Saturday 27/09
We departed a sleepy South Yorkshire at 04.30 and arrived at wonderful Wasdale Head just before 9 O'Clock.
Half an hour later, the tents had been pitched in the field near the hotel and we were on our way alongside Mosedale Beck en-route to the top of Black Sail Pass.
The high tops were in cloud denying us the spectacular views we had hoped for but the weather forecast promised better as the day progressed.
Just beyond Looking Stead we encountered the local Mountain Rescue team out on a training exercise. They followed us closely as we turned off the main path and headed towards Robinson’s Cairn which was nice of them.
[nofollow]Pillar Rock and The Shamrock Traverse
After a sandwich stop at the cairn, watching the climbers on Pillar Rock, we took the Shamrock Traverse and the short scramble up to the crowded summit of Pillar.
Then followed Scoat Fell, Steeple and Red Pike.
The clouds had started to lift and we had our first views of the Scafells and Great Gable as we descended to Dore Head.
[nofollow]Great Gable from Ridge between Steeple and Scoat Fell
[nofollow]The Scafells and Stirrup Crag from Red Pike
Another break was spent gazing at the formidable looking Stirrup Crag.
Fortunately it is far easier than it looks and provides a marvellous route up splendid Yewbarrow.
The walk along the top of Yewbarrow has been described as Lakeland’s finest mile and I would go along with that. A fitting finale to a classic hill day.
[nofollow]Dropping Crag, Yewbarrow.
Ritson’s Bar served good food and fine ales as usual and a good night's sleep was had by all.
We emerged from our tents to witness Wasdale in all its glory. There is surely no finer natural Amphitheatre in Britain on such a morning.
[nofollow]Pillar from Wasdale Head
[nofollow]Great Gable
The Mosedale Horseshoe would not be an easy act to follow, but our chosen route up Great Gable promised much. We set off along the track beside the small church and soon joined the path leading up the valley to Sty Head where we doubled back on ourselves to join the old climber's path known as the South Traverse. There is much interest over the following half a mile or so, the path comes and goes among boulder fields loose rock and scree, with some nice scrambly bits thrown in for good measure.
[nofollow]Red Pike and Yewbarrow from Sty Head Path.
[nofollow]South traverse, Great Gable.
All too soon we reached the towering rock face of Tophet Bastion and decided to take the well named Great Hell Gate. Defying the laws of gravity we somehow made our way to the top of Great Hells Gate pausing often to take in the views (Get Our Breath Back!).
[nofollow]The Scafells from Great Hell Gate
[nofollow]Pinnacles above Great Hell Gate.
If Hells Gate was hell, the views from the grassy narrow ridge above Great Napes were pure Heaven.
[nofollow]Waswater
[nofollow]Mosedale Skyline.
[nofollow]Compo Clegg's Grand Day Out.
Onwards and upwards to the summit of Great Gable, then downwards and homewards.
For a truly memorable mountain weekend, Wasdale takes some beating.