Dry tooling at Masson Lees

As access issues at the UK's premiere tooling venue have now been resolved, we'll be heading to deepest, darkest matlock for a day of mixed-up fun.  

With over 50 routes ranging from D2 to D12, Masson Lees is the UK's premier dry-tooling venue, with a good selection of permadry lines spanning the grades.

What is dry tooling? Take mixed winter climbing and remove the wintry bits from the mix, and you're left with using your axes/crampons over bare rock. This does cause significant wear/tear on the rock and hence the need to ensure dry tooling is ONLY carried out at dedicated dry-tooling venues. If you've never tooled before, this would be an ideal opportunity as there will be people to show you around, and you may be able to borrow some tooling kit too, if you don't have your own.

On the topic of kit, you'll need helmet, harness, rope, belay device, a few quickdraws and then some more specialist bits: technical axes (if you have adze/hammer, cover them with tape or a cut open tennis ball to protect your face should your tool ping off the rock), boots/crampons (mono-points work best), protective gloves and protective eye-wear. If you don't have crampons you can make a start in rock shoes or B2/B3 boots.