Memories from a trip to Keswick - 2012
March 2012 - With the Britannia flat now a thing of the past Mr
Swarbrook decided that a rented house would provide a suitable replacement
so the four available bedrooms were occupied by myself, Alison, Gordon, Jane,
Jon, Sarah and Dave. Terry and Mark had booked a couple of nights in
a Keswick hotel so a good merry gathering was there to be enjoyed.
The forecast for the week was superb with the main aim of dragging Dave up
to the summit of Scafell Pike. Would he do it?...
SUNDAY - Scafell Pike from Seathwaite via the Corridor route. Return over
Broad Crag, Ill Crag and Grain's Gill. 9 miles\3400ft ascent.
The forecast didn't dissapoint. It was glorious. This was the day that Dave
had been
looking forward to
dreading for weeks.
We drove to Seathwaite where the parking was surprisingly easy considering
the fantastic weather. We booted up and set off to Styhead Tarn via the well
worn track over Stockley Bridge.
A brief rest on the way to Styhead Tarn.
The earlyish start meant that a sedate pace could be enjoyed and Styhead
Tarn was reached with minimum fuss. Everyone, apart from Dave, was looking
forward to the next section of the climb which involved the gradual ascent
of the Corridor route which traverses along the side of the Scafell Pikes up
to the Lingmell col. Sarah had developed a particularly snotty cold and
could only advance after depositing copious amounts of snottage. Despite
this complaint she battled on whilst leaving her own marked dotted green
route which could easily be used as an invaluable guide to the summit for
future attempts.
After a short descent we hit the Corridor route and began the ascent in the
cool shade of the Scafell Pikes. The temperature soon rose as the sun
eventually appeared above the Pikes and this resulted in numerous 'tops
on\tops off' stops.
On the Corridor route with Great Gable in the background. Great
Swarbrook and
Alison can be seen on the path.
After a short while we reached a short scrambly section which some of us
enjoyed more than others but as the rock was nice and dry the downclimb was
a lot easier than it could have been. Various routes to safety were taken so
an
HF Holidayesque count was required to confirm that all of us had survived.
All were present and correct so on we went.
Terry, who appears to be an expert in cliff navigation, safely sees Gordon and Jane across the rocks. Gordon didn't want
to die before he got his redundancy payment.
We passed the top of Piers Gill and after a short while reached the point
where path forks away from the direction of Lingmell and heads straight up
to the summit of the Scafell Pike.
This would see the start of the 900ft slog over rocks and boulders to the
summit. Dave looked up and wept.
The team coax Dave up the bouldery slopes. Only another three false
summits to go.
The false summits came and went with only one incident of note which saw
Gordon smash his shin against a rather hard rock. This resulted in a couple
of small cuts but a rather nasty looking leg egg which quickly ballooned to
a rather gruesome looking size. Gordon though, being a hard northerner, took
this in his stride after some expert medical attention from myself (this
involved the careful removal of an antiseptic wipe from my medical kit).
I sauntered on to the summit in order to get into position to capture Dave's
great moment and, three hours later, he duly arrived -
Dave reaches summit (Note: this
video is 75MB in size so you've been warned).
Terry, Alison, Mark and Gordon pose on the summit. Gordon had decided to
don his trousers in order to hide his horrendous shin egg.
Lunch was taken on the eastern side of the summit and all was good with the
world. I managed to 'check in' on Facebook and announce Dave's success to
the world but the image used to accompany this great event was later seen to
be a rather poor one. Still, it's the thought that counts.
Dave on the summit of Scafell Pike. A rather more agreeable shot than
the one posted on Facebook.
Lunch was done so off we went towards Broad Crag. The descent to Broad Crag
col was the usual loose slippy affair with the continuing walk over Broad
Crag being the usual boulder affected ankle breaking affair. Dave was
beginning to suffer from cramp in both legs so a couple of stops were
required in order to allow for drinks and revival time.
Esk Pike, Bowfell and Crinkle Crags from near Calf Cove.
The descent down Grain's Gill was as enjoyable as usual and we were in no rush
to get back. The weather was still superb as we walked back through the farm
at Seathwaite and de-booted in readiness for the drive back to Keswick and
maybe, just maybe, a pint or two.
Trolls guarding the bridge over Grain's Gill.
It had been an excellent day with many first time summits of Scafell Pike
which included Dave, Alison, Jane, Sarah and Mark. Gordon had summited as a
lad when it was called 'Ye Old Pikes of Scawfell' but apart from the
different rock type and an extra volcanic layer he maintains that it's still
reasonbly similar to how he remembered it.
Where to tomorrow?
MONDAY - Blencathra via Hall's Fell ridge. 5 miles\2503 ft ascent.
