GUIDE TO THE RIVER SPRINT
(Upper Section)
NAME OF RIVER: Sprint.
WHERE IS IT?: The Lake district, north of Kendal. It is the top section of the better known Sprint (obviously?), tucked away at the very top of the Sprint valley.
PUT-INS/ TAKE-OUTS: Heading North on the A6 out of Kendal, turn off Left, towards Garnett Bridge and proceed to the top of the valley, passing the better known section of the Sprint on the way. When the road turns into a track at Sadgill you are nearly there. Proceed up the track, river on your left, by foot or someone else's car for about 2 km until the track noticeably steepens, this is the get out (NY 480072). Proceed on foot up the very steep track, either putting on at Cleft Ghyll (NY 477077) after about 600m or for another km or so until you reach the confluence of two streams, this is the suggested get on (NY 478083).
APPROX LENGTH: 2 km.
TIME NEEDED: 3 hours plus, including the walk in.
ACCESS HASSLES: Unknown.
WATER LEVEL INDICATORS: Local levels need to be at around a medium plus level, the main section of the Sprint will probably be too low to run unless you want a totally out of control descent.
GRADING: Constant 4 to 5+ depending on water level.
MAJOR HAZARDS/ FALLS: Absolutely all of it, very steep gradient.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Excessively steep, highly technical and a totally continuous succession of small drops...that about sums it up.
There is a short gorge about half way down with a portage at the start, one at the end and one or two in the middle. There are a few paddleable drops in the gorge but probably not worth doing for the climb out.
The section above the gorge had one obvious pin drop we got out for, but most of them are very pinny.
The section below the gorge had no portages.
OTHER NOTES: If you like rock infested ditches you will consider this a quality trip, if not, don't bother.
CONTRIBUTED BY: Bob Evans.
