Mexican Rumble & Old Spice

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Mexican Rumble & Old Spice

Written by Greg Chapman Sunday, 17 October 2010 12:30

Mexican Rumble With slightly crisper conditions in the air and the near demise of this year’s bracken crop, I thought it about time I paid the Mosedale Boulders of Carrock Fell a ‘proper’ visit, and more appropriately a cool prow project I had noticed a while back.

For those unaware of these blocks (that will be most people), they are situated on the hillside above the last farm buildings as you leave Mosedale, i.e on the approach to the main circuits of Carrock Fell. Although currently undocumented, in guide form at least, most of the problems were climbed and recorded back in 2004 by Neil Kershaw, and of the existing lines The Clay Machine-Gun (6c+/V5), Misty Mountain Hop (6b/V3) and Tijuana Cha-cha (7a/V6) are the best of the bunch, with a number of other easier lines making up a pleasant circuit. When I visited the boulders a few years ago, on a recce, I noticed a couple of obvious projects left to do, in particular a stunning hanging prow left of Tijuana Cha-cha…

Image: Mexican Rumble (7c/V9), Mosedale Boulders, Carrock Fell.

After some leveling out of the landing and the removal of the block’s mossy toupee, I cleaned and climbed the line, which went a little easier than I had expected at around the 7c/V9 mark, and it may feel easier still with more traffic. Whilst the images of the problem make it look fairly sedate, in terms of height, it definitely has a rather airy feel due to its jutting and somewhat exposed position. Whatever the grade ends up settling at Mexican Rumble is well worth seeking out! While at the blocks I also cleaned up all the existing lines and added another worthwhile problem on the uphill face of the steep prow right (as faced) of The Clay Machine-Gun. This is Bishop Rage, and goes at 6c/V4.

I have knocked up a basic PDF topo for the circuit which is available here.

Finally, with some time to spare I cleaned and climbed another neat little project, this time on a block directly below the Whale Boulder, over at the ‘main’ Carrock circuit. Old Spice (7a/V6) tackles the blunt undercut arête on the SW corner of the downhill face of the block from sitting and without the use of the possible foot blocks. This is a real cracker and would be nigh on impossible if not for the insanely grippy gabbro slopers on offer.