Identifier: cu31924103707968 (find matches)
Title: Rock-climbing in the English Lake District
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Jones, Owen Glynne Abraham, George Dixon, 1872- Abraham, Ashley Perry, 1876-1951 Wordsworth Collection
Subjects: Mountaineering
Publisher: Keswick, Cumberland, G.P. Abraham
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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troute to the upper screes. The plan is to work tothe extreme east corner of the ledge that succeedsthe mantelshelf, and when a narrow overhangingchimney is reached, to swarm up the steep buttresson its left. It looks particularly dangerous, but thereis an excellent hold for the hands just round the cornerof the buttress, and when the first three feet of ascentare accomplished the rest feels comparatively easy. On the same occasion we each in turn venturedon the hand-traverse from above. The place hasalready been referred to ; it was known for sometime that the crack could be reached from theterrace below, and Mr. Solly showed in 1891 that itcould be followed to its left-hand extremity at thescree gully. It is so named because the climberhangs by his hands, with no footholds at all for thegreater part of its length, and traverses across theface by sheer strength of his arms. Collier and Iwere well satisfied concerning the security of thecrack itself We went to the further end and back
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G. P. Abraham & Sons, Photos. PlEES GhYLL (Face page 28^) THE Hand-traverse 283 again, without coming across any place wliere theholds were treacherous. They were probably moresatisfying to the grip than an ordinary horizontalbar, on account of the acute edge of the rock.On the other hand, we had no opportunity of tryingthe ascent from the terrace, which promised to berather fatiguing for the arms, and which mightrender them useless for the traverse itself On Whit Monday, 1896, a chance came fortackling the pitch in this new way. It had beensuccessfully accomplished once, and twice had theclimbers strength of grip failed him when half-wayacross. So, at any rate, we learnt by hearsay atWastdale. Perhaps it ought to be added that inone case it was the leader of the party who fell off,and the rope saved him in a manner scarcely shortof miraculous; in the other case the rope was heldfrom the scree gully, and the climber only swungout on it. Our Whitsuntide party were willing thatI sho

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