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A very calm night
which eventually cleared of high mist. When I woke to put on a brew
the sky was mostly clear and the stars were out. I was camped at
700m and down below mist was settled over the fields and didn't
clear for quite a while. My planned day was quite short so I didn't
pack up and set off until 8:45am. |
Early morning view between mist and
stars |
Ullock Pike ridge and the Irish Sea
beyond. |
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Just before I left I returned the empty
plastic water container under the rocks. This isn’t to leave litter but
to carry out a controlled experiment. My plan is to retrieve it at
some future date and see how the plastic has survived. It was good
walking weather when I set off and the first obstacle to negotiate
was the steep shaley scree up to the top of Skiddaw. The first part
was steep but straightforward because of grassy areas giving
reasonable grip underfoot. Higher up there was only horribly loose
shale and slippery slabs. Eventually I emerged by the trig point at
9:30am. There was high unbroken cloud but the views were good. I
spent a while taking it in when I noticed an older walker
approaching from the south. We said a brief 'hello' as he arrived;
he reached the trig point turned straight round without looking at
the scenery, and set off down again without stopping. Each to his
own. I set off in the same direction but stopped from time to time
to take in the view of Derwentwater. Approaching the gate at Jenkin
Hill a couple of older men were coming up. At least they
acknowledged my greetings with a word or two. As I got to the gate a
man and woman were there. The man sitting and ignoring my presence,
the woman standing and looking at the ground as I approached. My
'hello' was ignored, and I was as well. I turned left and followed
the fence towards Lonscale Fell. |
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Dale Bottom from Lonscale Fell |
I still had good
views but the weather to the south was getting worse. At the
easternmost edge of the fell is a wonderful view across the valley
and over to the Blencathra massive. This is where I'd planned to
stop and there was a nice flat patch of ground next to the rather
small cairn. I pitched my tent then set off down to the north to
collect some water. It was a steep grassy descent of 130m but the
clear issuing spring was worth the walk. Then I had to retrace my
way up the 130m back to the tent. When I returned the cloud was
blowing in and the rain just starting. I dived into the tent and the
view was gone for the rest of the afternoon. |
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Whittle Wanderer