We are very pleased to be supporting a fantastic initiative from outdoor brand Arc’teryx to revive 50 Lakeland trad routes that are becoming overgrown.

Climbing heritage owes much to the Lake District as it was here that many of the foremost developments in the sport were made; from Coleridge’s descent of the first recorded rock climb, Broad Stand on Scafell in 1802, to Herford’s ascent of the first HVS on Scafell 100 years ago, plus later ascents of cutting edge lines in the high E grades by Cumbrians such as Dave Birkett and James McHaffie.

Due to the geographical spread of crags in the Lakes, routes can become dusty and overgrown after the initial buzz of an area dies away. The revival aims to bring classic climbs back under the spotlight and ensure they are kept in condition for the new generation of trad climbers.

Arc’teryx are offering a t-shirt or chalk bag as an incentive to tick off one of 50 routes on the Lakeland revival list. You can claim your prize from Needlesports in Keswick or the Climbers Shop in Ambleside.

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The revival process is as follows:

• Choose an unclimbed route from the Lakeland Revival list
• Climb it and get proof of the ascent
• Return to Needle Sports or The Climbers Shop with a short route report
• Pick up your free T-shirt or chalk bag (whilst stocks last)

BMC Access and conservation officer Rob Dyer has offered climbers the following advice on considerate participation of the revival:

“This is a great initiative that will hopefully see some fantastic Lakes routes get the TLC they need to revitalise interest in forgotten gems and hopefully mountain cragging in general. For anyone getting stuck in and cleaning routes, it’s important to remember that cleaning should be confined to the actual line of the route. Although to a climber’s eye, a completely clean crag can look much more appealing than one with patches of plant life, sticking to removing vegetation that encroaches on the line of the route only rather than everything around it will avoid destruction of any rare species of plant that may be hidden away, off to the side of these routes.”

MHT are particularly pleased to support the initiative as reclaiming older lines reminds climbers of the history and strong tradition of ethics and development of the Lakes. Participants to the revival will contribute to future climbing heritage by writing a route report which will be incorporated by the FRCC into guidebooks for the area. You can also send any good images taken on to Ron Kenyon, FRCC secretary at  ron@jaggedlakes.plus.com for consideration for the new Lakes Selective Guide.

You can read our full article on the Lakeland revival, and check the spreadsheet to find out what’s yet to be climbed on the BMC website. We are also excited to be shooting a short film for the revival with Arc’teryx and filmmaker Nick Brown, who shot to fame with his beautiful documentation of British Bouldering ‘Life on Hold‘. Check BMCTV soon.