Threlkeld, Blease Fell,
Blancathra, Cumbria. |
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NY 5185 2561 |
Lonscale Fell |
approaching the summit and about to go into cloud |
I was walking along the base of Blease Fell and just before I reached Roughten Gill coming in from the right I headed up through the snow to start the ascent of Blencathra via Knowe Crag. I followed a gently slop up into the gill then turned south to take a direct route up the fell. The wind became stronger and I was soon in cloud. My hopes of seeing the Blencathra snow cornices seemed doomed. When I started my walk along the ridge I could see them but only short stretches. |
Most of the way I was walking in a whiteout. The wind got stronger and with a temperature of -7 degC I was going to find it difficult to find shelter to have my lunch. About half way to Hallsfell Top I climbed a short way down the south face to get out of the wind. It almost worked but as I sat there the spindrift dropped on me from above. When I reached hallsfell top there was hardly any visibility so I took the quickest, and probably safest, descent route via Scales Fell. |
from the descent of Scales Fell |
from the descent of Scales Fell |
It was annoying still being in cloud and I didn’t descend below it until the final approach to Scales. Instead of descending all the way to the path by the A66 road I stayed on the path that follows the base of the fell and crosses Scaley Beck, Doddick Gill and Gate Gill. At Blease Gill I took the path down back to the car park. My car was still the only one there. |
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