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Rob here. That's a fair take! The title was posing a bit of a rhetorical question as "scramble" is a bit of a nebulous term. For example, would personally class Giant's Crawl on Dow as a 3S/3+ scramble as it fits my definition a route on steep rock that's possible (although not necessarily advisable) without a rope, although others would consider it firmly a climb and think of doing it without a rope an "easy solo" rather than a scramble. Equally on the other end of the scale - is striding edge really a scramble? Or just an exposed walk? Given the above, I doubt that there is objectively a "hardest" or "easiest" scramble - if you chose the hardest line on PR, e.g. taking the crux slab direct rather than via the corner, then the technical difficulty might surpass the easiest lines up the routes you mentioned. Equally you might class that line as "PR with VD variation on the crux pitch". Either way, it is definitely the most alpine of the scrambles in the lakes I have done and that 100% puts it in contention for the "best"!

@@SgurrClimbing Yep, interesting topic of discussion. All "definitions" of anything empirically real are "fuzzy" around the edges. I'd say Striding is an easy scramble, right at the bottom of the scrambling spectrum. At the other end of the scale, I'd go for your second take on Giant's Crawl - it's a low-grade climb that many competent climbers would be prepared to solo (same goes for Corvus). I don't think this can serve as a consistent criterion for classifying such climbs as scrambles, since a lot of climbers, including myself, are prepared to solo much harder climbs than that. My hardest solo was Kransic Crack Direct (HVS) on Shepherd's. I don't think that brings KCD into the realms of scrambling. Take it to the extreme and you have Alex Honnold soloing Freerider on El Capitan. To the vast majority of climbers that remains a very hard climb. It doesn't become a scramble just because someone has proved it is possible to solo it.

Thanks for the support!! Comments like this really are appreciated. We have two more videos in the pipeline and a ton of ideas, however Lucy tore her ACL about 3 months ago, and had ACL reconstruction surgery literally yesterday, so we are finding it really tough to actually film currently. Stay tuned, videos will start coming faster in the near future!

Exactly! Or better the device could simply not arrest the fall because the rope pulls downwards on the device instead of upwards.

Thats the Rockfax app - its subscription based but the best climbing app for the UK. From the same people who run ukclimbing, if you're aware of that!

It was called "Petra Boutique Homes". We ended up in the Family Suite Helios, which was an upgrade as we were the last guests of the Season (they close at the end of November) and also we were the only people staying in the complex that week

I don't think it looks too bad apart from that last bit. Apparently there's bail out options if you don't feel confident.

Yep! I actually reclipped once past (not shown in video) I couldn't reach the draw from below the crux with the rope, but could with the draw. I know that it 's not ideal, since they can unclip themselves💀.

@@SgurrClimbing 🫡 fair enough! Looks like a fun trip

exactly my thoughts!

Didn't even notice that. My biggest concern so far was that they don't have a first QD clipped like at 11:33.

@nakkisormi8400 I left a longer comment on the other thread in this comment section, which responds to this issue generally. Thanks for your concern - we will be getting Lucy a guide mode device!

@@SgurrClimbing Isn't that a clickup? It should be auto locking.

@@Sackfullofbadgers Short section of the video was cut out - as you can see from the other comment threads, we had a slightly non-ideal configuration for bringing up the second. Cut it out since we realised people who hasn't climbed multipitch might blindly copy it hence why the timestamp is now confusing!

@@SgurrClimbing This is not really about the gear. You could easily rig a belay device without the guide function to belay from the anchor by clipping the brake strand higher than the belay device. Since you are both really good at climbing, it is just about understanding the skills you need to be climbing outside of a single pitch sport climb.

