Normal start to a walking day (Tuesday) with the run up the
M6 finally arriving at the parking spot at the foot of
Mousthwaite Comb at 9.00am. Boots and sack on, switch on GPS
and away up the path. A good warm up to start the day with
some steep bits early on.Eventually reach the col, superb
views down the Glenderamakin valley. Blencathra sharp and
clear. Turned to the right and headed for the first summit
of the day, Souther Fell. long walk along the summit ride
with good views of Bannerdale Crag, which was to be the last
summit of the day. Finally arrive at the summit and
immediately start to retrace my steps back to the col. Drop
down to the col and keep going on towards Blencathra.
Weather starting to change, clouds driving in at a high
level and the temperature dropping. Pleasant walk along the
level path followed by the steep drag by the side of Scales
Tarn. People around now, a small party resting at the tarn
and several visible on the ridge up to Blencathra. No one on
Sharp Edge. Continue steeply up the path to the start of
Sharp Edge. Little wind to bother with so onto the ridge top
and move along. It may be short but it certainly is more
difficult that Striding. The scramble at the end of the
ridge up to the summit was excellent even though there were
a few spatters of rain. The ridge was done in isolation.
When I started there were a couple on the scramble section
and a group starting the walk up from the tarn. Really
enjoyed this section of the walk. Plodded up to the summit
of Atkinson Pike and then wandered across to the summit of
Blencathra. Cloud starting to drop now and more flurries of
rain. Reached the summit and had a quick sandwich. Packed up
again quickly as the cloud dropped and started off to the SW
to pick up the Nuttal at 851 metres. Turned round again and
started of back towards the summit. Cloud now fully down so
from the summit picked up a waypoint off the GPS and headed
for that. The waypoint was for the foot of Blue Screes.
Dropped out of the cloud at about 770 metres with a poor
view of Mungrisdale Common, my next Wainwright. Downhill for
a little and then a fairly flat section before the slight
ascent to the summit (??), but where is the summit. The
cairn didn't appear to be it looking at the GPS screen. I
moved to the spot which the GPS gave as the summit which was
140 metres or so away almost eastwards. So which is
right/wrong map or cairn. GPS seemed to be OK and the track
taken from it afterwards was near enough spot on with other
previous and later points. I started the trudge back with
the cloud starting to lower again heading all the time for
the high spot between the top of the Glenderamakin river and
Blackhazel Beck, again using a waypoint on the GPS. A steady
walk uphill along the back of Atkinson Pike and then a
steepish drop down saw me there sometime later. I had
dropped out of the cloud by now or rather the cloud had
risen but there were more flurries of rain to contend with.
The way forward was obvious , well marked path towards
Bowscale Fell. Arrived at the pile of stones which marks the
summit in a downpour which soon ended. More retracing of
route but soon bearing away to the left as I picked up the
path along the edge of Bannerdale Crags. It certainly goes
close to the edge in a couple of spots. Eventually arrived
on the summit and started down. No path now but the cloud
had lifted again and it was just a case of aiming for the
top of Mousthwaite Comb. The last bit down White Horse Bent
to the bridge seemed steep and the GPS track shows this with
the zig zagging I was doing. Onto the path a few metres
short of the bridge and the drag up to the top of
Mousthwaite followed and finally the walk down the path to
the car. I was passed by a school party going up who didn't
seem too keen to be out on the hill. Back to the car for
2.40pm.Just over 12 miles and 1115 metres of ascent.
Had lunch and decided what to do next. A return home seemed
to be the best thing but it was early in the day therefore
plan B went in to operation. A drive over to Great Mell Fell
ensued as did a walk up to the top and back in 65 minutes. I
shall say no more. Plan 2B was next used ie a drive over to
Little Mell Fell. Up and down in 26 minutes. Two more
Wainwrights but I wasn't that impressed. The views were poor
from the tops due to the cloud and the walking, driving,
walking was quite knackering.
That ended the day, got changed into some clean and odour
free clothes at the Hause but in driving rain and returned
home. In reflection an ordinary days walking, not a day that
was remarkable for anything but 7 more Wainwrights crossed
off the list.
Mike Mason