This week’s video documents another slice of the action on Neil Gresham’s awesome Lake District trad route, Lexicon. Situated on Pavey Ark, Lexicon stands at the pinnacle of the UK trad climbing difficulty scale graded at E11 with gear placements at a premium and falls with terrifying potential. Dave Macleod is on hand with this week’s video to give us some insight into the route and the process behind his third ascent. Having climbed Rhapsody, the first E11 in the world, in 2006, Dave is back 15 years later to see if he still has the minerals to climb at this difficulty and, of course, he does.

Lexicon has garnered attention from all corners of the UK climbing scene with further ascents from Mat Wright and, most recently, James Pearson. James climbed the route at the start of this week, topping out on his third attempt whilst dodging family wedding duties to get back up to Pavey for his send go. He completed the route just in time to avoid inclement Lake District weather, even saving a sheep in Birkett-esque fashion on the way down from the crag. 

Check out Dave’s in depth footage of the route here and enjoy watching that  Steve McClure whipper one more time! 

Like the look of Dave’s climbing shoes? Check the La Sportiva Skwama out here.