I was out Back o'Skiddaw yesterday (Wednesday) and as I plodded along the Cumbria Way below Mungrisdale Common I pondered (as one does) on what motivated AW to put such insignificant prominences in his books while leave marginally more significant summits out. If it was just Mungrisdale Common then I would accept the notion that that particular inclusion was a joke but such summits are almost commonplace in his books.
So why MC but not Sale How, Bakestall but not Little Calva?
The OS (or perhaps their informed sources) are not adverse to muddying the waters either. Later in the day I passed over Little Lingy Hill but very nearly unintentionally missed it out. A more insignificant summit would be hard to find. A small mound in the wide col between 2 more prominent hummocks. Knott to the SW (a Marilyn no less) and to the NE what appears to be named inappropriately as "Pile of Stones" but seeing it is adjacent to Great Lingy Hill probably has a better claim to the 'Little Lingy' title than the present incumbent. Pile of Stones used to be a 2000 foot summit but has suffered the indignity of demotion by metrication and aerial survey to a mere 609m (1998 feet). Personally I would rather trust the accuracy of a small contour ring established by levelling rather than a height lifted off a stereoscopic photo.
-- Roger Chapman Nearest Marilyn still to be visited - Great Orme. 89 miles as the crow flies, considerably more as the walker drives.
In message <[email hidden]>, Roger <[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:
I was out Back o'Skiddaw yesterday (Wednesday) and as I plodded along the Cumbria Way below Mungrisdale Common I pondered (as one does) on what motivated AW to put such insignificant prominences in his books while leave marginally more significant summits out. If it was just Mungrisdale Common then I would accept the notion that that particular inclusion was a joke but such summits are almost commonplace in his books.
So why MC but not Sale How, Bakestall but not Little Calva?
A lot of the insignificant summits in Wainright's Guides are explicable on the grounds that they are prominent from the valley. For example Bakestall is a ridge end, but Sale How is a lump on the flank of Skiddaw and Little Calva is on a shoulder of Great Calva. -- Stewart Robert Hinsley
The message <[email hidden]> from Stewart Robert Hinsley <[email hidden]> contains these words:
Quoted message said:
A lot of the insignificant summits in Wainright's Guides are explicable on the grounds that they are prominent from the valley. For example Bakestall is a ridge end, but Sale How is a lump on the flank of Skiddaw and Little Calva is on a shoulder of Great Calva.
I have used that argument myself in the past but not for Bakestall v. Little Calva. ISTM that in that case you have the descriptions reversed. Little Calva is a much more prominent ridge end, at least in terms of both volume and height below its larger neighbour and even makes the Nuttalls list.
AW himself says of Bakestall "It would pass almost without comment but for its command of a scene of extra-ordinary interest ..." and of Little Calva "a place of little interest" but even his contempt for Little Calva is not so great as that for Mungrisdale Common.
-- Roger Chapman Nearest Marilyn still to be visited - Great Orme. 89 miles as the crow flies, considerably more as the walker drives.
On Thu, 10 May 2007 11:33:35 +0100, Roger <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:
If it was just Mungrisdale Common then I would accept the notion that that particular inclusion was a joke but such summits are almost commonplace in his books.
"Roger" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I was out Back o'Skiddaw yesterday (Wednesday) and as I plodded along the Cumbria Way below Mungrisdale Common I pondered (as one does) on what motivated AW to put such insignificant prominences in his books while leave marginally more significant summits out. If it was just Mungrisdale Common then I would accept the notion that that particular inclusion was a joke but such summits are almost commonplace in his books. <SNIP> -- Roger Chapman Nearest Marilyn still to be visited - Great Orme. 89 miles as the crow flies, considerably more as the walker drives.
When I did MC years ago, I thought it was an insignifcant bump, I only knew I was there (pre GPS days BTW) because of a few stones cairn. I always though Wainwright picked that spot because of the view southwards. I remember (but took no photos - almost pre digital camera days) the vew southwards in gap between Lonscale and Blease Fell quite pleasing
