Dave Birkett adds Lake District desperate to Cam Crag

Despite one of the worst summers on record Dave Birkett has managed to make the first ascent of yet another Lake District desperate, an E9 6c high above Wast Water at Cam Crag.

Birkett dodged raindrops to send the route on 20 July, climbing the British 6c side-pull and undercut crux before placing the first good protection, a no.4 wire, at 12m. Sustained 6a/b climbing past well spaced protection then leads after another 13m to the top.

As yet the route has no name but Birkett's hardest route this year is understandably described as being "a very serious affair with only dubious protection for the first half of the line". It takes a line to the left of the striking arête first climbed by Dave three years ago (Nowt Burra Flee’in Thing, E8 6c) which features in the award winning Set in Stone.

Check out the video clip from Posing Productions on the left.