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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Lake District => Topic started by: April on 20:03:25, 05/02/19

Title: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: April on 20:03:25, 05/02/19
On Saturday we got the bus to Scales. We had our crampons, micro spikes and ice axes with us. We had a glorious day to look forward to, the forecast was for blue skies and were going up Blencathra by Scales Fell. The day didn't look very good when we got there with low cloud over the summit.
We put our spikes on when we reached compacted snow and ice on the path on Scales Fell.

Clough Head from the way up Scales Fell
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4833/46933775992_b81595be3f_z.jpg) (http://)

Great Mell Fell from the ascent
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4806/33110208828_e70b3bca10_z.jpg) (http://)

Squeaky was playing around in the snow and looked happy enough although we weren't moving fast enough for her. Part of the route is quite steep and hard going in the snow. I was slow  :-[ We got to about 500m asl and the wind was making its presence felt blowing spindrift right at us and all over Squeaky. We couldn't see where the path went as the spindrift was covering the paths higher up. The ground was more trodden to the right so right we went but this turned out to be wrong, the snow got deeper and deeper and Squeaky was struggling in it. Beefy had to carry her, she was getting really cold, although she had 2 coats on. We turned back down to find the correct path but when we got to the point where we'd made the wrong turn, Squeaky was shivering and we made the sad decision to go back down. We would miss a great day out on the fell but Squeaky would have been too cold to continue, as we got higher the wind and spindrift would have been even worse for her. I thought we would have been sheltered from the wind on the way up as it was a northerly. In hindsight I should have chosen a smaller fell to do to see how Squeaky managed the snow and cold.

On the way back down to Scales
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4817/46261379354_285cd3d45b_z.jpg) (http://)

Of course the skies were blue and the cloud had lifted off the tops. We'd swapped microspikes to crampons for the steep bit on the descent, it was getting more compacted and slippery, there were a lot of people on the way up. Squeaky was now happy again, warmed up and racing along in front of us, little divil  ;)
 
At Scales we crossed the A66 where we planned to walk to Keswick via Castlerigg. We took the footpath to Guardhouse.

The north western fells from the path to Guardhouse
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4876/33110350358_7de314b473_z.jpg) (http://)

Halls Fell and Doddick Fell near Guardhouse
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4911/46261515344_37a8aaf300_z.jpg) (http://)

We looked at Blencathra, if only we'd been able to go across the top  :( We will have to get Squeaky a coat with legs in if we take her up in the snow. We were approaching Guardhouse and I looked at the map on my tablet to see where the footpath went next. We didn't have spikes or crampons by now as there wasn't much snow or ice lower down. All of a sudden I'd crashed to the ground, I didn't have time to react, my tablet smacked off the ground and I'm still not sure which part of me hit the ground first, I think it was my left knee. I lay still for what seemed ages but was just a few minutes. I eventually got up, my knees, hip, arms and neck were all hurting. I looked at the ice on the track to the gate that I hadn't seen because I'd looked at the map while still walking. I am always so careful, putting spikes on when its slippery so I don't fall. I hobbled through the gate and we carried on walking, I didn't think I would make it to Keswick. My tablet had survived the fall thank goodness. What happened next took my mind off the pain.

A sheep seemingly stuck in the River Glenderamackin
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4871/46261481914_3162e5ab86_z.jpg) (http://)

We'd walked for a few minutes from Guardhouse and spotted this sheep. We watched it for a few minutes and thought it was very odd it would stay in the water that long. The water must have been freezing. We walked back to Guardhouse to see if we could find the farmer it belonged to. If not we were going to trespass on the other side of the river to get it out ourselves.

The sheep rescued and in the field
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7896/46072173595_37c20625e7_z.jpg) (http://)

A woman in one of the houses came out to help, she was a farmer but the sheep wasn't hers. We went on the footpath again so we could point out the sheep to her, it might not be able to be seen from the other side. We came to the sheep then realised, she was quite tiny compared to the sheep, we hadn't realised how big it was. Beefy had to return to the bridge at Guardhouse and go into the field on the other side of the river to help her lift the sheep out. She had done well to get it half way up the river bank. The sheep couldn't move its back legs due to the cold. Once into the field proper she rubbed the sheeps legs to get its circulation going and it trotted off. Meanwhile, the farmer whose sheep it was had arrived in his landrover on the side of the river I was on. Someone else must have alerted him about the sheep being stuck. He thanked us for helping out. We couldn't have left the sheep where it was so it was no bother.

