Overnight the wind had dropped considerably but it was replaced with thick cloud and rain. The bin liner of snow I’d collected yesterday had melted and mostly leaked away but I’d put enough in a pan last night for my morning brew of tea. I went out to collect more snow and noticed how much smaller yesterday’s snowfield was. At this rate the whole lot will have gone in a few days. My next camp was on Scafell Pike and although it wasn’t far away in distance it is very difficult ground in places. The weather continued wet and cloudy so I waited. By 11am I’d waited enough and packed the camp away and set off in rain and very bad visibility. I used my compass to head in the right direction but crossing the featureless plateau I seemed to keep coming to steep drop offs.

Crossing broad Crag in the mist

Camp on Scafell Pike with Sca Fell in the background.

It is very disorientating when you think you are heading in the right direction only to find the wrong terrain. A brief break in the cloud revealed the falling fell side down to the Corridor Route. I got my bearings and soon found the path. For a while the path towards Ill Crag was flat and part grassy but soon joined the main path up from Esk Hause and degenerated to gravel then slippery boulders. The brief patch of clear weather had gone and I was in cloud and rain. I followed the small cairns across Ill Crag and on to Broad Crag. I’m sure in good weather this way has some merit with the views but in rain and mist it has none. There is a small col between Ill Crag and Broad Crag and in the bad visibility I’d mistaken it for the col before the final climb to Scafell Pike.

I was annoyed at my error, especially as I had more slippery boulders to cross. I was relieved to reach the final climb to Scafell Pike as I now knew how far I had to go. Although the mist and rain continued the wind hadn’t returned so I climbed upwards in relative safety. I knew I was approaching Scafell Pike summit when I heard the first screeched and shouts of the people who had climbed there. When the summit appeared out of the mist I had no wish to visit it as it was crawling with noisy people. I’d visited the summit last Wednesday and found a suitable spot to pitch a tent and also carry up some water from Broadcrag Tarn. I headed for the pitch through the mist and erected my tent in the pouring rain. The water depot was there just as I’d left it so I was soon out of the rain and in the comfort of my tent. The only continuing problem was the noise of shouting walkers who were visiting the nearby summit.

Looking back to Ill Crag

Out to sea from Scafell Pike

Tent and Scafell Summit