Black Velvet Route Grade Votings
Total votes cast 96
Adjacent Routes 24m. Another fine climb, less popular than its near neighbour but not really much less worthy. Follow Black and Tans to its first groove. Climb this to its top, move left then back right to outflank the overhangs then finish up the well-positioned crack above. A big pitch at the grade. USER COMMENTS
The cracke felt just about sustained enough for severe; harder and arguably better (more direct) than Black and Tans.
Deffinatly the hardest HVD i've done! i've climbed VS in eastern peak which felt easier. A couple of high stepping, exposed mantles made it feel severe to me.
A good route, with fine moves in a good position, and for grit a long route, with good protection, which can be a little bit problematic to place here and there. Probably worth Severe just for the corner crack bellow the black and tans belay ledge. Also intial moves going in to the crack from here feel severe also.
Severe since has all the hardest bits of B&T and is harder for longer. Definitely not VS tho!
Doesn't feel any easier than Black & Tans, maybe a bit better protected & slightly less airy, but technically the same |