Halls Fell
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7886/46986147751_c597750a0f_z.jpg) (http://)

We stopped for some lunch further along the footpath. Beefy had mucky sheep hands. We must remember to eat before we rescue sheep in the future  ;)

Grisedale Pike looking rather marvellous
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7922/40021171243_090abdb40a_z.jpg) (http://)

Halls Fell Ridge again
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7813/46986333171_579cec41cf_z.jpg) (http://)

My right hip was really painful when we started walking again and I hobbled to Threlkeld.

Gategill Fell with Blease Fell beyond
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7829/46261793644_1c5b23e143_z.jpg) (http://)

Clough Head from Threlkeld Coffee Shop
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4846/46072232525_13a031152e_z.jpg) (http://)

At Threlkeld we got on the bus and we were home for 16.35. Our route was Scales - 500m up Scales Fell - Scales - Guardhouse - Mill Bridge - Threlkeld. 10.9 km with 328m ascent. A weird sort of day, epic for the wrong reasons. In the end we were pleased we hadn't gone onto Blencathra, we wouldn't have rescued the sheep!

No walk for me on Sunday, I had a hospital appointment in Newcastle, a spinal scan. I wondered if I should have asked them to check my hip while I was there ? ;) I had my scan and my appointment to see the consultant about it should have been this afternoon but it was cancelled  ::)

My hip and leg are still hurting from the fall on the ice but I'm sure I will be fine in a few days.
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: beefy on 20:11:41, 05/02/19
Lovely pics of a great day out O0
Shame about squeaky getting g cold, , she was still shaking after I wrapped her up in her quilt,
No wonder she struggled, the snow was 3 feet deep in places :o
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: pdstsp on 20:32:49, 05/02/19
That's some day, that is! Well done for making the right decision for Squeaky and for rescuing the sheep O0 .


You weren't the only faller on Saturday, I slipped on the descent of Rossett Gill and ended up with feet one side of a snowy stream, and hands on the other.  Unfortunately someone was coming up, and they seemed to think I looked quite funny.
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: sunnydale on 20:42:23, 05/02/19
What a day indeed!  Hope you're not too sore after your fall April...and it's nice to see no harm came to the sheep...or Squeaky!


Lovely pics O0  (thanks goodness your tablet survived the day!)


Tracey :)
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: Dovegirl on 22:13:30, 05/02/19
Sorry to hear about your fall, April, and hope the pain will soon be better
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: richardh1905 on 08:00:42, 06/02/19

An eventful day, April! Lovely photos despite your enforced retreat.
Hope that you mend soon.


We had a family walk on Sunday, attempted Mid Hill on Orkney Mainland, all of 904' high, but turned back due to deep snow and deteriorating weather at just over 600'. Tess, our Springer Spaniel, was troubled by the snow - normally she's bombproof on a walk, and loves snow, but this was really deep (I stumbled into thigh deep snow in an old peat bank), and 'snow balls' were building up on the hair on the inside of her back legs - "Tessticicles". So we sounded the retreat - sometimes it is the correct thing to do.
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: Lakeland Lorry on 08:01:09, 06/02/19
Hope you're not in too much pain after your fall April.   Well done on rescuing the sheep, without your's and Beffy's help, it probably wouldn't have survived.    O0
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: pdstsp on 09:17:29, 06/02/19
"Tessticicles"


That is the best word ever!  My old, sadly deceased, dog, Lucy, used to get these - I found then vaguely repulsive.
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: adalard on 09:48:13, 06/02/19
Sorry to hear about your fall, April - it can be quite disorienting when you go over, can't it? It all happens so quickly and I think momentarily you go into a kind of shock mode. I hope the injury sorts itself out a.s.a.p.


Sounds quite an eventful day, what with the sheep and Squeaky struggling, but you got some beautiful photos as always - Halls Fell Ridge looks breathtaking!  O0 :)
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: Ridge on 10:29:43, 06/02/19
Well it sounds an eventful walk even if none of it was planned, I bet it is one you don't forget in a hurry.
Hope you are OK now after your fall.


