperative that you keep to a steady balanced walk. A fall to the right could be very serious as can be seen in the final two pictures. To the right of them is an awful lot of space before level ground below. the second pull is easier than the third and is done easily with care. The third most exposed climb can be a little nerve-racking as it proved to be for Jes who decided to clamber up to his left before the final scree patch. It was steeper for him than for me but he managed ok, as did I as simply walked up the scree. It was easier than it looked. Deke and Spud followed my official way up and we all met at the top of the Rake to enjoy the brilliant views over the mountains and down to Wast Water.
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