Memories from a trip to Patterdale - 2012
November 2012. Jon had organised a couple of nights at the Patterdale
hotel so a good sized group of us descended on the Lakes to eat, drink and
walk.
SATURDAY - Place Fell and Hallin Fell. 10.5 miles\3164ft ascent.
Various options had been considered for today's walk but we decided to try
Place Fell. Other options were available for later in the day so we decided
to make a decision as the day progressed.
Ann had already decided not to walk due to an ankle injury sustained in the
week so her plan was to hobble down to Glenridding and watch the rugby
international. Dave however, woke up with a cough and decided to join Ann.
Apparently, the 'cough' had been planned three weeks ago.
This left Al, Jon, Sarah, Gordon, Jane, Mark and Jim as the day's walking team so
we left the hotel and headed over to Side Farm where the climb to Place Fell
begins.
Autumnal autumness on the ascent of Place Fell. Caudale Moor and Red
Screes are the peaks in the distance.
Al's still tired. This is what's known as sleepwalking. If she carries
on doing this she'll end up falling.
The weather to the west looked good and a few of us were beginning to regret
not walking over the bigger hills of the Fairfield group. On reaching
Boredale Hause though the temperature cooled and the view to the west wasn't
quite as enticing as earlier. We were now glad of the fact that we were
ascending Place Fell.
Waterproofs were donned in readiness for the steep ascent to the summit of
Place Fell.
Waterproofs on near Boredale Hause. This made Sarah cry.
The summit was soon reached and a rather decent view opened up. The summit
trig point was pleasantly situated on a rocky platform which seemed like a
good spot for a team photo:
Another Wainwright ticked off. The summit of Place Fell. No wonder Sarah
was crying - she'd carried Mark up the hill in her rucsac and now had Jane's
arm stuck up her arse.
Where to now? Jon fancied Hallin Fell and the lakeside path whilst I fancied
Hallin Fell and a return over Beda Head. We postponed a decision and marched
over the summit moor of Place Fell towards High Dodd before descending to
Garth Heads.
The descent was wet and rather slippy which is usually perfect terrain for
the rapid descending pig - Alison. Today however, saw the sleepwalking pig
make a bit of a 'pig' of things as she fell on steep grass. I've been
informed that the fall was quite impressive but no one was available to
capture the event on camera.
A few more slips were enjoyed by other team members before we made it to the
safety of Garth Heads. It was time to decide on the next stage of the walk.
Jim decided to leave us a head for Beda Head so, in a state of Jimless, we
decided to tackle the awe inspiring ramparts of Hallin Fell.
Looking back over to Place Fell (the hill covered in sun) from the base
of Hallin Fell. Jim was somewhere on the dark ridge of Beda Head on the
left.
The ascent of Hallin Fell was short but steep. A mental note was made of a
few steep grassy sections where the descent looked like being a tricky
affair. Would Al survive?
Jane on the summit of Hallin Fell.
Views towards the north section of Ullswater opened up from the summit of
Hallin Fell and after a few photos we turned back and descended using the
ascent path. No one fell over which came as a bit of a shock.
Lunch was taken next to Martindale church - stood up in a field!
We decided to give Beda Head a miss and took the original planned route
which took in the wooded shores of Ullswater. The odd drop of rain was
'enjoyed' on the path which resulted in numerous on\off waterproof moments -
oh joy!
The lakeside path wasn't quite as 'flat' as we'd expected thanks to numerous
up and down sections. The route twisted around the shoreline bluffs and
switched from being a few yards from the lake to a couple of hundred feet
higher. Sarah decided to bang her foot which caused her to slow down. Jane
decided at one point that if Patterdale couldn't be seen around the next
bend she'd cry. Patterdale couldn't be seen around the next bend but Jane
decided not to cry.
We reached Patterdale and threw down a few beers. The walk had been slightly
longer and harder than expected but had been enjoyed by all. Well, when I
say 'all' I forget that Al fell over on two occasions and picked up a couple
of blisters, Sarah picked up blisters and knackered her knee and Jane just
wanted to cry. What's happening to the women of Pighole?
Jim joined us for beers and food and bragged about his smaller girly gay
walk. Why did Jim decide to leave us? Will we ever find out?
That was the weekend's walking done for most of the team. Dave's cough had
been magically cured by a few beers but Ann was still wankled. They, along
with Jim, would be returning home on the Sunday whereas Gordon, Jane, Al and
I would be staying for at least another night.
Where would we walk on the Sunday?
SUNDAY - Blea Rigg from Grasmere
Al and I drove to Grasmere and decided on walking up Easedale to
the summit of Blea Rigg where various options would be available later in
the day. The weather was glorious so after checking in to the hotel and
parking up we marched towards Easedale Tarn baked in warm autumn sunshine.
Codale and Easedale Tarns from just below the summit of Blea Rigg.
Helvellyn and Fairfield are the snow capped peaks in the distance.
The forecast was for improving weather as the day progressed but the clouds
replaced the clear skies and the air turned a tad cool. Despite numerous wet
rocky scrambles Al decided to stay upright which was surprising considering
the previous day's antics.
We reached the summit of Blea Rigg and decided against taking in the peaks
of Sergeant Man and High Raise. Al's legs were tiring so we took the
pleasant ridge towards Silver Howe where we'd descend back into Grasmere.
Harrison Stickle and Pavey Ark from Blea Rigg. Gordon and Jane are
somewhere on the Coniston hills to the left.
A slowish descent saw us back in Grasmere where it started to rain. Lucky
us!
That was it. Another walking weekend was over but it'd been enjoyed by all.
Will Jon organise something similar next year?
