After a pleasant drive down to the Lake District after work on Friday evening ,we booked into the Damson Dene hotel near Kendal...a lovely hotel that serves up some great food.
After a good cooked breakfast we grabbed our rucksacks and headed for a 30 minute drive to Langdale, where we parked in a field belonging to old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. After paying £4 for the days parking, we put on our gear and started walking. Weather is cold, quite frosty in areas, but pleasant.
After walking past the back of the hotel we went through the side gate and headed up the stony path.
Its quite a steep climb straight away, but we are finding it quite easy (must be getting fitter).
The path consists of high steps and some scrambling.
There are also some places that are extremely exposed so a head for heights is certainly required, but we need the practice. You had to concentrate on where you put your feet and had to pull yourself up in places.
After taking a rest at the top, we check map and realise we have left from the wrong hotel and have been following the Pavey Ark route.
Pavey Ark is the largest cliff in the Langdales and is 700 m (2,297 ft).
There are different routes and we had ascended from Stickle Tarn via Easy Gully, North Rake or by the path to Harrison Stickle. Easy Gully is a steep walk on scree between the crags at the eastern end of the precipice, starting from the same place as Jack's Rake, and is blocked by large boulders near the top, where tough scrambling is required.
So after checking compass and map, to find a route to get back on track, we set off and head across country to meet up with part of Cumbria Way. Along here there are many different paths and the hills are covered with lots of people doing different routes.
The ground is very boggy in areas, and path unclear at times. We came to a stream, using a stepping stone Roy jumped and hit some mud, well I did not want to get dirty so I went round a bit where it was narrower and ground looking firmer. This looked good place to cross, so jump on a stone then over. WRONG I jumped into a bog, it sucked me in straight away right up to thighs. (Help! I thought my new boots, going to loose them) Panic? After shouting Roy back he looks and tells me lean forward, spread my weight so I can pull myself out. Bear Grylls advises this. Well this worked.
Looking at myself I was really muddy and very wet, one boot was full of bog, the other not too bad.
After walking for 5mins I decide its cold I need to change my socks, and what a difference, with the wind and my great Craghopper trousers, I found I dried out quite quickly. Took this photo as trousers were drying. We did not think of it straight away, at the time.
We carried on our way until we reach Rossett Pike which stands at a: 650m (2133ft) height. Once on the summit of this hill we have a coffee and bite to eat, and we can see the path we need to be on just below and the lake Angle Tam.
So once again we set off, we need to head toward that peak behind Roy, the path is a good one but many steps. We meet a couple and had a chat, they had been to Base Camp last year and gave us a few tips. It was good speaking to them, they also had done Inca Trail, we say goodbye and carry on upwards, climbing to a stone shelter.
We turn right onto the path and follow it as it merges right and climb towards the long and rocky Ill Crag.
After a steep section, the path becomes more gentle before reaching a rocky scramble. Yes patches of snow appear, the weather has been quite good to us so far. We needed to scramble up to the ridge.
The path becomes indistinct as it crosses a long boulder field.They call it a boulder field, that is so true not seen so many huge boulders that we need to walk across.
We continue along the ridge until it drops steeply, there is a lot of people here of all ages.We cross the shoulder of Broad Crag, before dropping steeply to the base of the last scramble up to the summit cairn.
The last part is realy steep, with snow and the wind is picking up. ( I hate wind)
But at last at 15.10 we arrive at the summit.
Time for some late lunch coffee and needed rest, we squeeze in between others to get some shelter as wind quite strong. Before we head down, we a couple of pictures of view.
We take out our sticks for support going down as its tricky in areas. Following the cairns marking the way its not long before summit looks far away.
Its a long way back and we have had a hail storm, snow shower etc. We arrive back at Angle Tarn where we had picked up the path.
This path desends steeply, losing over 400m and is mainly pitching, boulders and steps, which is really hard on the knees, and tiring.
We pass some sheep, on the hillside.
The sun is getting low as the time wears on, lovely view of tops.
At last at 18.55 we arrive back at the car, tired but having enjoyed our day's walk.
My brand new Scarpa boots tell the story of a hard walk.
We headed back to the hotel, having a pint of ale to quench our thirst, before going for bath and a fantastic meal and bottle of wine. We deserved it.
We finished our stay at hotel with a swim, steam room, before going for a late breakfast. After checking out we headed for Gretna before going cross country to get home.
A lovely weekend it has been.
Roy and Gail - Well met. Darn tootin' the boots tell the tale. As well, you have documented your training hikes in such a way that we feel as if we are there - minus the wind, cold, wet and bother. (We can add the wine and ale as needed!)
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work. :-)
Thanks Jim, I'm trying to make blog interesting, logging our treks with picts. Yep those boots did well on their first trek and they brushed up well too, nearly as new :)
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