Divers Pitch, OFD

[GregBrock]

When undertaking the through-trip from OFD1 to CwmDwr/OFD2, just after the Letter Box, and before you do the crawl around to the top of the Divers Pitch, there is a window on the left that looks out over the Divers Pitch. Does anyone know if this is bolted/naturals, and is it possible to abseil down here and get to the bottom of the Divers Pitch?

The reason for asking is that the Divers Pitch is often quite wet in the winter, and it would be good to find a route that avoids climbing down the Divers Pitch and getting a complete soaking.

Any thoughts/comments on this from those that know OFD better than I do would be appreciated. I'm planning to be back in there over Xmas, so I might just go and check it out then if no one here knows the answer.

Many thanks UKC community.

 

[Babyhagrid]

This window is the "Divers pitch" . And the route down with the rope that people do now is the bypass to the "Divers Pitch" . The Divers used to do it on a ladder and line I think. No idea what the anchors were. Somebody more versed in OFD history probably can answer

 

[GregBrock]

This window is the "Divers pitch" . And the route down with the rope that people do now is the bypass to the "Divers Pitch" . The Divers used to do it on a ladder and line I think. No idea what the anchors were. Somebody more versed in OFD history probably can answer

Ah, that's interesting to know. Thanks for that. I'd always assumed the climb with the thick handline was the "Divers Pitch", but I stand corrected.

It would be interesting to know if there are any anchors (or naturals) at the window. I don't think they are part of the SWCC Fixed Aids for OFD, so if there are any anchors still there, I'm assuming they will be of dubious quality.

 

[Huge]

Ah, that's interesting to know. Thanks for that. I'd always assumed the climb with the thick handline was the "Divers Pitch", but I stand corrected.

The climb with the handline is usually referred to as the Divers' Pitch, even if it's not the actual historic pitch the divers used.

Never been to the top of the actual Divers' Pitch but I thought the pitch and the climb both drop down the same section of rift, just from opposite walls so could be considered the same place? If that makes any sense! 😂

 

[GregBrock]

The climb with the handline is usually referred to as the Divers' Pitch, even if it's not the actual historic pitch the divers used.

Never been to the top of the actual Divers' Pitch but I thought the pitch and the climb both drop down the same section of rift, just from opposite walls so could be considered the same place? If that makes any sense! 😂

Both the handline climb usually referred to as the 'Divers Pitch' and the actual historic pitch the divers used, do both end up at the bottom of the same section of rift. It's just the handline climb is wet (very wet in winter), which got me thinking about whether it is possible to use the other route (which is dry). But I don't know if there are bolts on this pitch or if there is another reason why we shouldn't use it.

 

[andrewmcleod]

I have a vague memory of reading somewhere that there at least _were_ bolts. I suspect if you look now you can probably find some ancient rusting remnants...

The current handline climb was discovered later than the original Divers' Pitch. I suspect once an easily free-climbable alternative appeared, use of the original Divers' Pitch pretty much stopped (even if the crawl is a pain).