Weather not so good today. Strong winds forecast so the higher fells were not an option.
A short walk was planned on Little Mell.
Wainwright described a 30 minute outing to the top of the fell from the hause between Cove Park and Lowthwaite.
Opening the car door soon warned us of the strength of the wind, almost blowing the door off its hinges. 'Never mind - only a short outing' we thought.
Followed an obvious track directly up to the summit but the wind was relentless fortunately behind us on the ascent. On the summit mound we were battling to stay upright and did not linger for the views over Ullswater. The descent, now into the wind, was very hard work. We made more of a zig zag down to try and get some respite but were glad to be back at the car.
Any plans to do Great Mell Fell were soon overruled.
Time 25 minutes!
Grade An excellent blow!
Completed 33 - To go 181
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Grey Friar and Great Carrs
Another glorious day for mid Feb. A cold and frosty morning with glorious clear views driving from Staveley to Ambleside along the back roads via Troutbeck and then to Chesters at Skelwith Bridge (yes for another pre walk coffee) and then to the top of the Wrynose pass.
Set off at the top of the pass, looking for the path marked on the OS map heading diagonally up to Wet Side Edge. As is common, the start of the path was nowhere to be seen, maybe because the ground was covered with frost and icy patches on the northern facing slopes. However, we soon found it after climbing about 300ft and followed it gently up to the ridge, the sun continuously just above the brim of the ridge, in our eyes but keeping us warm, our shadows following behind. Once on the ridge the amphitheatre opened up before us with Wetherlam, Swirl How and the Carrs, silhouetted against the low bright sunshine. The grassy ridge was a delightful ascent to just under Little Carrs then a track to the right took us, contouring under Great Carrs, to the coll between Great Carrs and Grey Friar. One final ascent and soon we were on the grass and rocky summit, almost lunaresque in appearance. The sun to the south west beamed over the Irish sea.
The Scafells to the north west looked both imposing and gentle at the same time. Imposing with the details of their cliffs highlighted by the shadows yet gentle in the warm winter sun with no cloud or wind. An idyllic place for an extended lunch stop with not a soul around .
Another peak to climb so time to move on and retrace our steps east to the col. Here we met two other couples ascending, so the top would not have been our own if we had stayed for much longer.
Once at the col we continued in a straight line up the grassy slope of Great Carrs, a line which took us directly to the memorial to 8 RAF airmen who lost their lives when their Halifax Bomber crashed in 1944 just below the summit ridge.
Once on the ridge we were now looking down into the amphitheatre, all it’s walls still in shade from the, sun now lower in the sky. Decided against a trip to Swirl How and set off along the ridge edge down to Little Carrs and beyond to the grassy ridge we ascended. Although using the same route for ascent and descent, the two could not have been more different. Now, on the way down, the views to the north changed with each few hundred feet. First the Scafells dominated the skyline but soon their tops were tucked away behind Crinkle Crags and again, these were soon to be obscured by Cold Pike as we descnded the ridge. The pointed peak of Bow Fell remained conspicuous for most of the time. Our shadows now marched on before us, sometime 50 – 60 ft long depending on the contour of the land.
We did not follow the path down to Wrynose but kept on the ridge until level with our car and headed directly down the frost and in places icy, slopes.
Time 3 hours 30 mns
Grade Excellent
Memories Views and the general ambience of the summit of Grey Friar
Completed 32 - To go 182
Set off at the top of the pass, looking for the path marked on the OS map heading diagonally up to Wet Side Edge. As is common, the start of the path was nowhere to be seen, maybe because the ground was covered with frost and icy patches on the northern facing slopes. However, we soon found it after climbing about 300ft and followed it gently up to the ridge, the sun continuously just above the brim of the ridge, in our eyes but keeping us warm, our shadows following behind. Once on the ridge the amphitheatre opened up before us with Wetherlam, Swirl How and the Carrs, silhouetted against the low bright sunshine. The grassy ridge was a delightful ascent to just under Little Carrs then a track to the right took us, contouring under Great Carrs, to the coll between Great Carrs and Grey Friar. One final ascent and soon we were on the grass and rocky summit, almost lunaresque in appearance. The sun to the south west beamed over the Irish sea.