Dave decided to have a rest following his success in attaining the summit of
England's highest peak but the rest of us decided that Blencathra was there to be
enjoyed.
The weather was still excellent but slightly cooler and noticeably windier.
After parking in Threlkeld we made the short climb alongside the gill and
wandered along the fields to reach the foot of Hall's Fell. Sarah was still
suffering and looked upwards to the steepening route with nervous
trepidation.
The march across the fields towards Hall's Fell. The field had already
been visited by Sarah during the previous evening hence the colour.
I'd climbed Hall's Fell on a few occasions and always remembered the first
section as a steep thigh burning little devil. Unsurprisingly, it hadn't
changed.
Terry and Mark revised their clothing before attempting the climb and Sarah
deposited another load.
Up and up we go. The path twists and turns up the initial slopes of
Hall's Fell. Gordon, who had wanted to climb Blencathra for some time, was
wondering if Cat Bells would have been the better option.
Steep paths are hard work but at least they allow you to gain height more
quickly. This however, wasn't helping Sarah who had to stop at regular
intervals to wipe her nose. The increasing wind speed wasn't helping either
as she had to maintain easterly facing nostrils in order to avoid what could
have been rather unsightly blowback.
After a few stops Sarah decided enough was enough with Jon, being a
gentlemen, deciding to walk her back to the car.
Nearing the end of the initial ascent. The wind was now quite strong and
Terry, knowing that the rocky ridge was awaiting, was beginning to have
second thoughts on continuing and comtemplated turning back.
As I waited for the group I met a walker who had just descended the ridge.
He maintained that the wind on the ridge wasn't dangerous and that the ridge
itself offered some respite. This was relayed to Terry so on we went.
The base of Hall's Fell ridge proper was reached with the initial scrambly
sections a pleasant change to the steepness encountered on the lower
slopes.
First scramble complete. Terry dons his mountaineering gnome hat which
unfortunately affects all sense of direction.
After more rock work the first tricky section was reached. I decided to show
off and traverse a knife edge but fell as my landing foot hit the smooth
mirror-like rock that marks the route. No damage done so on we went.
The second tricky section involved a tight move between two rocks and a
short drop onto the ridge. I followed this but Terry decided that a marked
path to the right was the correct way. I corrected him and shouted over for
him to follow me. He decided that he was correct so waited to alert the
others. I shouted over yet again to tell him that his route wasn't a path
and that he should follow me. This was ignored.
Alison was the first to arrive and Terry, the guardian of the peaks, decided
to send her to the right, completely ignoring my advice. After a minute or
two Terry turned around and informed me that Alison was 'stuck'. Great! I
asked Terry what he meant by 'stuck' and explained that Al had run out of
path and was hanging over a drop and unable to move.
Knowing that Alison isn't too bad on rocks I waited for her to reverse the
route but after a further wait it appeared that her rucsac was causing her
problems. Mark decided to meet her and help her back to the correct route.
The moral of this tale is to never trust Terry on the hills as he isn't an
expert in cliff navigation.
Tricky section number three. A loose groove that avoided the ridge. I
decided to let Terry assist the others due to the success of his previous
mountain leader effort.
Everyone was enjoying the ridge to various degrees but there was still an
element of uncertainty in certain people's faces.
The last section is an enjoyable scramble that leads directly to the summit
of Blencathra. Everyone was glad to be there.
Jane, Gordon, Terry the mountain gnome, Mark and Al on the summit of
Blencathra.
The walk along the tops was breezy but enjoyable with great views in every
direction. We headed towards Blease Fell and descended steeply towards
Threlkeld and the cars. That was the end of Terry and Mark's weekend but
they'd had a great two days and, in Terry's case, only nearly killed one
person.
Another great day. What would Tuesday bring?
TUESDAY - A gentle bimble around Derwent Water (three quarters of the way
before the Lodore Hotel stopped us in our beery tracks). 5.6 miles\257ft
ascent.
WEDNESDAY - Walla Crag, Bleaberry Fell and High Seat from Keswick. 9.2
miles\2174ft ascent.
Alison, Dave, Jane and Gordon were already well accustomed to Walla
Crag and Bleaberry Fell as this was one of their friendly Keswick walks. I'd
not walked in this area for nearly 25 years so was well up for a memory top
up. Jane however wasn't feeling too well so Gordon, who like Jon, is a real
gentleman, decided to abort the walk and stay with Jane. Sarah was feeling a
little better so we set off from Keswick to see if we could summit on High
Seat which is something that Alison and Dave had failed to do on a couple of
occasions.
Snotbags and Jon on Walla Crag.
Jon and I had mistakingly mistaken an anonymous lump for Bleaberry Fell and
Bleaberry Fell for High Seat. This mistake was noticed as Jon and I
summitted on 'anonymous lump'. Either Al or Dave had already realised our
mistake and didn't tell us or we'd introduced an element of confusion into
their knowledge of the central fells.
