I slept in a car park on the A66 Saturday night by Scales Farm and woke up early enough Sunday to be able to start walking at first light. The valleys we're free from snow, but above around 400/500m snow clung to the tops. I ascended Mouthswaite Combe and then at the pass I decided to bag my first easy hill, Souther Fell.
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| Souther Fell |
I then headed back toward Blencathra and followed the path to Scales Tarn. There we're now quite a few people on the hills and several also going upto Sharp Edge. I put my crampons on and axe out and then started on the ridge. I made it 20 or so metres and then after a hairy bit and then getting stuck in traffic that I wasn't feeling upto it.
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| Climbers on Sharp Edge |
So I back tracked down to Scales Tarn and then ascended Blencathra from the easy path up. The early bit of cloud had now cleared and it had turned into a beautiful crisp sunny day and from the summit of Blencathra there we're stunning views across the whole of the Lakes, Dumfries and Galloway to the north and the Pennines to the east.
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| Looking over Blencathra (Derwent Water behind in the distance) |
I then descended north-west down to Roughten Gill and then briefly onto the bridleway in the valley before ascending Lonscale Fell and getting back onto the snow. Apart from all the people on Lonscale Fell it was perfect and I had more great views in all directions. I then carried onto Skiddaw and at this time people we're starting to head off the hills, so by the time I got to the top of Skiddaw I was the only one there.
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| Looking back over Lonscale Fell (Blencathra left, Helvellyn right) |
I descended north off Skiddaw following the fence to Bakestall and then down Birkett Edge to the bridleway by a small waterfall called Whitewater dash. At this time it had gotten dark and I followed the icy bridleway using my headtorch till I found a decent enough place to pitch a tent.
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| Skiddaw summit |
It was a cold night out, but I had plenty of warm layers on and my very warm sleeping bag, so I was able to get a decent nights sleep. On Monday the morning I packed up the tent in the dark and by the time I had gotten my things together it was getting light. It was clear as I headed up Great Calva and I had a cloud free summit, with little clag over Blencathra and Skiddaw.
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| Great Calva |
I walked north-west following the fenceline and then when it turned I headed off north instead and descended to a pass below Knott. There was still a fair amount of snow on these hills, despite from a distance it not looking like much.
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| Knott, much to look at |
As I ascended Knott I came into cloud and after the longer than expected walk to the top it still hadn't cleared so I took a compass bearing east to find my path north over to Hare Stones. From here I followed another compass bearing to follow the broad ridge through the thick clag, using my GPS occasionally to check my course until I reached Carrock Fell.
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| Carrock Fell |
At first I couldn't see anything from Carrock Fell, but after a bit of food, the clag disappeared and I had the great visibility I had the day before. I then walked a rough south-westerly course into the Caldew Valley where I followed the river to try and find somewhere to cross. I walked about 2km passed a weir looking for a shallower place to cross. But after no luck, went back to the weir where 300mm high water soaked my feet, despite managing to keep them dry until now.
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| Blencathra from Bowscale Fell |
With wet feet, I warmed them up with a pathless slog up a snow capped Bowscale Fell. The temperature was noticeably dropping so I carried onto Bannerdale Crags while admiring the view of the northside of Blencathra. After my final peak I headed down into the valley and followed the paths I started on back to my car.
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| Happy New Year |
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