The Scafells to the north west looked both imposing and gentle at the same time. Imposing with the details of their cliffs highlighted by the shadows yet gentle in the warm winter sun with no cloud or wind. An idyllic place for an extended lunch stop with not a soul around .
Another peak to climb so time to move on and retrace our steps east to the col. Here we met two other couples ascending, so the top would not have been our own if we had stayed for much longer.
Once at the col we continued in a straight line up the grassy slope of Great Carrs, a line which took us directly to the memorial to 8 RAF airmen who lost their lives when their Halifax Bomber crashed in 1944 just below the summit ridge.
Once on the ridge we were now looking down into the amphitheatre, all it’s walls still in shade from the, sun now lower in the sky. Decided against a trip to Swirl How and set off along the ridge edge down to Little Carrs and beyond to the grassy ridge we ascended. Although using the same route for ascent and descent, the two could not have been more different. Now, on the way down, the views to the north changed with each few hundred feet. First the Scafells dominated the skyline but soon their tops were tucked away behind Crinkle Crags and again, these were soon to be obscured by Cold Pike as we descnded the ridge. The pointed peak of Bow Fell remained conspicuous for most of the time. Our shadows now marched on before us, sometime 50 – 60 ft long depending on the contour of the land.
We did not follow the path down to Wrynose but kept on the ridge until level with our car and headed directly down the frost and in places icy, slopes.
Time 3 hours 30 mns
Grade Excellent
Memories Views and the general ambience of the summit of Grey Friar
Completed 32 - To go 182
Monday, 18 February 2008
Troutbeck Tongue
Another great day. Sunshine all day, we started the walk in the afternoon with the low sun flooding the Troutbeck valley. From Troutbeck, just beyond the Queen’s Head pub, a short descent to the valley floor took us to a gentle, flat walk along the valley bottom heading for the Tongue, across Ings bridge. Approaching the farm we took the path, signposted to High Street, (but definitely not intending to go that far) across the meadow, through a kissing gate and onto a the trackat the base of the Tongue which skirted around to the right. After passing through a gate we headed up the hill, north of the wall and soon found a steep track heading directly up toeards a stile in a newish looking fence and then on up to the summit.
Enclosed on all sides by bigger fells the experience was wonderful. To the east the huge steep grassy slopes of the left hand spur of the Kentmere Horseshoe. To the south west, further away, Wansfell and to the north and west the masses of Red Screes and Caudale Moor. We stayed on the ridge heading north for 5 to 10 minutes before heading staight down to the right by a fence, back to the track we had left early running by Hagg Ghyll but higher up the valley.
Back on the valley floor to the village, the sun had now set behind the hills resulting in an icy cold end to an excellent short afternoon excursion.
Time 2hrs 30mns
Memories The quiet tranquil Troutbeck valley in a warm wintry sun.
Grade Excellent short walk
Completed 30 - To go 184
Enclosed on all sides by bigger fells the experience was wonderful. To the east the huge steep grassy slopes of the left hand spur of the Kentmere Horseshoe. To the south west, further away, Wansfell and to the north and west the masses of Red Screes and Caudale Moor. We stayed on the ridge heading north for 5 to 10 minutes before heading staight down to the right by a fence, back to the track we had left early running by Hagg Ghyll but higher up the valley.
Back on the valley floor to the village, the sun had now set behind the hills resulting in an icy cold end to an excellent short afternoon excursion.
Time 2hrs 30mns
Memories The quiet tranquil Troutbeck valley in a warm wintry sun.
Grade Excellent short walk
Completed 30 - To go 184
Sunday, 17 February 2008
Loft Crag, Pike O’Stickle, Thunacar Kott, Pavey Ark
This walk is dedicated to my mother-in-law Christine who passed away on 10th February 2008.
What better walk to celebrate the life of my mother-in-law. One of my favourite Lake District areas and a beautiful sunny February day. Parked at the National Trust car park just after the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel, and succumbed (yet again) to the warmth of a hot coffee before the walk. The route we decided was one we have walked several times, starting up the path towards Stickle tarn but soon turning left towards Dungeon Ghyll and then after crossing the ghyll ascending the path keeping the deep ravine on our right. Ahead, visible from
a distance, were a group of people, one with a bright yellow jacket which we were soon to realise were mountain rescue volunteers on a training exercise, rescuing a ‘casualty’ in Dungeon Ghyll and waiting for a helicopter, which duly arrived a few minutes later, circled around for a while and then headed off into the distance.
