The buzz of the alarm signalled the time to rise ........ It was 3:45 Friday
morning, dark and cold outside, but it was exciting times as Clare and I
were zooming off to Keswick for a 4 day weekend. Ablutions and a quick
breakfast out of the way, it was pack the car and head north from Denmead to
join the A34 at Winchester. It was quiet on the roads as we continued along
the M40/M42/M6, and the excitement started at the first glimpse of snow.
Yes, I was looking forward to some snowy walking. It was almost 10:30 as
Clare dropped me off at the Scales along the A66, the start of my first
walk. (High-level winter does not feature in Clare's walking.) Kitted up, I
started out up the path crossing diagonally up the side of Scales Fell, my
destination Scales Tarn via the lower eastern valley below White Horse Bent.
I was soon in snow - brilliant - and very alone as I reached the outflow
from Scales Tarn. Plenty of ice on the stream, and cloud up above over Sharp
Edge and Foule Crag area. Up at the Tarn, three guys were descending down
the path to the left of Scales Tarn to a very frozen Tarn. Quick chat, then
out ice-axe and up the same path they had just come down. I was soon alone
and in cloud (or hill fog!) with the path becoming steeper, and wind
strength increasing. It was time for crampons, jacket and leggings.
After a rather steep section, I soon joined the path coming up Scales Fell
and turned right to make my way to the cairn of Blencathra. Not easy to see
at first in the low visibility conditions and spindrift, but my trusty GPS
confirmed the direction. I was not alone as two other walkers were having
lunch at the cairn ..... so I joined them. Very pleasant, even though
nothing to see and almost blizzard conditions, but conditions I enjoy.
(Clare thinks I am mad!) Well, coffee and sandwich over, I departed and
headed west along the saddleback to Blease Fell .... and not a sole in
sight. At Blease Fell, I started by descent down to the Blencathra Centre
close to Threlkeld. From the centre, I continued on paths down to Derwent
Folds and on to Brundholme before joining the old railway track to old
Keswick Railway station. From their it was a short walk to Southey Street
where Clare had arrived early afternoon at our cottage. A brilliant 7.5 mile
walk in reasonable conditions, though pity about the Lakeland View from the
top! It was the Dog & Gun that evening for some refreshing Theakston's Old
Peculiar and a pleasant meal.
My plan for Saturday was for Helvellyn via Swirral Edge then north to Sticks
Pass. I was on my way out of Keswick by 8:00 and down to Glenridding
arriving about 8:30. I was soon on my way up the road past the Medical
Centre and on to Mires Beck. Not long after starting up the path from Mires
Beck, I branched off right onto the path below The Nab and Blea Cove,
eventually arriving above Greenside Mine area. Crossing the footbridge over
Red Tarn Beck, I continued the path up to Red Tarn. The clouds were low
covering Catstye Cam to the right and the whole of Swirral Edge around to
Striding Edge. There was a good covering of snow as I joined Swirral Edge,
requiring crampons and ice-axe before starting along the narrow path. I had
become more exposed to the wind, with spindrift blowing all around. I
struggled on up the rocks, but got to a point where I wasn't quite sure of
the route. Resting for a while, I decided to abandon my attempt and returned
to Red Tarn. Disappointed, but there is always another day! Well, I returned
to just before Greenside Mine area and stopped for a coffee beside the
stream that flows into Red Tarn Beck. It was then that the sky opened a
little to reveal rich blue sky. It was too early to return to the car, and
the mountains above looked inviting, so I decided to joined my planned route
below Raise. It was hard work regaining height up the zig-zag path above Red
Screes, to the north of Catstye Cam, but worth every ache. Stunning views
with great clouds on my arrival at the top. However, it was short lived as
the clouds descended and I was back in low visibility and blizzards. Still,
I headed north over Raise to Sticks Pass then started down to Greenside
Mine. Once out of the clouds, I sat and had the remainder of my coffee
enjoying the views down to Ullswater. Wary of the time, I set off back to
Glenridding and a welcome seat in the car. A 12.5 mile hike with 4650 ft of
ascent had tired my 'wee' legs, so it was luxury to sit down for the drive
back to Keswick.
After Saturday's marathon, Sunday was to be a pleasant 'stroll' above
Borrowdale. Friends drove over from Yorkshire, so Clare and I took them for
a walk from Great Wood along to Ashness Bridge, then left up alongside
Ashness Gill over Dodd to High Seat. Although there was plenty of ice
around, there was still boggy sections on the way up to High Seat. We had
stunning 360 degrees views from High Seat, especially over the brilliant
white Helvellyn range. After a few photos, it was off north across open
ground to Bleaberry Fell, with a lunch stop in the sun half way across. More
photos of splendid views over Derwent Water to Skiddaw before we dropped
down around Brown Knotts to Walla Crag area. We opted for the final section
down the path alongside Cat Gill, a rather pleasant gorge above Derwent
Water, before returning to the car park.
The end of 3 great days of walking, with a mixture of sunshine, snow,
blizzards and wind ..... a typical English weekend! We all dined in the Dog
& Gun that evening, saying farewell to Keith and Helen after a coffee at our
cottages. Clare and I settled down for a relaxing wine and beer in front of
the TV before packing for the long journey south in the morning. However,
the beauty is that we return to Braithwaite near Keswick two weeks Saturday
for another week of walking .... yippee! ...... but will the snow be still
around?
Total distance: 26.3 miles
Total ascent: 9456ft
Photos from the 3 days walking should be uploaded before the end of the
week.
--
sandy saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk
'Mountains or Mole Hills ... summiting still
brings the same excitement'