Harrisons Rocks
Encyclopedia
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
crag approximately 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) south of the village of Groombridge
Groombridge
thumb|right|A house in GroombridgeGroombridge is a village of about 1,600 people. It straddles the border between Kent and East Sussex, in England. The nearest large town is Tunbridge Wells, about away by road....
in the county of East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
. It is popular with rock climbers
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
, and is the largest of the cluster of local outcrops known as Southern Sandstone.
Harrison's Rocks is owned by climbers and is managed on their behalf by the British Mountaineering Council
British Mountaineering Council
The British Mountaineering Council is the national representative body for England and Wales that exists to protect the freedoms and promote the interests of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers, including ski-mountaineers...
with funding from the English Sports Council.
The climbing
There are approximately 200 short climbs at Harrison's Rocks, ranging widely in difficulty. A good list can be found here.The most widely used guide book is Southern Sandstone written by Mike Vetterlein and published by the Climbers Club.
Climbing is exclusively protected by means of a "top rope
Top roping
Top-rope climbing is a style in climbing in which a rope, used for the climber's safety, runs from a belayer at the foot of a route through one or more carabiners connected to an anchor system at the top of the route and back down to the climber, usually attaching to the climber by means of a...
". This is the same as at all Southern Sandstone outcrops. Lead climbing is prohibited for two main reasons. Firstly, it is dangerous because the rock is too friable; any gear placed in the sandstone cracks would easily rip out in the event of a leader fall. Lead-climbing is also discouraged for reasons of conservation - it is unacceptable for climbers to risk further damage to the thin rock crust on the surface of the crags. Unconsolidated and friable sand lies beneath this crust. Deep rope-grooves can be seen in places at Harrison's Rocks and are testament to the fragility of the rock.
All of the climbs are quite short, with the highest at approximately 30 feet (9 m) and the lowest at 15 feet (5 m). Most climbs have a ring drilled and set into the rock at the top for setting up a top rope, but some rely on the use of tree trunks for protection. Slings are to be used for draping over the edge of the rock. This system reduces the friction between the rock and the rope or sling.
Type of rock
Harrison's Rocks is composed of a soft sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, which is prone to being worn away. It is therefore important that climbers keep erosion to a minimum. Top ropes should be set up so that the "sawing" effect of rope movement is kept away from rock surfaces as much as possible. Bolts at the tops of climbs have been placed with care to help with this, but a well-placed extender sling is usually needed as well.
The ground at the base of the climbs is maintained, as the topsoil is prone to being washed away. Mats of meshed fibre have been placed on the ground to help stabilise the soil.
Campsite
A campsite was set up at Harrison's Rocks as a memorial to Julie TullisJulie Tullis
Julie Tullis was a British climber and film-maker who died on the descent of K2 during a storm along with four other climbers from several expeditions during the 'Black Summer' of 1986.-Early life:...
, a former club member, who died on K2
K2
K2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest...
in August 1986 after reaching the summit with Kurt Diemberger
Kurt Diemberger
Kurt Diemberger is an accomplished Austrian mountaineer and author of several books.-Career:As of 2008, Kurt Diemberger is the only remaining person alive that made the first ascents on two mountains over 8,000 metres. In 1957, he made the first ascent of Broad Peak and in 1960, the first ascent...
. The campground is wardened by Chris Tullis, Julie's son.