Route Number: 425

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Nightshade ' *

Location: Poisoned Glen (West Buttress)
Grade: HVS  
Length: 155m
First ascent: R.B. Evans, J.A. Austin (Alt. leads), B.A. Fuller (4/8/57)
Route Description:

This fine classic route takes the obvious central diedre of the buttress and continues over the overhangs in an almost direct line to the top. Climbed with various amounts of aid over the years, it has been free climbed but which climbers did it first is not known. The climbing is relatively straight-forward but is sensational and well recommended route.


Start: Scramble up the grass to a tongue of slab which descends to the right of the diedre.

  1. 24m Up the slab to possible flake belays at 14m. Climb a groove, step left and down to flake belay.
  2. 15m The overhang above is split by a V crack. Climb the crack, then left for about 1 m. Tension move down left to below a thin green crack. Climb this with difficulty to a comfortable stance in the diedre proper.
  3. 21 m Easier climbing up the diedre or good holds to belay.
  4. 21 m Step up left to a rib which is followed for 5m until one can step back airily right into crack. Climb this with difficulty, to a small stance and belay beneath overhang.
  5. 36m The only break in the overhang is the wall on the right. Reach out to spike at 3m and mantleshelf. Mantelshelf again onto peg in the crack above (normally in situ). Repeat the process up to the top peg and traverse up right across the slab. Then up edge of slab to a tight chimney, followed by an overhang. Up to belay. Kon Tiki shares the last 9m of this pitch and the rest of the route.
  6. 21 m Ascend an awkward rib followed by a groove to belay on grass strip with vertical right wall.
  7. 17m Swing right into the corner and climb mostly up the pockled right wall, up to right via small overhang to top.

Comments

Peter Cooper - 06/10/2010
Calvin has confirmed to me that he has climbed this line free - adding that he wasn't the first! Any clues who may have been first to do it free, and when?

Peter Cooper - 18/08/2010
I'd like to see some more comments on this line, it may be overdue for a slight reappraisal? Meanwhile I'll let Dave Walsh (ex IMC Pres and Malinbeg Pioneer) whet your appetites: "The best route I ever climbed in Ireland, never mind Donegal, never mind the Glen, bar none. It has everything. Great pride to those who manage it, even these days. It requires more than gymnastics. Well written up in an IMCJ of the early/middle 80s by Sean Barrett who partnered me on it." From an e-mail, as part of guidebook research March 2010.

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