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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Lake District => Topic started by: Nick Hope on 09:34:37, 10/06/16

Title: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: Nick Hope on 09:34:37, 10/06/16
Heading to the Lakes for some hiking next week. The weather forecast is rain rain rain but it's my only chance for a while.

One route I'm considering involves descending Crinkle Crags to the south. Just how difficult is the "Bad Step", especially alone and in the wet? I'm 50, fairly fit, and will be carrying full camping kit.

I have descended this step a very long time ago but can't really remember the details. I seem to recall it wasn't as bad as the Blencathra Bad Step which I really didn't like.
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: ninthace on 10:05:04, 10/06/16
Wouldn't have thought it would be a problem but it can be avoided if you don't fancy it. There is a "chicken run" if you back track and go round it.
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: Nick Hope on 11:39:42, 10/06/16
Thanks ninthace. Glad to know it's not too bad and there's an option rather than turning back.
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: Hillhiker1 on 14:38:49, 10/06/16
I remember being worried about this the first time but then when I got there I didn't think this was it as it wasn't too bad, so I was expecting something worse to come.... Later in the day I figured that this had indded been the 'Bad step'. No too bad at all really  :)

Here's a couple of pics.

(https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7432/27546453206_cdf5970dd3_b.jpg) (http://)P1000815 (https://flic.kr/p/HYbLQo) by

[url=](https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7558/26971854233_032e58d759_b.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hillhiker1/)P1000817 (https://flic.kr/p/H6pNzx) by [/url]
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: Rhino on 14:54:34, 10/06/16
Wouldn't have thought it would be a problem but it can be avoided if you don't fancy it. There is a "chicken run" if you back track and go round it.

When did you last go down it Ninthace?
 
 
I did it last year and the worse bit is the last 5ft at the bottom as the hand and foot holds diminish and you have to be careful otherwise its a little fall/slide. Nothing to be worried about but not as easy as perhaps suggested when in descent. Ascent is always much easier.
 
Here is a picture i took without anyone on it.
 
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/4/3807/20026303911_7d8a3c9efd_k.jpg)
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: ninthace on 17:53:48, 10/06/16

When did you last go down it Ninthace?
 
 
I did it last year and the worse bit is the last 5ft at the bottom as the hand and foot holds diminish and you have to be careful otherwise its a little fall/slide. Nothing to be worried about but not as easy as perhaps suggested when in descent. Ascent is always much easier.


Rhino, I did not mean to imply it is a doddle but rather that it is practicable in both directions. The OP said he was a fairly fit fifty year old who had managed the step on Blencathra so provided he isn't built like a hobbit, I suggested he should be able to manage it but I did point out there is an alternative and since as you say, going up is easier than going down, he should be able to back out if he is not happy.  To answer your question,  13 months ago - I am also assuming it hasn't changed since?
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: keithie on 21:12:06, 10/06/16
lol..my bad.. wrong 'bad-step'. I'll shut up for a while!
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: Glyno on 22:06:32, 10/06/16
The bad step (in descent) looks difficult, more than a little bit tricky and probably best avoided. However, it's one of those situations whereby when you've done it once, you wonder what all the fuss was about!


That's how it was for me anyway.
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: dittzzy on 22:23:52, 10/06/16
My first walk in the lakes ever!  My OH isn't very good at thinking about how a route he's picked out on the map would look like on the ground or how a novice like me (I'd been up Pen y Ghent), would tackle Pike O'Blisco and Crinkle Crags.

I got over it, and I don't do climbing.
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: mike knipe on 23:28:36, 10/06/16
OP says he'll be carrying camping equipment - I'm assuming this will be a big and fairly heavy pack..  I suggest that the OP has a look from above and , if he doesn't fancy it, what with the Big Pack and everything to climb back up a bit and then take the easier option to the Right (West) - going back up, this will be Left, of course, but still West. No need for heroics! Last time I did it, I thought it was a bit awkward, but in ascent and with and day pack and a medium-sized dog. (The dog was hauled up)
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: midweekmountain on 07:11:04, 11/06/16
Just how difficult is the "Bad Step",


(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13315712_10157005274540258_3826186228816028150_n.jpg?oh=044426eab1cd2c8aac153d19a74c6aa5&oe=5804230F)


Close up of the move on the bad step
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: Nick Hope on 13:01:41, 11/06/16
Thanks again. It doesn't look too bad at all. Hillhiker1's photo makes it look like there's a workable scramble around to the east (left on descent) as an alternative as well, but the photo might be deceptive.

