I was hoping to head up to the Lakes last weekend, but the weather
forecast was looking pretty forboding! One of the last Web-based
forecasts I saw said that Saturday would feature "incessant rain" and
"gales". I cycled home from work with a very large black cloud over my
head. However, the telephone walking forecast for the Lakes seemed much
more cheerful; I resolved to give it a go.
The cloud was just touching the highest fells when I got to Wasdale.
Headed up from Overbeck towards Dore Head; the cloud was just brushing the
top of Red Pike as I approached, but I still had a good view over Pillar
and Mosedale. Then up the ridge to Red Pike itself; the last part of this
was in mist, but the path was clear. This is an area I know well enough
to know that it's confusing in mist! Had lunch at the 2629' cairn at
the top of the Dore Head ridge before heading for the summit. It was
surprisingly quiet; I met a couple of parties on the way, including a man
who was obviously backpacking like myself. A bit breezy at the top, so
no real encouragement to hang around.
Wasn't quite sure what to do next, but I followed the GPS easily to
the top of Scoat Fell, keeping left of the bee-line to avoid the worst of
the stones. It was seriously blustery at the top, and getting wetter; the
thought of being tucked warmly in my sleeping bag in a nice dry tent
suddenly seemed very appealing! Although it was only about 1400, I
decided to head down to Scoat Tarn for the night.
It was as well I did. I decided to descend to the Tarn using my
compass; this was easy enough, but the thick mist meant that I could only
take short "steps" before I needed to check the bearing again. It would
have been much faster to walk with my GPS, but I found that my naviagation
was only 4 degrees out after travelling a kilometer; encouraging!
However, the descent had taken 45 minutes, so it was time to put up camp;
fortunately my GPS contained the coordinates of my last campsite by the
Tarn. Had a quick dip (let's just say the water wasn't very warm), and
settled down. I'd had a very early start and a long drive; so I put the
light out at about 1930, and was woken by the alarm at 0700. I always
sleep very well, and enjoy it, when I'm camping. There was some snow in
the night, and some bursts of rain, but nothing too terrible.
I woke to a very different day: the mist had cleared, and the sun was
out. Cloud was just brushing the top of Haycock. There was a dusting of
snow by the tent, and on the higher hills; but nothing calling for winter
skills. A fabulous winter day. I was off again by about 0915; the wind
had made it a bit difficult taking the tent down, and I lost a tent-peg in
the process. Nothing too terrible.
Decided to head up to the col between Haycock and Scoat Fell (after
filling the Platypus from one of the Tarn's feeder streams). The mist was
being blown over the col by a very strong northerly wind, which made
walking over slippery stones rather difficult. Met a man coming the other
way who was staying in Ennerdale Youth Hostel; the only person I saw all
day until close to the end of the walk.
Then headed for the large south cairn, and turned off just before it
down AW's grassy gully to get to Pikehow Moss. Had a snack, and then
headed up Seatallan; I've now got the technique of taking small steps on
steep slopes, which means I can keep going (even though I'm not going very
fast). Then down the facing slope to Middle Fell. This is steep but not
difficult, but progress is quite slow; I'd probably have been as well
retracing my steps to the Moss down an easier slope and taking a slightly
longer route to Middle Fell.
Had lunch at the top, having passed another walker, and then sat a
little way down the slope, looking at the low winter light on the Wasdale
fields and the sea beyond. Just stunning. Then all too soon I had to
head down to the Greendale path, and back to the car. A wonderful winter
weekend, particularly as I almost didn't end up going!
Mark
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Mark Manning [email hidden]