As most of us already know, the Lake District can get very busy and the Bank Holiday weekends are particularly popular so it was decided to meet up in Hounslow for an early start on the Saturday morning. Myself, Gary and Fabio duly met up and set off, briefly stopping in Iver to collect Daniel, the fourth member of our trip. A straightforward journey up the M6 found us in the Lake District around mid afternoon.
We had a few ideas about what we wanted to achieve over the next two days but we still hadn't made a final decision about what we were doing to do. One definite plan was to camp at Stickle Tarn overnight and climb Pavey Ark via Jack's Rake, a grade 1 scramble so, after stopping in Ambleside for some supplies, we headed off towards the Langdale Pikes, the destination for our first night.
The weather had been good to us all day and so we soon found ourselves in the car park at the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. Although located in a remote part of the country, there were quite a few walkers here so after a quick pint we started on our way.
The route took us along a well marked track and through a gate behind the pub. A path lead us along the side of Stickle Ghyll which came tumbling down the steep slopes. Crossing a wooden bridge we continued up towards the top of this very attractive hanging valley and we soon found ourselves at the tarn. To our left were the craggy slopes of Harrison Stickle and across the tarn stood Pavey Ark. Jack's Rake was clearly visible and looked steeper and much more daunting than in the photographs that I had studied while planning the trip. We soon found a suitable site and quickly set up camp as the skies were starting to look very unfriendly. We soon had hot water boiling on our stoves and after some supper we turned in.
View of Pavey Ark with Stickle Tarn in foreground - Photo by Andrew Campbell-Curtis
The next morning Gary and I packed our gear and set off around the tarn edge and up the scree slopes to the foot of the rake with Fabio and Daniel walking the path to the summit some time later. Although it was early there were already several people scrambling or climbing over the rocks. Once on the route it was much easier than it first appeared the previous day although it still required a fully "hands-on" approach with a couple of tricky moments, made worse by the fact that we were carrying full size backpacks instead of the usual day sack, forcing us into some awkward reverses as we found ourselves too wide to fit through the narrow gaps. The handholds, however, were numerous and easy to find and after a while I found myself at the top where it was a short walk over rocks and a dry stone wall to the summit. The weather had cleared from earlier and it seemed that the whole of the Lake District was visible with many famous summits, including Scafell Pike and Helvellyn on show.
A while later we met Fabio and Daniel at the summit and together we walked along the path to Harrison Stickle, the highest point of the Langdale Pikes.
Andrew on Harrison Stickle summit - Photo by Gary Box
We had considered tackling a few more peaks but it was getting a little late and very crowded so we decided to descend and move on to our next site.
Daniel on route down from Harrison Stickle - Photo by Gary Box
Soon we were back in the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel for a pint and a few photos before heading back to the car.
Fabio, Andrew & Daniel at the pub - Photo by Gary Box
Our second objective was to walk from Seathwaite along Grains Gill and Ruddy Gill to our planned camp site at Styhead Tarn. A few last walkers were coming down as we set off on this most impressive route. The path climbs alongside the clear, greenish-grey water of the Gills and over an old packhorse bridge before rising steeply up the unmistakably U-shaped glacial valley.
We took much longer to walk this part of the route than expected and it soon became clear that, although very close, we would not make it to the tarn before the night got too dark to pitch the tents. A suitable spot was found at the top of the gorge and we set up our camp with the foot of Great End behind us. Checking my GPS I noted that the altitude was just less than 2000'.
The next morning saw a very early start for Gary and I as we had planned on a dawn walk to the summit of Scafell Pike . At 3.30 am we were up and on our way twenty minutes later.
The view from camp at 3:30 in the morning - Photo by Gary Box
Passing Styhead Tarn we joined the corridor route up to Lingmell Col where we turned south and walked up the final approach to the summit. The weather was very clear and we could look down on the clouds below us. In total contrast to my previous trip to the summit of England's highest mountain another fantastic view was our reward as we arrived at almost exactly six o'clock but the wind was making it very cold so we moved on quickly.
Gary on Scafell Pike summit - Photo by Andrew Campbell-Curtis
Dropping down a steep slope we crossed a narrow saddle over to Broad Crag and Ill Crag before heading back to camp.
As soon as we returned we started to pack up and make our way back down to the car. The path was starting to get busy as we made it to the bottom and back to our starting point so it was with some relief that we tucked into egg rolls and a can of coke in the small café at the start of the route. Too soon we were swapping the walking boots for something more suited to the journey home and we headed back to the motorway home.
Although we didn't get to do some of the things that we hoped, a walk up Great Gable was one, we had achieved most of what we had set out to do. Jack's Rake and Scafell Pike were both highlights of the weekend but most importantly, we had spent two nights camped out in some of the most beautiful and remote countryside England has to offer.
Article submitted by Andrew Campbell-Curtis
|