Descent from Dore Head

Hi Steve,
I did the same route 4-5 years ago. The descent from Dore Head is on
loose scree, so watch out for other people above and below. I remember
descending it quite quickly, but having to do a few sideways manoeuvres
to pick a new line. I think you'd probably score it a 3.

You can see a report of my trip at...
http://cgi.simonedwardes.plus.com/PillarRock.htm
which is mainly about my ascent of Pillar Rock. One of the photos is a
view across to Yewbarrow from Pillar, with Dore Head and the line of
descent clearly visible.

Cheers, Simon
website: The Mountains of England and Wales
http://cgi.simonedwardes.plus.com

Steve Crossley said:

Hi,
I will be in the Wast Water area at Easter and intend doing the
Mosedale Horseshoe, but I do not want to include Yewbarrow (makes it
too long) so would like to descend at Dore head. How difficult is it.
To give an idea someone asked on a scale of 1 - 5 how difficult Green
to Great Gable is and I would give it a 2, and we have descended the
path at wind gap (Pillar not Gable) though in serious mist which
funnily enough made it easier as you could not see the drop.
Regards Steve

It's pretty straightforward if you've descended screes before, I've
done it a few times and would grade it as no more than a 2. Ther's a
photo looking down it on here:
http://www.stridingedge.net/Walks/2004/4%20April/26.4.04.htm

[email hidden] (Steve Crossley) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi,
I will be in the Wast Water area at Easter and intend doing the
Mosedale Horseshoe, but I do not want to include Yewbarrow (makes it
too long) so would like to descend at Dore head. How difficult is it.
To give an idea someone asked on a scale of 1 - 5 how difficult Green
to Great Gable is and I would give it a 2, and we have descended the
path at wind gap (Pillar not Gable) though in serious mist which
funnily enough made it easier as you could not see the drop.
Regards Steve

My father and I *ascended* the scree slopes of Dore Head in June 2004,
whilst both carrying extremely heavy packs (we were doing a week long
trek around the lakes and were carrying everything we needed for the
journey). We found it **extremely** tough going. It is very steep,
and the scree is a killer (one step up, slide two steps down etc.).
The grass either side isn't much easier, and there is/was quite a bit
of erosion.

Descending will obviously be easier (IMO). At the end of the day you
could sit on your a*se and slide. Whether you want to do that is
another matter. It was mostly the steepness that we found tough,
combined with the weight we were carrying (which also caused some
centre-of-gravity problems due to the gradient) - and this is more of
a problem ascending. Not sure how I'd grade it as a descent, as
opinions differ. But I'd much rather be descending it with a light
daysack than trying to get up the bugger with a pack that seemed to
weigh more than I did.

Michael S

Sean McMahon said:

Steve Crossley said:

Hi,
I will be in the Wast Water area at Easter and intend doing the
Mosedale Horseshoe, but I do not want to include Yewbarrow (makes it
too long) so would like to descend at Dore head. How difficult is it.
To give an idea someone asked on a scale of 1 - 5 how difficult Green
to Great Gable is and I would give it a 2, and we have descended the
path at wind gap (Pillar not Gable) though in serious mist which
funnily enough made it easier as you could not see the drop.
Regards Steve

It's pretty straightforward if you've descended screes before, I've
done it a few times and would grade it as no more than a 2. Ther's a
photo looking down it on here:
http://www.stridingedge.net/Walks/2004/4%20April/26.4.04.htm

....and here's another one:
http://www.lakedistrictwalks.com/dorescq.html

HTH

John D.
--
John Dawson at home in Kendal, Cumbria.
Lake District Walks Web Pages: http://www.lakedistrictwalks.com/
Kilimanjaro Trip: http://www.lakedistrictwalks.com/kilimanjaro/

"Steve Crossley" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi,
I will be in the Wast Water area at Easter and intend doing the
Mosedale Horseshoe, but I do not want to include Yewbarrow (makes it
too long) so would like to descend at Dore head. How difficult is it.
To give an idea someone asked on a scale of 1 - 5 how difficult Green
to Great Gable is and I would give it a 2, and we have descended the
path at wind gap (Pillar not Gable) though in serious mist which
funnily enough made it easier as you could not see the drop.

And how does it compare to the scree below An Stac in the Cuillin (perfect
IMO) and Mullach an Rathain on Liathach (nasty, almost got hit on the head
by rockfall) ?

--
Theo
www.theosphotos.fotopic.net

Simon Caldwell said:

On Fri, 4 Mar 2005 22:26:12 +0100, "theo" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

And how does it compare to the scree below An Stac in the Cuillin (perfect
IMO) and Mullach an Rathain on Liathach (nasty, almost got hit on the head
by rockfall) ?

It shouldn't really be called scree any more as it was run out long
ago. Loose earth and mud now.
In reply to the OP - it's not that difficult, but it is
extraordinarily unpleasant. IMHO it's well worth the extra distance
to take in Yewbarrow. Not only do you get to do one of the finest
hills in the lakes, but you also avoid having the day spoiled by the
descent from Dore Head.
Simon

I agree completely. All the small scree has long gone. It's a pita
using that route - *much* better to include Yewbarrow, which is a far
better mountain than its meagre height suggests (did I produce that
thought or did AW say it?) In fact, it's a gem - so there's no excuse
whatever for omitting it! Mosedale is a grim valley too - much better
to end your walk with a fine view of heaven.

--

R
o
o
n
e
y

Thanks for the replies, unfortunately the full route is too far with
children, but all depending on how the weather goes we will be doing
Gable and Kirk fell via the climbers traverse the day before so I will
take the binos for a peek at Dore Head.
Thanks Steve

"Steve Crossley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the replies, unfortunately the full route is too far with
children, but all depending on how the weather goes we will be doing
Gable and Kirk fell via the climbers traverse the day before so I will
take the binos for a peek at Dore Head.
Thanks Steve

Having climbed Dore Head last summer I personally would not go up or down it
again. The erosion is terrible and it does not feel too safe. Really scary
is having a group of Fell Runners come jogging down past you as you scramble
around on loose mud and stones.
There is a path around the back of Yewbarrow from Dore Head you could take
along Over Beck, this might be further distance but ultimately safer and
less damaging.

HTH,
Nick