Is Kinder Downfall in?
Kinder Downfall in winter nick It's obviously not the best rock climbing time of year, so not much to report on Classic Rock progress. On reflection, it's been a decent climbing year, with a family weekend at the Roaches, a few Peak grit days, including my first trip to Burbage North this autumn, on top of the Classic trips to Cornwall and North Wales. Last weekend offered a finale to the climbing year as we tooled up and tackled the rarely in condition winter route on Kinder Downfall. Although I've done steep snowy routes and winter gullies, I realised on gearing up that this was my first actual steep ice climbing route. Our approach to the falls took us from the Snake Pass side and over the top of a wintry plateau, although we noted it didn't quite feel wintry enough underfoot at times; still some flowing streams and boggy bits liquid enough to cause some wet feet. On arrival at the Downfall, the unmistakable sound of flowing water greeted us and we knew we'd be