Re the Blencathra bad step, I actually bottled it as a 20-year-old and ended up doing an ill-advised scramble across the slope below it to the east. I'm not good with heights, but I had a broken arm in a sling at the time, so that certainly didn't help my agility and confidence.
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: karl h on 16:58:38, 11/06/16
Thanks again. It doesn't look too bad at all. Hillhiker1's photo makes it look like there's a workable scramble around to the east (left on descent) as an alternative as well, but the photo might be deceptive.




That photo definitely is deceptive. The route down the left from the bad step is not one I would like to attempt.
Here is a pic from when I was watching the Langdale fell race and shows the descent ( and just how mad some fell runners are ;D  )


(http://www.karlswalks.co.uk/2013/images/crinklecrags-12-10-13/P1130048.jpg)
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: MoelPysgod on 18:21:27, 12/06/16
It's a piece of cake going up, but it'd be unpleasant going down it in the wet with camping gear. Unnecessary too - why not bypass it, and if you really want to climb it (it's really not a big deal in ascent) then scoot back round and go up it before heading back down? It'd only take five minutes.
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: Rhino on 21:38:53, 12/06/16

Rhino, I did not mean to imply it is a doddle but rather that it is practicable in both directions. The OP said he was a fairly fit fifty year old who had managed the step on Blencathra so provided he isn't built like a hobbit, I suggested he should be able to manage it but I did point out there is an alternative and since as you say, going up is easier than going down, he should be able to back out if he is not happy.  To answer your question,  13 months ago - I am also assuming it hasn't changed since?

I wasn't sure what you were implying hence why I questioned your reply. I do a good deal of grade 1 and 2 scrambling and found the descent challenging where as you wouldn't have thought it would be a problem. Everyone has differnet skill levels but it's not called the bad step for nothing especially in descent.

Happy Iam not the only one who found it challenging, in descent that is.
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: gable man on 12:21:09, 14/06/16
 I find it best to do it backwards then it is not so bad looks more intimidating than it actually is
 
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: Skip on 17:36:33, 22/06/16
Just how difficult is the "Bad Step", especially alone and in the wet?

By way of preamble, I've done the step a good few times (including a jolly half-hour spent going up-and-down up-and-down to sort of 'memorise' it).

IMO once you identify the holds (look out for a little polished knob of rock low down for your left foot) and get the moves sorted it's pretty easy to get up. If you descend again immediately you may well find it hardly more awkward than the ascent - that was my experience anyway.

But - and it's a big 'but' - if you haven't done the step at all (or not for a while) it may not be immediately obvious how to downclimb it. And if it's wet and you are carrying a heavy load you may well find it problematic to get down safely.

Luckily you don't have to risk it in the wet with your loaded pack. There is a very easy bypass route ('the dog path') rising beside the step's gully. This route is very clearly shown in karl h's photo - it's where the runners are descending on grass between boulders to the right of the picture. The dog path is on the the right going up - it'll be on your left coming down. I've walked dogs down there several times and also seen people taking their kids down that way.

How hard is the bad step?  To me, the answer is largely subjective - one chap's doddle is another's challenge.

Anyway Nick, I hope you have a great walk and the rain holds off.
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: Skip on 17:44:07, 22/06/16
...if you are carrying a heavy load ...

As an aside, I've sometimes seen people using a couple of metres of nylon cord to haul their rucksack up after ascending narrow gullies or chimneys. I suppose that would work to lower a heavy pack ahead of you when downclimbing awkward steps.
Title: Re: Crinkle Crags Bad Step - How difficult to descend?
Post by: MkPotato on 14:08:39, 12/10/20
I’ve resurrected this thread rather than start a new one. Apologies. The runners photos really illustrates the routes.



I was on Crinkle Crags yesterday, and I’ve previously only done the bad step once going up (which was no drama). Normally I’m fine down climbing but it really had me flummoxed. Similarly a couple of young lads ahead of me had to give up and skirt to the left and down the grassy slope (as in the runners photo).


I think the issue is that it’s really not obvious how to take it if you don’t know the route. I think the tendency is to look for the shortest drop, which is closer to the chockstone. I couldn’t find a hold to lower myself. It looks like one guy in the photo is trying that, but I couldn’t see it, and although the drop isn’t life threatening, it’s just far enough to risk an ankle injury. Obviously the key is to find the stepped rocks a bit further on (where the rest of the runners seem to be heading), but I couldn’t see them looking down. It’s deceptive if you’re not familiar.