The weather was amazing, like summer, climbing up the fell wondering why I was carrying all my winter gear. We stopped for a while soaking in the sun and the views, on the broad grassy shelf after the first steep climb, and then continued up the obvious path to the gap between Harrison Stickle and Loft Crag. Turning left and then up left again our first summit was reached with fantastic views across Langdale to the fells beyond. The sun bright and low in the sky and a misty haze in the valleys below emphasizing the contours of the hills extending beyond.
Next stop, Pike O’Stickle a short stroll westward above the Langdale valley with an interesting scramble to the summit (always met with ‘why am I doing this again! ’ from behind). However the reward today was out of this world, the views south as described previously and to the north the peak of Skiddaw poking out of the wintry haze in the valley.
A place to linger for some time before heading off the pointed summit on across the moorland to Thunacar Knot, an easy tramp aided by the frozen ground underfoot as opposed to the usual bog.
I have never visited Thunacar Knott before and was glad the weather was clear, not only because I am sure finding it in mist would have been quite an ordeal and also to be able to visualise the landscape across to Sergent Man and Blea Rigg.
A short walk to the west, no path, took us to Pavey Ark, swarming with people but nonetheless a magnificent perch to look down on to Stickle tarn below.
The next decision was whether to take in Harrison Stickle before descending. Heading across the bouldery path, Cristine would have been proud that common sense prevailed and we decided that, because of weary legs and the realisation that we were still in winter, despite the weather and dark would descend quite quickly, we decided to pick our way down the eroded path to Stickle tarn and then on down the main route to the valley.
Time 5 hrs 30mns
Memories A wonderful day dedicated to the memories of Christine
Grade Excellent
Completed 29 - To go 185
What better walk to celebrate the life of my mother-in-law. One of my favourite Lake District areas and a beautiful sunny February day. Parked at the National Trust car park just after the New Dungeon Ghyll hotel, and succumbed (yet again) to the warmth of a hot coffee before the walk. The route we decided was one we have walked several times, starting up the path towards Stickle tarn but soon turning left towards Dungeon Ghyll and then after crossing the ghyll ascending the path keeping the deep ravine on our right. Ahead, visible from
a distance, were a group of people, one with a bright yellow jacket which we were soon to realise were mountain rescue volunteers on a training exercise, rescuing a ‘casualty’ in Dungeon Ghyll and waiting for a helicopter, which duly arrived a few minutes later, circled around for a while and then headed off into the distance.The weather was amazing, like summer, climbing up the fell wondering why I was carrying all my winter gear. We stopped for a while soaking in the sun and the views, on the broad grassy shelf after the first steep climb, and then continued up the obvious path to the gap between Harrison Stickle and Loft Crag. Turning left and then up left again our first summit was reached with fantastic views across Langdale to the fells beyond. The sun bright and low in the sky and a misty haze in the valleys below emphasizing the contours of the hills extending beyond.
Next stop, Pike O’Stickle a short stroll westward above the Langdale valley with an interesting scramble to the summit (always met with ‘why am I doing this again! ’ from behind). However the reward today was out of this world, the views south as described previously and to the north the peak of Skiddaw poking out of the wintry haze in the valley.
A place to linger for some time before heading off the pointed summit on across the moorland to Thunacar Knot, an easy tramp aided by the frozen ground underfoot as opposed to the usual bog.
I have never visited Thunacar Knott before and was glad the weather was clear, not only because I am sure finding it in mist would have been quite an ordeal and also to be able to visualise the landscape across to Sergent Man and Blea Rigg.
A short walk to the west, no path, took us to Pavey Ark, swarming with people but nonetheless a magnificent perch to look down on to Stickle tarn below.
The next decision was whether to take in Harrison Stickle before descending. Heading across the bouldery path, Cristine would have been proud that common sense prevailed and we decided that, because of weary legs and the realisation that we were still in winter, despite the weather and dark would descend quite quickly, we decided to pick our way down the eroded path to Stickle tarn and then on down the main route to the valley.
Time 5 hrs 30mns
Memories A wonderful day dedicated to the memories of Christine
Grade Excellent
Completed 29 - To go 185
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