Lunch on High Seat
Bleaberry Fell. Alison had a lonely moment staring at the Helvellyn range
whilst Dave chomped on his sarnies. Sarah and Jon have a shelter moment
together.
High Seat could be seen a mile to the south so after a hearty lunch we
stomped off to bring Al and Dave to the summit that had remained
uncatcheable for all those years. Wainwright's guide to the central fells
depicts this mile as one to wish on your worst enemy and a penance for sins.
It was a bit squelchy at times but nothing compared to the bogs that
surround Kinder, Bleaklow and Black Hill. If anything, the mossy nature of
the bogs ensured that our boots remained as clean as newly hatched conkers.
The top of High Seat is a pleasant one and the greyness of the morning was
beginning to turn all bluey on us. Very nice. The views were excellent and
the descent to Ashness was pretty straightforward apart from the initial
route from the summit where the path simply disappeared.
Al and Dave have a 'Get in' feeling on reaching the summit of High Seat.
The plan was to reach Derwent Water in time to catch the last ferry to
Keswick. This was thought to be a fitting end to a good day so we sat on the
Ashness jetty for 15 minutes before deciding to call Gordon to check the
timetable that Al had left in the house. This was achieved and we awaited
the ferry which was confirmed to be only 10 minutes away.
Multiple phone ringing then ruined the peace as Jane contacted us to inform
us that the timetable was incorrect and that any boat was a good 45 minutes
off. We decided that a walk to Keswick was in hand so off we yomped with
Dave yomping like a man possessed which brought back memories of the last
day of the West Highland Way. In fairness the walk to Keswick was fine as we
managed to soak in the best hour of sunshine.
For some reason, and this isn't something we usually do, we headed straight
for the Dog and Gun and enjoyed a couple of pintettes. Another great day
with the forecast for Thursday being even better.
THURSDAY - Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag. 6.7 miles\3203ft ascent.
For some this was the final walk of the week as we'd promised to attend a
wedding in Leek on the Friday night. Jon, Sarah, Gordon and Jane had another
day to enjoy but we all decided, apart from Dave, to take on the Buttermere
fells from Buttermere itself. The weather was as good as promised so a great
day was expected.
Jane had recovered from her poorlyness but Gordon had experience a few
issues so came equipped with toilet rolls.
The ascent of Red Pike from Buttermere is always a tester but all is good on
reaching the tarn.
All smiles early on the ascent to Red Pike.
The smiles beginning to wane higher up on the ascent to Red Pike.
A drink and a rest was enjoyed at the tarn as the next steep section would
require a spot of loin girding. The initial climb isn't too bad but the
final steep loose section can be rather trying.
Ascending the red soil of Red Pike just below the summit. No smiles
here.
After a bit of slipping and sliding the summit of Red Pike was ours. The
views, as expected were stunning if a slight hazy.
Alison marched around the top looking for a suitable lunch location and
found a dry grassy spot overlooking Ennerdale.
Us on Red Pike. This shot was taken by a guy who'd carried a huge DLSR
up the hill. This shot had to be cropped thanks to the pisspoor framing he
managed to achieve. The original has an extra 12 inches of sky above us.
Lunch had been eaten so onto High Stile.
Sarah and Jon enroute to High Stile. Red Pike is the peak centre right.
The walk along the tops from Red Pike to High Stile to High Crag is always
enjoyable as the views across to Pillar, Great Gable and into the northern
Lakes are excellent. The views into the coombs are also impressive thanks to
the cliffs that fall away from the path.
After summiting on High Stile we marched across to the last peak of the day,
High Crag.
Al, Gordon and Jane on the summit of High Crag. The steep descent down
Gamlin End awaits.
After a quick view check from the High Stile summit we beefed up in
readiness for the loose steep descent down Gamlin End. In order to prevent
the need to climb over the annoying little peak of Seat we decided to take a
marked path from the bottom of Gamlin End which cut across Seat and joined
the Haystacks path. This was rocky, loose and rather shitty but it probably
saved time.
Al celebrates a successful descent off Gamlin End. The others can be
seen zigzagging down in the background.
A stomp alongside Buttermere brought us back to Buttermere village itself
and a pint in the Bridge Inn. A fitting end to the week for Al and I.
This had been one of the finest, if not the finest, week's walking we'd
experienced in the Lakes thanks to the weather. Gordon, Jane, Jon and Sarah
capped the week off with a Friday ascent of Castle Crag with Al and myself
taking in another 9.5 miles on the Roaches on the Sunday.
Will we ever get another week like it? What will Dave's next challenge be?
Will Sarah ever get rid of that cold? Will Gordon's shin fully recover?....
