Lake District, New Year 2016/17

The car park at the end of Gale Road is almost 300 metres above sea level, and from there the ascent of Skiddaw is probably the easiest climb of any of the highest fells. Today I hoped to get above the cloud.

The Hawell Monument, a memorial to two Skiddaw shepherds, Edward and Joseph Hawell of Lonscale.  A third name, that of Robert Walker Hawell was inscribed on the base of the cross at a later date.  The epitaph on the base reads –

Great Shepherd of Thy heavenly flock
These men have left our hill
Their feet were on the living rock
Oh guide and bless them still

The memorial was reputedly erected by Canon Rawnsley, one of the co-founders of the National Trust, who was a friend of the family
.
The simple ascent, into the clouds
Blue sky above, but not quite properly above the clouds
Haze on top – perhaps if I’d lingered long enough, I might have got what I was after, but it was quite windy and chilly
And the landscape through gaps in the cloud is very beautiful

Farewell to George

A chilly walk up Helvellyn this afternoon under blue skies, following two parkruns this morning at Carlisle and Keswick. The walk was primarily to find a resting place for George’s ashes.

Crinkle Crags

A glorious day for a stunning walk up Crinkle Crags, a contrast to the previous time I visited which was in fog. Chilly on top (forecast said minus 15 with wind chill) but that led to some interesting ice formations.

Crossing Oxendale Beck
The Langdale Pike as I ascend towards Red Tarn
A right turn towards the top of the pass before reaching Red Tarn and I am more than half-way up
Ice lining the banks of the stream
The Helvellyn range behind the Langdale Pikes
The Scafells on the left, with the top of Crinkle Crags on the right
The Bad Step is the direct way to the top. I’ve had a look at it before and didn’t fancy it, and definitely wouldn’t attempt it when there is ice about, so I took the easy route around to the left.
Ice on the summit
The Scafells from near the summit
Most of the Lake District and quite a lot of the Yorkshire Dales
Descending to Three Tarns, in the gap before Bowfell
One of the Three Tarns (there can be any number depending on how wet it has been, and at what size a patch of water qualifies – three is purely nominal) with the Scafells beyond
One of the tarns at Three Tarns
Heading down after a really wonderful walk. The days are short in winter, but there’s little to beat a cold and clear day on the fells.

Leave a Reply