Hello! My ATC doesn't have the eye for guide mode, so I wouldn't have been able to put it into that configuration. The configuration at that timestamp is simply a direct belay off the bolts, it's definitely not as objectively good as an auto locking locking device or guide mode since it doesn't auto lock, however it has the advantage of being able to take slack a lot quicker (Rob is a fast climber on 5c pitches), and being safer for myself, as if Rob had fallen, the weight difference is significant enough that I physically can't stand. In addition you can give slack easily, unlike in guide mode where giving slack is fairly difficult. This video isn't a guide on multipitch belaying! We use a range of devices and techniques situationally, depending on the belay stance, difficulty of pitch and who is belaying/climbing. There are lots of ways to be safe, but the key is to be confident in whatever device and configuration you're using for a given pitch.

@@SgurrClimbing thanks for your answer. I was just wondering. I'm pretty new to multi pitch climbing (just did my first on kalymnos where I went inspired by your other video =)) and always interested in how other people do stuff.

@@SgurrClimbing Unfortunately an atc in this configuration is significantly worse than any other belay options you could have used in that situation. A munter hitch off the anchor would have been better, or using the atc on your harness. This is because the resistance that an atc offers relies on the brake strand of the rope being pulled in the opposite direction to the climber strand. in this case they are in the same direction, which is why its very easy to give slack, its also very easy to drop your follower on a fall. get a simple guide atc and you'll absolutely love it Thank you for the very cool video, I love to see multipitch climbs being done around the world, a true form of adventure

Same thoughts as the above comment. Alternatively, a redirect carabiner could be used so that the tube device was in a better position. Overall, a lovely video but you should do some more research on belaying from anchors. Hoping to repeat this route in the autumn.

It is a tuber not in a guide mode config. Do not do this it's like having the rope freeflowing over only a carabiner. This is basically a free solo unless this lady is abnormaly strong. Put the belay device on your self, then through the anchor(like a toprope) if you do not have a guide plate. Still I love the content, keep it comming Sgurr!

It's not too bad, if you're a confident climber you can do it without a rope (which Rob did), but I opted for a rope just to be on the safe side. It's quite short though and over very quickly!

Which route / area? If you share a timestamp I can tell you which crag is featured in that section!

16:29

@@sahralunge6503 ohh the guide itself! Thats RockFax. They do physical books, as well as guides - search "Rockfax Digital". They cover most of the UK, but also the popular areas in Europe. You have to pay a subscription of £5, but if you're going to an area that's covered (or generally live in the UK and climb) its 100% totally worth it.

sorry what?! thats absolutely mad haha

This may sound crazy, but something like this exists - its called Deep Net Soloing. A wall called Blockhelden has one!

@@SgurrClimbing well I’ll have to check that out. Thanks

@@SgurrClimbing oh indoors yeah that makes sense.

I've have the same idea except I imagine like a device that follows you with a magnet, and a harness with an opposing magnet. So when you fall you just float in place 🤔

Thank you for the kind comment :) Rob has been climbing outdoors since he was a kid and taught me whilst we were at university. Joining a climbing or mountaineering club is a good way to find experienced people, or you can use a climbing or mountain guide

That's awesome to hear! The UK has such a variety of rock types all over the place, it's brilliant if you want to trad climb. We especially love the sea cliffs on the south coast like Pembroke and Portland :)

I have had a very similar experience to yours. I think it's a case of always being aware of the possibility that the holds might snap, and climbing with that in your mind. It's not shown in the video, but I gave the more suspect holds a tap with my palm to check if they were loose before committing to them. I do this on exposed scrambles as well, and I have pulled off several loose rocks before!

I also found the repeated use of the word scrambling alarming. It most definitely isn't a scramble and describing it as such could encourage less experienced folk to bite off a lot more than they can chew.

I would personally describe it as a grade 3s scramble, with a crux sequence going at VD. Grade 3s as defined in most guidebooks includes short sections of climbing up to VD in addition to the scrambling, which this route fits. However, I totally agree with your point here - anyone thinking about this route (or any scramble) should attempt it well-informed and adequately equipped for the route. To most novices, that means that this should be undertaken as a multi-pitch VD rather than as a scramble. This video is not a guide!

Looks really cool!