A day at Howstean Gorge
Gorge Walking or Ghyll Scrambling is a popular activity for us a Live For Today and guaranteed to put a smile on your face and get your heart racing. Gorge walking is best described as a combined water and rock activity where you follow the course of a river generally upstream. You tackle fast flowing rapid sections, float along moving water channels, climb rocks, swim across deep canals and take plunges into deep pools.
Howstean Gorge is located just outside of Pateley Bridge and offers a really cool 40ft abseil into the gorge! This really does get the adrenaline pumping at the beginning of the trip! The abseil is sure to test your bravery, are you brave enough to lean backwards off the bridge into mid-air?
How it all works;
Kitting up; This can be a challenge from the off, wriggling into wet suits is sure to get you giggling. Wet suits are best warn with limited layers underneath. They work by trapping a layer of water between the body and the suit, using the water layer and the heat from your own body to create a warm blanket. The remaining essentials include helmet, bouncy aid, sturdy foot wear and last but not least that all important harness for the abseil.
Abseil; For a lot of people this can be the most challenging part of the trip. The abseil is suspended above the bridge and sees you lower yourself at your own speed down into the bottom of the gorge. Don’t worry you are in safe hands we have you on a safety line too! The hardest part is getting yourself off that edge, its alien to lean backwards let alone of a 40ft bridge! With lots of encouragement from your group can you do it?
Phewww you are in; Time to get wet! The only way is up!! Making your way up through the deep gorge, scrambling against the water flow on your hands and knees is the first challenge you will face. The next stop is negotiating the slippery rocks! A good rule of thumb we like to use is ‘if it’s brown it will get down, if it’s green it’s mean and if it’s white its right!’ Can you stay on your feet? The journey then continues up stream and provides many more trials and obstacles to test your team work. Including cave exploration, king of the rock and of course tickling trout! Who will be brave enough to give it a go?
Time to exit via Tom Taylor’s Cave; this is the finale of the trip and will see you entering the darkness of this bat infested cave (rumour has it). Will you and your team be able to find your way through with limited light? Will you all make it?
Shower time; Time to get warm and dry in the changing/ shower facilities. Then unwind with a brew and a well-deserved cake in the café! Share your experiences and photos and most importantly plan your next adventure. What will it be?
