We parked on the Cold Fell Road near the Kinniside Stone Circle. We were out wild camping because the forecast wasn't too bad and we hoped to camp on Lank Rigg. Our first fell was Grike.
Ennerdale Bridge in view from the path to Grike
On the forest road leading to Grike
There isn't much forest left here now a lot of the trees have been felled. It was a dull day with low cloud but it at least it was dry.
Lank Rigg free from cloud for the minute
Grike summit ahead
Cloud was in and out on the summit but it was cloud free by the time we got onto it.
On Grike
We dropped down out of the wind to have some lunch. We hadn't started walkng until 11.15 and although we had only walked a couple of miles we were ready for some food.
On Crag Fell
We renamed it Clag Fell because it was in the clag. It had been a very wet crossing from Grike to Crag Fell, splodge, splodge all the way.
We left Crag Fell and descended to Black Pots.
The Bridge of Death
We decided not to use this bridge, we walked around the bog!
Looking back to Grike and Crag Fell
Cloud still covering the top
Lank Rigg ahead
Our original plan had been to camp on Caw Fell but we had started later than planned and it was cloud capped anyway. Even if we had time we wouldn't have bothered going up it.
On Lank Rigg
The cloud had covered the top by the time we got there so no views. We checked for buried treasure under some stones at the cairn and all we found was 2p
There had been lots of coins here last time.
We walked over to the tarn and ancient tumulus and searched for somewhere to pitch. Rain had started falling and it was more of a this will do pitch. We have a new tent, a Southern Cross 2 which is a four season tent. Unless the weather is really wet and windy we probably will still go out over the winter using it, even in sub zero temperatures. I also bought a new sleeping bag from Cotswold Outdoors in Keswick, which was the reason for the late start. I'd picked up a new Mountain Hardwear Lamina, a winter rated bag. It is comfort minus 4, comfort limit minus 9 so it should be warm enough and much warmer than I'm used to. Cotswold have it listed as 1.1kg which is very light for a synthetic bag at this rating. I weighed it when I got home and it is 1380g
I should have done more research before I bought it; Cotswold have the wrong weight listed online and on the label in the shop. I could take it back but it is a nice bag so I am going to put up with it being heavier than I thought.
The Southern Cross below Lank Rigg
The tent is lovely and warm, a solid inner and fly all the way down to the ground. It has less head room and is not as wide as the MSR tents we have but being able to go out in colder temperatures is worth having less room. The clag descended after we pitched so we didn't get a sunset view. We had our tea and opened some wine enjoying the camp. It was dark by 4.45 so our tea was eaten by lantern light.
Snow seen the next day
On Sunday the cloud was doing its swirling about trick again. I'm still trying to work out what the snow covered fell is. Red Pike? Scafell and Slight Side? It is Seatallan to the right of it. It had rained overnight and it was still raining while we had our breakfast.
Misty hills out west with the Scottish coastline to the right
We packed our gear and we were pleased it had stopped raining. Pain in my dodgy left knee had woke me up and it was painful to walk on it. It had been fine the day before so I have no idea what has caused this again. Fluid has built up around the joint again. I had this happen a few months back.
Descending from Lank Rigg
I was slower than normal as I was nursing my left knee. It loosened off a little after a while but it was still painful.
Looking at the valley we would be walking through
The path by the River Calder
The path was very wet and muddy and we added more to the normal mileage along here avoiding it all.
A look back at Lank Rigg
Nearly back to the Cold Fell Road
We had our lunch when we got back to the car. It had started raining a little on the way back but we weren't too wet. Not a bad weekend, good to be back out camping and trying out the new tent at last
We've had it a few weeks now but the weather the last few weekends has been pants.
Day 1 was Kinniside Stone Circle - Grike - Crag Fell - Whoap - Lank Rigg - pitch below the tarn 5.75 miles with 540m ascent. Day 2 was Pitch - Lank Rigg - Whoap Beck - Stinking Gill - Cold Fell Road - Kinniside Stone Circle 3.75 miles with 100m ascent.
We drove straight home and missed out doing Binsey on the way which we'd been thinking of doing. It was raining and I wasn't feeling fit enough to do it with the hurty knee. I am still in pain with my knee at the moment. I'm not sleeping well because it is waking me up when the painkillers wear off. I have the knee bandage on it, it got better after a few days the last time this happened, with it on. I'm hoping it will be the same this time