Walking Wanders 7 - Some of Scafell Pike and Great Gable

The Rocky Mountains

Who: Those crazy enough to head to the Lakes in November; Hannah, Monica, Nathan, the dogs and I.

Why: The winter is coming, the days are getting colder (or trying to) and the nights are getting longer. Time for one last trip to the lakes before full on winter gear is required!

The route: Day 1 - an attempt to climb scafell pike aborted due to adverse weather conditions and a slight detour, Day 2 - Great Gable. Here is the map:

The walk:

6.30am is a time no-one should be awake on a Saturday morning, but that is the time that Hannah and I set off from Newcastle to make the sunrise trip along the A69 to the end of a lane known as Seathwaite. Once Monica, dogs and Nathan (who'd sensibly stayed overnight nearby) had arrived and we were all fully waterproofed we were off. 1st landmark, Stockley bridg and from there it was steadily upwards along Styhead gill to Styhead tarn. 

Stockley Bridge

Styhead tarn, with the ominous clouds and Hannah

The promised rain was mercifully absent until we were stopping for a break at Sty Head ( a mountain resuce post with stretchers, so if you're in a party where someone breaks there leg, its a good place to know about) when the heavens opened and our waterproofs tested (one failed, but luckily I had brought a spare). The dogs were looking very sorry for themselves and with the weather only forecast to get worse we decided to part ways and meet at the pub in Wasdale Head. Hannah and I decided to continue up along the corridor route so off we plodded merrily following the other walkers along a very well-kept path until we reached a tarn. Odd, thought we, there is no tarn along the corridor route, so being a sheltered spot and the rain absent we consulted the map. We had reached sprinkling tarn; a very nice spot for lunch but entirely in the wrong direction. With high winds and a crag in the way, there was nothing for but to head back to Sty Head and start again. Take 2 and we discovered that the corridor route is not such an easy path as the name would suggests and involves some fun scrambling and rather steep drops. The dogs would have not got very far! The wind added to the fun but thankfully the rain stayed at bay. At one point we met a stupid man who had set off sans map from Seathwaite at the same time as us on his way down from Scafell Pike and we looked dry enough for him to have to ask if we had had any rain too. I'm glad we met him on his way down as I would have been worried about him otherwise.
We made slow and steady progress and came to decision point, to summit or head back down. We were only about half a kilometre away from the summit horizontally, but ~150m vertically and although the cloud had lifted as we'd climbed we had now reached the cloud base. With the shortened day, the winds strong and the paths scrambly we decided to cop out and head back down to return another day when we may have a chance of a view from the top. The route down Lingmell gill was mostly easy, being the route that the three peakers would take as they peg it up the pike.
After quick drink at the pub in Wasdale Head we had another 4 miles to walk in the dark and pouring rain along the road to our accommodation for the night, yha Wastwater. The spare waterproof was my hi vis which was donned and must have helped as neither of us got run over!

Day 2: Quick march back along the road which looked very different and far more beautiful in the daylight. There were loads of sheep which we must have passed in the night and had not noticed at all! Picking up Monica, Nathan and dogs en route (who'd sensibly stayed at Wasdale Head) we headed up Lingmell Beck to Sty Head along with a mountain rescue lady and her dog. The night previous they were scrambled to go rescue a group that had got 'benighted' on Scafell pike (but thankfully managed to rescue themselves) so our decision to head down early felt justified. Having made good progress and the weather far improved on the previous day we headed up to Great Gable. As expected we went into cloud near the top and Jake (dog) had to be carried partway as he's a wuss and dislikes rocks! Following the well-cairned path we reached the top, success!

The motley crew  and the beautiful view

Success!

 Taking careful bearings as we made our way off the summit to avoid any navigational mishaps we headed off down arran slack and back to Styhead tarn where the sun came out and it was beautiful. Aside from the changeable weather, I think Autumn is a wonderful season to go walking in because the sunshine is just such a beautiful shade.

Sunlit Styhead tarn (and Hannah)

Proof that there was sun

Onwards and downwards back to Seathwaite. Thus ends a weekend of autumn walking in the Lakes. It's just such a beautiful part of England, Praise God!