Katy Whittaker is an Arc’teryx Athlete Ambassador based in North Wales. She has been involved with the Arc’teryx Lakeland Revival since day one. Now in its fourth year we caught up with Katy to find out where the idea came from and what it has developed into now.
Adrian Nelhams photo
Q: So what is the Lakeland Revival all about and where did the idea come from?
The idea came after speaking with the shop staff in the Lakes, they were talking about how a lot of the less popular trad routes were becoming over grown and some even lost completely. We put our heads together back at the office and came up with the idea to ‘revive’ some of these routes that were getting lost. This was done by publishing a list online and in return for climbing and cleaning them participants could collect a free Arc’teryx T-shirt or beanie from one of the retailers.
Q: Cool! So what has changed this year?
Every year I try to develop the idea depending on feedback I get. Now, rather than just focussing on reviving esoteric routes the idea is to revive the spirit of Lakeland climbing and celebrate it. This way I hope it will inspire and encourage more people to visit the area and enjoy the trad climbing. There will still be a list of recommended routes and free goodies for people to claim. This year there will be a launch event to called the Big Mountain Weekend, it will take place in the heart of the Lakes at the Sticklebarn in the Langdale valley.
Adrian Nelhams photo
Q: So how can you get involved with the Big Mountain Weekend?
The Arc’teryx Big Mountain Weekend will be taking place on the 29th & 30th April at the Sticklebarn, Langdale. It is a weekend for celebrating the climbing and mountains in the Lake District, and bringing together the community. The event aims to educate, share and improve the skills necessary for enjoying these beautiful places safely.
Adrian Nelhams photo
There will be two days of workshops run by the International School of Mountaineering ranging from scrambling to multi pitch climbing and it is open to complete beginners, intermediates and experienced climbers.
Q: If you don’t have a workshop ticket can you still take part?
Yes! Arc’teryx, DMM, Mountain Heritage Trust and more of our partners will be based at The Sticklebarn for the whole weekend. There will be demo kit and technical advice available from DMM, Arc’teryx will also have Lakeland Revival Route Cards available and on the Saturday evening there will be live music as well.
The Arc’teryx Lakeland Revival will be running from the 29th April – 31st August and the Big Mountain Weekend will be on the 29th & 30th April. For more information, check out the Arc’teryx Lakeland Revival site or you can buy tickets for Big Mountain Weekend.