Lovely shots of the tops.
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: Innominate Man on 10:31:46, 06/02/19
Blimey, what a day - epic: not 'arf !
Funny how things turn out and perhaps your un-planned retreat was 'planned' after all. In hindsight you did exactly the right things and one Squeaky dog & a frozen sheep would agree.
Your photos are wonderful and prove a good day (scenery wise) can be had at low level too.


Sorry to hear about your fall though, that must have really shaken you up and I hope you are on the mend.
I read an advert yesterday, for Altberg and the 'punch line' is " Look well to each step " - famous words of Edward Whymper. I pondered them for a while and that was before reading this TR.
I wondered why I was drawn to the phrase (ESP ..... ohh spooky  :o )
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: vghikers on 10:56:26, 06/02/19
Splendid photos and clarity, exactly how we imagined it would be as we started packing our gear on the Friday afternoon for a short 2-day circuit in that area - then MWIS updated his forecast and Sunday morning looked very grim, not to mention the spindrift and windchill. Oh well, there's time for a winter pitch yet. From your description of the snow depth it might have been unwise anyway with our current limitations.

I hope the hip recovers quickly. That incident is true to form, it's often said that on a winter mountain walk, the tops are no problem at all, the most likely place to break something is near the starting point.
Good job on the woolly rescue. Being stuck in a river makes a change from having horns caught in a wire fence or stuck in a bog, several of those come to mind.

Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: photonut on 09:23:29, 07/02/19
Epic pics April.

I really hope you're feeling much better now though. The views that you had were superb and must had made the fall and early U turn all the better.

...is Beefy ok after eating his lunch with mucky sheep hands... not contracted any bizarre virus or anything   :D
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: Jac on 10:21:33, 07/02/19

Poor Squeaky, not designed for deep cold snow and poor you - hope the hip is ok now.
The pics are awesome, particularly Grisedale Pike shining in the sun.
Well done with rescuing the sheep - I reckon sheep have a built in death wish - heads through fences, tangled in brambles, cragfast, stuck on their backs and, on Dartmoor, snuggling down on the roadside just round blind bends.
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: pleb on 10:47:37, 07/02/19
This wasnt en excuse for beefy being spotted with his mucky hands fiddling with the back of a sheep, was it?  :o ;D
Sorry, I should be flogged for typing that! (Innominate Man told me to............) ;D
Good job you are all okay, sounds a right adventure.
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: forgotmyoldpassword on 12:13:06, 07/02/19
Nice TR!  I was on Blencathra that morning - did Sharp Edge up, Hallsfell down.  Conditions were definitely quite poor when we arrived and it was looking like another zero visibility day on the summit (I've been up Blencathra a handful of times and it's always been awful).  Sharp was decent on the way up, high winds but conditions fine enough despite a tentative looking guy talking to us on the walk-in and dissuading us.  Last 100m was quite interesting with lots of loose powder and I wanted to stay off the rock due to the buffeting from the wind.. but it was fairly pleasant at the top though dug out the balaclava and goggles as it did become quite cold, mostly due to wind chill.  Halls was covered in people going up by the time we were heading down, but the views across the Lakes capped in snow were superb.  On the walk out to Scales we dropped down to a gully covered in ice and ended up setting an ice-axe belay with a sling for other hikers who didn't have spikes with them and getting a handful down safely.


Think you made the right call turning around, you wouldn't to be at the top if you're a small dog!  Hopefully the hip eases itself a little over the next few days, too.
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: Innominate Man on 12:44:28, 07/02/19
This wasnt en excuse for beefy being spotted with his mucky hands fiddling with the back of a sheep, was it?  :o ;D


Phaa haa ... I just spluttered my lunch out !
Nice one pleb (did I tell you to say that ? .....  wish I had  ::) )
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: April on 13:33:34, 07/02/19
Thanks all for your nice comments  O0

You weren't the only faller on Saturday, I slipped on the descent of Rossett Gill and ended up with feet one side of a snowy stream, and hands on the other.  Unfortunately someone was coming up, and they seemed to think I looked quite funny.

I probably would have found it funny too! I hope you are alright, I am on the mend, except for feeling a bit achy.

(thanks goodness your tablet survived the day!)

I am amazed it is ok it did smack off the ground!

