A weekend in the Lakes
Part 1. Stewie and Maya do Lords Rake from Rosthwaite
Start Borrowdale Youth Hostel NY254142
length: 14.5 miles
Ascent: 1667m
Start: 08:30
Finish: 18:00
Duration: 9h:30m
Weather: light drizzle
A long walk in via Seatoller and Seathwaite
Then followed the right hand side of Styhead Gill with some interesting scrambling and views of the waterfall.
continuing on to Styhead Tarn, the weather improved and some stay-a-bed wild campers were waking from their slumbers.
We followed the Corridor route below Round How and Broad Crag then up and skirted the summit of Scafell Pike before walking on round to Mickledore.
From here we followed the scree path down towards Hollow Stones, then moving left under impressive cliffs looming out of the mist.
The entry to Lords Rake is obvious, and though I looked there was no sign of any warning sign.
I hadn't expected company on the Rake but,
there was one guy ahead of us and a another guy and a woman following us.
Just a little bit of firm slush was all that was left of the snow. We decided to go it wihout crampons.
The word seems to be keep left in case of falling debris, but we defied conventional wisdom holding to the right hand side.
The snow was better than the soft scree and within a few minutes we reached the large chock stone.
Yes, it is true that its not held there by much, but slipping by on the left hand side is achieved without any sense of drama.
Views open up towards Great Gable and Wast Water, but we are not finished yet.
A series of 3 ups and 2 downs competed the traverse.
We then walked South East skirting Scafell summit with the intention of dropping down to Eskdale.
We went down to Foxes tarn and the byn followed a gill some 100m or so further on down.
A change of plan here. Time and other considerations, found us hacking back up to Mickledore on tired legs.
There where plenty of people around most of which despite having maps, where asking "which way is it to Scafell Pike Summit"
Follow the line of cairns..........
We followed the route back that we had taken in the morning, this time keeping to the right of Styhead Gill for a change.
You might ask, Is it worth it ?
Is it worth the risk of that chockstone breaking loose while you are padding the 100 or so metres up toward it.
All I can say is that it is the most interesting way of doing Scafell.
Here are some pics of the day:
View of the Rake from Mickledore
The Crags below Mickledore
Entrance to Lords Rake.
Third of the way up first section. Chockstone seen leaning at
top centre.
Stewie contemplating alternative routes !
Over or under it's your choice.
Looking back down the first section, two others are on their way up.
Close up, How long will that kiss last.
Hurry up Maya, thats no place to contemplate the meaning of life.
Down a bit then up a bit
Then down and up. Wast Water just visible.
Looking back
Signal rock
Wast Water
View over to great Gable
Great Gable, Styhead Tarn, distant Derwent Water and Great End
Larger image
Route Map
Thanks for looking.
More and higher resolution pics at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mayaculpa/sets/72157626161635968/