22nd March 2015 The Helvellyn range

First Big walk of 2015, and what a brilliant one. Weather cool, clear and sunny with virtually no breeze. Perfect conditions.

The start was the car park at Glenridding . As I had got up at 'stupid o clock' I was the second vehicle in the car park. Navigation was fairly straightforward ( apart from one slight malfunction !!!) I headed up  Greenside road which eventually became a typical Lakeland stony path, and towards the end I missed the turnoff to the zig zag pony track  and ended up in Brown Cove with Helvellyn Lower Man , and Catstycam towering above me, I stopped for a break and could see a small ant climbing the bank to the North East of me …..that was where I needed to be. I headed off and joined the track about a third of the way up. This was probably the steepest part of the walk.

Heading up Greenside Road

Catstycam coming into view

Eventually I arrived at the top of the track and that left a short climb to the summit of Whiteside across patches of hard snow. The view across to Helvellyn was brilliant with clouds of snow blowing off the edge.  The temperature had dropped at this point so I had to start adding layers.

Brown Cove cul de sac. Helvellyn in the centre

With perfect visibility, navigation was straightforward from here. Up to Raise, and on the way down to Sticks Pass summit there was a band of hard snow across the path – the only option was to slide down on my back side ….fortunately no mishaps when I hit the ground at the end !! On the way up to Stybarrow Dodd I was hit with a wave of tiredness and for a short while I was contemplating turning off and heading back. After a short break I convinced myself to complete the remaining Dodds -Watsons Dodd and  Great Dodd. What was I thinking !! -this was glorious high level walking over easy paths.....I had already done the hard bit,

Whiteside

Whiteside Summit - First Wainwright of the day

Back to Stybarrow Dodd and then back down via Sticks pass. The path down was very un-even and stony in places, and that did some damage to my left ankle which left it very sore and painful to put any weight on the day after. I stopped for some lunch opposite the ski slope on the North side of Raise - amazing - I hadn't realized that folk  could be skiing in England in March !!
One final option was Sheffield Pike , as Sticks Pass reached the old mine workings but I was too knackered for another climb. Eventually I arrived back at Glenridding , battered, tired but happy.

Top of Raise

What a poser

Top of Stybarrow Dodd

Top of Great Dodd

Raise from Sticks Pass

Raise from Whiteside

Another marvelous day in this beautiful part of the World.

13 Miles OS OL5

26th February 2015 High Rigg and Raven Crag

A great start to my Wainwright 214 challenge for 2015. Two separate ‘baby’ Wainwrights but as usual with the Lakes nothing is too easy.

For High Rigg I parked at a layby off the A591 just opposite the turnoff to the top end of Thirlmere. 50 yards on the main road to cross the river bridge and take the footpath on the right and then immediately take the left hand fork which climbs up to Wren Cragg which is the southern end of the High Rigg high ground. There is a decent path (soggy in places) which follows a loose ridge line towards High Rigg. The path goes over some of the craggy outcrops and around the side of others (Wren Crag, Mart Crag, Yew Crag Moss Crag)

Top of High Rigg

Blencathra

 This is a great walk with views of the Central Fells to the left , the Helvellyn range to the right , and Blencathra and Skidaw ahead. Looking back Raven Crag towers above the north end of Thirlmere.  As I still had Raven Crag to do, I decided to return via the high ground rather than drop down off the north end and return via the valley. It was also an excuse to enjoy the great views a second time around.

Once back to the car it was a short drive (1.5 miles) to the car park at the top of Thirlmere. Time for a bite of lunch and a change of socks and boots (feet were soaking after High Rigg).  About a 100 yards north of the car park the footpath starts on the left. This is the only sign post to Raven Crag. A steep climb through the woods brings you to a forest road. Follow this road to the base of Raven Crag and then bend away from the crag until another footpath to the left (no signpost – but it is opposite a gate to the right of the path). Path again climbs steeply up to a clearing and another well defined path that would take you to Castle Crag Fort. Take the left hand path which again climbs steeply to the summit of Raven Crag. This is a well built path with steps on the really steep bits.

Foot of Raven Crag

Raven Crag summit

Summit of Raven Crag gives fabulous view across Thirlmere. Descent is the same route back.

A brilliant start to 2015. OS OL 5 about 8 miles in total

14th February Grindsbrook Clough.

Bit of a disappointing walk in cold misty weather. The idea was to meet up with Jake who was on a walk as part of a stag weekend. They had set of via Jacobs ladder and were heading around the rum to the top of Grindsbrook Clough.

Although I say it was disappointing it was still great to get out onto Kinder again. The problems I hit was when I needed to cross the brook to pick up thje left hand footpath. There was just too much water tumbling down – normally this isn’t a problem in summer as there is less water , so it is easy to cross. I has to backtrack a half a mile down to find a place to cross but then the hit more problems when I needed to cross again a bit further up. I could just see the plateau rim through the mist (maybe 200 yards up), but I decided to backtrack down to Edale. Jake and his party got lost in the mist and missed the top of Grindsbrook, coming down via Ringing Roger. So I would have probably missed the RV anyway.

About 4-5 miles OS OL1 Dark Peak