M
Mark Manning
Guest
The forecast, as often happens, was rather iffy, with the possibility
of afternoon showers merging to heavier rain overnight, and a wet Sunday.
I might well not have bothered going given the forecast, but I was feeling
rather hill-starved, and I had some things to sort out in my mind, best
done in the hills.
Left the car with friends in the Wasdale valley and headed along by
the lake. Wastwater was as still as I've ever known it; only the tiniest
ripples interrupting the reflections of the screes. Just stunning. Many
people just enjoying the views (it now being the English school holidays),
and rather few people doing outdoor things like scuba or (heaven forbid!)
fell-walking.
Decided to take a change from the usual path up to Dore Head under
the shoulder of Yewbarrow, and instead followed the path beside Over Beck,
stopping a couple of times for a dip. The day was still cloudy, but it
was warm, and there was no wind; so heading up-hill was hot work! Got to
Dore Head in time for a late lunch; the warmth encouraged me to take the
journey rather gently. The cloud was well down over the higher hills;
Black Sail pass was just clear, but the mist was clearly lifting gently.
Headed up on the main path towards Red Pike. A small path leaves the
main one to the left and scrambles up to the lower top; I took this, and
it was easy, despite having a heavy overnight backpack. The summit ridge
was in mist, but not quite in the usual way: a still day, and so discrete
pockets of cloud floated around, with some clear areas. I took the path
beside the precipitous drop into Mosedale, and reached the summit easily.
The col with Scoat Fell was clear, and I headed up into the mist to
the top. I'd met a few parties on Red Pike, but there was no-one on Scoat
Fell itself. I thought I'd treat myself taking the arete to Steeple, and
enjoyed it; normally I treat it rather cautiously. However, having
recently returned from a fortnight in Scotland, where the terrain is
rather tougher, I thought "piece of p*ss" and toddled along happily, even
walking along the crest of the ridge in places. But, yes, the fact I
couldn't see the full extent of the drop probably helped!
Steeple itself was deserted, but the magnificent view was absent with
the mist. Back to the main ridge, and along easily to the top of Haycock.
It was now getting on for 1700, so I went back to the Haycock / Scoat Fell
col. This nearly always has a strong wind or gale blowing through it;
here there was just a little breeze, with the cloud floating around
gently. Down to a favourite camp site in Great Cove for the night, which
fortunately was in the sun. It was warm enough to cook and sit outside
(although the midges were a bit of a pain). I went to bed at about 2030
(as it was clear that the sunset wouldn't do much), almost for something
to do, and fell soundly asleep almost at once, woken by the alarm at 0700.
I opened the tent expecting to see the normal Sunday morning mist.
Instead I was confronted with sun and a brilliant blue sky! Very nice to
find it warm and pleasant enough to cook and eat breakfast outside. Also
nice to be in cool air up the mountain, with a gentle breeze keeping me
cool.
Back to the Haycock / Scoat Fell col, where The Midge was making busy
at the marker cairn. I then took a traversing path onto the moss below
Seatallan, and headed up the steep slope to the top. This wasn't quite
as bad as I was expecting; perhaps the Scottish trip did my fitness some
good! Then down the same route, trending right to head towards Middle
Fell, but still avoid the tedious scree slope.
I dithered rather about having a dip in Greendale Tarn (which look
full of algae); but in the end headed for the top of Middle Fell for
lunch. On the way down, as the path finally began to steepen, I contoured
over to Tongues Gills and found a spot for a bathe. The sun was still
out, but the wind was gradually picking up again.
Then down to Greendale and back to the car. Several people were
swimming in Wastwater, not a sight I see very often. Not a very
adventurous weekend perhaps, because it was warm; but a very good one!
Mark
--
Mark Manning [email protected]
of afternoon showers merging to heavier rain overnight, and a wet Sunday.
I might well not have bothered going given the forecast, but I was feeling
rather hill-starved, and I had some things to sort out in my mind, best
done in the hills.
Left the car with friends in the Wasdale valley and headed along by
the lake. Wastwater was as still as I've ever known it; only the tiniest
ripples interrupting the reflections of the screes. Just stunning. Many
people just enjoying the views (it now being the English school holidays),
and rather few people doing outdoor things like scuba or (heaven forbid!)
fell-walking.
Decided to take a change from the usual path up to Dore Head under
the shoulder of Yewbarrow, and instead followed the path beside Over Beck,
stopping a couple of times for a dip. The day was still cloudy, but it
was warm, and there was no wind; so heading up-hill was hot work! Got to
Dore Head in time for a late lunch; the warmth encouraged me to take the
journey rather gently. The cloud was well down over the higher hills;
Black Sail pass was just clear, but the mist was clearly lifting gently.
Headed up on the main path towards Red Pike. A small path leaves the
main one to the left and scrambles up to the lower top; I took this, and
it was easy, despite having a heavy overnight backpack. The summit ridge
was in mist, but not quite in the usual way: a still day, and so discrete
pockets of cloud floated around, with some clear areas. I took the path
beside the precipitous drop into Mosedale, and reached the summit easily.
The col with Scoat Fell was clear, and I headed up into the mist to
the top. I'd met a few parties on Red Pike, but there was no-one on Scoat
Fell itself. I thought I'd treat myself taking the arete to Steeple, and
enjoyed it; normally I treat it rather cautiously. However, having
recently returned from a fortnight in Scotland, where the terrain is
rather tougher, I thought "piece of p*ss" and toddled along happily, even
walking along the crest of the ridge in places. But, yes, the fact I
couldn't see the full extent of the drop probably helped!
Steeple itself was deserted, but the magnificent view was absent with
the mist. Back to the main ridge, and along easily to the top of Haycock.
It was now getting on for 1700, so I went back to the Haycock / Scoat Fell
col. This nearly always has a strong wind or gale blowing through it;
here there was just a little breeze, with the cloud floating around
gently. Down to a favourite camp site in Great Cove for the night, which
fortunately was in the sun. It was warm enough to cook and sit outside
(although the midges were a bit of a pain). I went to bed at about 2030
(as it was clear that the sunset wouldn't do much), almost for something
to do, and fell soundly asleep almost at once, woken by the alarm at 0700.
I opened the tent expecting to see the normal Sunday morning mist.
Instead I was confronted with sun and a brilliant blue sky! Very nice to
find it warm and pleasant enough to cook and eat breakfast outside. Also
nice to be in cool air up the mountain, with a gentle breeze keeping me
cool.
Back to the Haycock / Scoat Fell col, where The Midge was making busy
at the marker cairn. I then took a traversing path onto the moss below
Seatallan, and headed up the steep slope to the top. This wasn't quite
as bad as I was expecting; perhaps the Scottish trip did my fitness some
good! Then down the same route, trending right to head towards Middle
Fell, but still avoid the tedious scree slope.
I dithered rather about having a dip in Greendale Tarn (which look
full of algae); but in the end headed for the top of Middle Fell for
lunch. On the way down, as the path finally began to steepen, I contoured
over to Tongues Gills and found a spot for a bathe. The sun was still
out, but the wind was gradually picking up again.
Then down to Greendale and back to the car. Several people were
swimming in Wastwater, not a sight I see very often. Not a very
adventurous weekend perhaps, because it was warm; but a very good one!
Mark
--
Mark Manning [email protected]