hanges? I've read about this on gritstone,Nike Free 3.0 V5 Mens Black Grey, but having not climbed on grit much for a decade, I have now a few times this year and it struck me how green it was (along with on popular routes how smooth and worn the holds and gear placements are). Did the Lakes cliffs also become more vegetated or lichen covered after pollution in the air dropped off? Bob on 05 Aug 2014In reply to TobyA: It could well be a combination of things: cleaner air; a shift in popularity away from the area; change in weather patterns; etc. It's strange that routes where the first ascents and most subsequent ascents were done on sight up until the mid 1980s, so by definition were climbable,Nike Free 5.0 Womens Blue Light Grey, are now seen as being so dirty as to be not worth of even attempting. It can't just be the actual state of the routes but more a state of mind or attitude amongst climbers. Limestone has become more popular and that rock doesn't suffer the build-up of lichen and moss that afflicts volcanic mountain rocks so perhaps climbers have become accustomed to clean rock and don't know how to deal with what appears to be a general carpet of gunge. A sweeping generalisation I know - several of the posters on this thread have been climbing long enough in the Lakes to understand this.One of the slightly odd side effects of climbs being "dirty" was that the foot and hand holds were actually quite obvious as they were the clean bits! jon on 05 Aug 2014In reply to Bob: > One of the slightly odd side effects of climbs being "dirty" was that the foot and hand holds were actually quite obvious as they were the clean bits!So no on-sight for you, then!But I think you're right. Bob on 05 Aug 2014In reply to jon: > So no on-sight for you, then!I seem to remember that back then (puts rose tinted spectacles on) we just "climbed". mockerkin on 05 Aug 2014In reply to TobyA: Did the Lakes cliffs also become more vegetated or lichen covered after pollution in the air dropped off? Yes they did. It is very noticeable on the Buttermere side of Honister pass. It used to be black and grey rock,Nike Free 3.0 V4 Womens Prism Blue Reflective Silver, dramatic when wet, but in the last few years the vegetation has been creeping in and there is much more green. Bob on 05 Aug 2014In reply to mockerkin: So what was it in the polluted air that restricted moss/lichen growth? A general question not aimed specifically at yourself. Dave Cumberland - on 05 Aug 2014In reply to TobyA: > Is British rock just not getting noticeably greener anyway post-improved pollution control/industrial changes? 1. A friend of mine believes acid rain has reduced since the industrial revolution, I'm not so sure. Lancashire and Yorkshire mill valleys were blocked by smog except Sundays but why would that affect the Lake District unless the wind was in the south-east? "Acid rain" isn't as fashionable as it used to be (fracking is the new evil) but maybe it is just as bad as always drifting across the Atlantic?2. There are less climbers - they go overseas, they boulder, most can't afford to live here - any sporting activity is dominated by older people these days. Many retirees have also moved abroad.3. We have had 20 or more generally cool wet summers - the long dry conditions have not existed apart from occasional years, this has promulgated vegetation growth. Long dry Summers keep the moss away - it's basically a function of heat and sunlight - and there isn't enough.4. Star system has allowed too much cherry-picking of trade routes and others go into decline.DC Bob on 05 Aug 2014In reply to Dave Cumberland: I'm not sure that your point #3 is valid - my father reckoned that the 1960s were as bad a decade of summers as any he'd known: lots of struggling to get crops in. Many of the classic Lakeland extremes were done in the 1960s ...It may be humidity rather than temperature per se. (just guessing here) jon on 05 Aug 2014In reply to Bob:> I seem to remember that back then (puts rose tinted spectacles on) we just "climbed". Yes! Now then,Nike Free Run 2 Womens Dark Grey Green, as you mentione