Thursday 28 July 2011

Reminder

We resume our guided walks on Monday August 1st with Cathy Colam off up Scafell Pike.

Thursday 14 July 2011

Helm Crag to Stonethwaite July 13th 2011


Helm Crag's rocky, summit not for the feint hearted
It was a perfect day yesterday as we boarded the 555 bus at Keswick Bus Station to make our journey over Dunmail Raise to Grasmere. Once there we set off up Easedale Road towards Helm Crag. 

I seem to recall that Wainwright never actually climbed this little bit of rock, tempting though it is. There is a very sharp drop off the top if you make a mistake so we did not encourage our group to climb it.  Instead we suggested posing for a photo.


Once we set off again the ridge began to be sprinkled with odd Coast to Coast walkers who were burdened with heavy loads.  We saw a few all day and chatted to the odd ones on the way. It's surprising how they like to keep stopping and nattering to folk, maybe the large rucksacks they carry are their excuse for constant respite.  It was certainly hot at times but windy and fresh on the summits.  We continued along our ridge until we eventually came up over Greenup Edge and changed valleys into Borrowdale.

We then started the descent down past Lining Crag where we met a couple of delightful chaps who were again resting from their endeavours and who were eventually going to camp wild somewhere before Grasmere. Our path took us down past Eagle Crag which is magnificent viewed from this angle and eventually it gave us a splendid photo opportunity as we neared Stonethwaite, because there is a lovely view past a sheep shelter back up the valley.
A distant Eagle Crag
All we had to do was wait for the bus after this and have an open top ride back to Keswick, it was delightful.

Sunday 10 July 2011

Robinson, Hindscarth and Dalehead Hike today


We started from Buttermere where we were dropped off by the 77 bus and walked up the road out of the village before starting to climb up the fellside towards High Snockrigg. The views were stunning. This is looking back towards Rannerdale Knotts with Crummock Water beyond and Loweswater way at the back. We pressed on and crossed Buttermere Moss which lived upto its name as it was very boggy. Pete joked to a couple of passing walkers that someone had just fallen in 'up to their neck'.  Not sure if they knew how to take his comment. Anyway, we arrived at the top of Robinson and had a lunch break before pressing on to Hindscarth.

A couple of rough fell sheep were poised on the rocks very near the summit and they looked so photogenic. Bella took a lot of interest in them and had a bit of a bark and pulled on the lead as she is wont to do......But these stalwarts did not give in to her intimidation, and carried on standing their ground. Bella had other sheep on her mind though later.

This was taken on the top of Hindscarth and shows Pete keeping a good grip on her as she surveyed the possibility of making off after the sheep seen far right. She has been known to chase off even though she is firmly attached to Pete's rucksack as an anchor. Once notably scattering its contents all over the top of Blencathra with Pete in hot pursuit. Today though, she was kept in check.
Now this is a boring photo but it has a point, because I wanted to show those of you who have not ventured up a fell yet what the going is like. You see we are often asked to explain the obvious so this photo does it for us, this is mixed rocky ground and fairly flat as its the top of Hindscarth but is fairly typical of the type of terrain we go out in. Sometimes mind it is much rockier. I hope this clarifies the situation.

Next up we have a photo of the view you are rewarded with if you climb Dalehead and it is one of the very best in the Lakes, today it was very slightly misty but nevertheless still took your breath away.  It is easy to become complacent when you live in the area but even we thought it looked magnificent today.
The view towards Skiddaw from the top of Dalehead

The top of Dalehead is graced by a fine cairn, its one of the very best and makes a wonderful photo opportunity to show that you have bagged it. This is Sarah from Cornwall who came up especially all this way because she is lured by the beauty of our landscape. It was the perfect end to the day.

Dalehead Cairn



Sunday 3 July 2011

Stop Press Walk change of date

The walk Cath was doing tomorrow has been re scheduled for Thursday with a different start time.

Mon 4th July CC 1/2 Day Whinlatter (C) Start 1.30pm Masmill Woods  This is cancelled .




This walk will now take place on Thursday 7th July starting at 10am and is all day now.  See the July programme for details.