I talk to Esther Foster about the Langdale Extreme Rock linkup which she completed with Callum Coldwell Storry in May 2025. This challenge involves climbing all seven Langdale routes from the iconic book Extreme Rock in 24 hours. These routes range from E2 - E6 and visit three varied crags: Raven Crag, Gimmer and Pavey Arc.

Extreme Rock, by Ken Wilson and Bernard Newman, was published in 1987 and forms a triptych with Classic Rock and Hard Rock. It showcased cutting edge climbing across Scotland, England and Wales in a coffee table book that was both guidebook and inspiration. The printing plates were lost and so only 4000 copies were ever produced. These have become cherished collectors items and change hands for hundreds of pounds. As it happens, Vertebrate Publishing have just released the long awaited Extreme Rock 2nd Edition by Grant Farquhar - which keeps the format and most of the iconic routes, but with brand new stories and photos. You can get a 10% discount on the book by using code EXTREME10 at www.adventurebooks.com/products/extreme-rock

Vertebrate have also released a short film to mark the release, at www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX_6KzcLGq0

Esther is an MCI and Development Coach living in the North Lakes. She is a director of the Women's Climbing Symposium. She has climbed for the past 20 years with trad up to E8, sport climbing 8a+ and bouldering V11. She particularly specialises in climbing coaching. She has written a chapter in the new Extreme Rock, on the Langdale climb 'Eqqus'. Her website is www.estherfoster.co.uk

The UKC article detailing Esther and Callum's linkup - and with photography by Esther's husband George Foster - can be found at: www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/esther_foster_and_callum_coldwell_storry_on_the_langdale_extreme_rock_challenge-16396

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