The gulf and the mighty block are both there still; but there is more pleasure in seeing the former than there is excitement in crossing by the latter.
Eagle Crag.—Rocks of this name are pretty numerous in the North of England, and, like the 'Raven Crags,' are, as might be expected, always bold and precipitous.
On Helvellyn.—Canon Butler, in his article on the Lakes in 1844, which appeared in Longman's Magazine, describes in an amusing manner an adventure which he had on this rock. It is on the right-hand side of the track from Patterdale to Grisedale Hause.
In Easdale (W. sh. 17).—This is easily found by following up the stream which runs into Easdale Tarn. There is not more than 200-300 ft. of crag, and much of it is very rotten, but with pretty bits of climbing here and there. Grasmere is the only place from which it is conveniently reached.
In Greenup (C. sh. 75) is as noble a rock as can be found in England. As seen from Borrowdale near Rosthwaite it has the appearance of two huge steps of rock, but the steps are really separate rocks, one behind the other—Eagle Crag and Pounsey Crag. Large portions of each of them are quite unclimbable, and much of them is too easy to be worth doing, so that the amount of interesting climbing to be met with is less than might be expected. Close by is Longstrath, where there is a little work which may be combined with this (see Blea Crag and Serjeant Crag). The foot of Eagle Crag is reached from Rosthwaite or Seatoller in less than an hour.
Eagle's Nest—one of the ridges of the Napes lying between the Needle and the Arrowhead. On April 15, 1892, Messrs. Slingsby, Baker, Solly, and Brigg ascended it and found it extremely difficult for 150 ft. At one point, about on a level with the top of the Needle, there is room for one person to sit down, and here the second man on the rope joined the leader and gave him a shoulder up. To this place they gave the name of the Eagle's Nest, and it is almost the only point at which any material help can be given to the leader.
The part just above this they considered the stiffest part of the climb; but when they reached a patch of grass just below a slanting chimney the difficulties moderated. From the bottom to where the ridge joins the Needle Ridge they took two hours and ten minutes.
Eel Crag.—The word 'Eel,' we are told, is identical with 'Ill,' which is seen in Ill Bell and the numerous Ill Gills, and means 'steep.' If so the name ought to be more frequent in the Lake country than it is, and it might be suggested that in some cases 'eagle' may have been worn down to 'eel.' There are two crags of the name in Cumberland, not very far apart.
In Coledale.—These rocks are steep, but too much broken up to be really worth a visit on their own account. However, after Force Crag has been tried, these are conveniently near.