@ Dovegirl, thank you I am feeling better now  :)

we sounded the retreat - sometimes it is the correct thing to do.

We were disappointed at the time but knew it was the only thing to do

Halls Fell Ridge looks breathtaking!  O0 :)

It does, we thought it was laughing at us  ;)

@ Ridge, I will remember last Saturday for a while!

I read an advert yesterday, for Altberg and the 'punch line' is " Look well to each step " - famous words of Edward Whymper.

 :) Mr Wainwright always used to say "Watch where you are putting your feet".  :)

I normally do, serves me right for using the tablet instead of the paper map, I find it easier using the map and wouldn't have had to fiddle with the tablet as much.

Good job on the woolly rescue. Being stuck in a river makes a change from having horns caught in a wire fence or stuck in a bog, several of those come to mind.

Yes, our other sheep rescues have involved fences  :)

..is Beefy ok after eating his lunch with mucky sheep hands... not contracted any bizarre virus or anything   :D

 ;D He ate with his sarnies with his hands sort of wrapped in cling film and his flapjack in foil. He crushed his crisps and poured them into his gob  ;D

Poor Squeaky, not designed for deep cold snow and poor you - hope the hip is ok now.

We are looked at winter mountaineering clothes for dogs. A bit pricey! My hip is on the mend, thanks  O0

Sorry, I should be flogged for typing that! (Innominate Man told me to............) ;D

You are both on the Should be Flogged list  ;)

the views across the Lakes capped in snow were superb. 

We were jealous of the people we saw in Threlkeld who had came down off Blencathra  :)

On the walk out to Scales we dropped down to a gully covered in ice and ended up setting an ice-axe belay with a sling for other hikers who didn't have spikes with them and getting a handful down safely.

Was that near Scaley Beck? The rocky descent and ascent there is problematic without ice. Good that you were there to help people without spikes  O0

Nice one pleb (did I tell you to say that ? .....  wish I had  ::) )

You are on the Should be Flogged list anyway  ;)
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: April on 13:42:25, 07/02/19
Well done on rescuing the sheep, without your's and Beffy's help, it probably wouldn't have survived.    O0

We are still polishing our haloes  ;)
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: pdstsp on 13:55:00, 07/02/19

I probably would have found it funny too! I hope you are alright, I am on the mend, except for feeling a bit achy.



Glad to hear you are on the mend, April - I suffered a bruised shin and a shattered ego  :) 
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: forgotmyoldpassword on 15:57:24, 07/02/19
Was that near Scaley Beck? The rocky descent and ascent there is problematic without ice. Good that you were there to help people without spikes  O0


That was Doddick Gill that was clad in ice, Scaley seemed much better, though I did have the axe out for much of it just in case.  Was a little shocked to see some tourists clambering up Halls' without any spikes or even poles - they asked us on our way down whether we'd do it without and we didn't much fancy it and told them as much.  Though later in the day we saw a search and rescue helo flying over so hopefully it wasn't the same group  :)
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: April on 18:41:35, 07/02/19
Was a little shocked to see some tourists clambering up Halls' without any spikes or even poles ... later in the day we saw a search and rescue helo flying over so hopefully it wasn't the same group  :)

 :o I hope they did take notice of your advice. I've done Halls Fell ridge a few times but I wouldn't want to do it in ice and snow, even with crampons and ice axe - beyond my comfort zone  :) I hope they got up and down safely.
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: richardh1905 on 18:59:07, 07/02/19
I've done Halls Fell ridge a few times but I wouldn't want to do it in ice and snow, even with crampons and ice axe - beyond my comfort zone  :)



It's a good winter route, April; not too hard (depends upon conditions, of course), and my reward was an 800' sitting glissade down the back of the mountain!
Title: Re: TR Halfway up Blencathra, not exactly what we planned Sat 2 Feb 19
Post by: April on 19:54:42, 07/02/19
my reward was an 800' sitting glissade down the back of the mountain!

Was it an unexpected glissade?  :D

It's a good winter route; not too hard

I'm sure it is  :)

I'm not that good with heights, mix that with unsteady legs (due to dodgy spine) and no natural balance and it makes things more stressful than enjoyable, for me anyway. It is the best way up Blencathra, I prefer to do it when it's dry  :)