I've finally completed the Wainwrights! It's taken me five years but, hey, why rush these things?
I saved the best until last - my 214th Wainwright was Blencathra via Sharp Edge. I walked with Smoky,
-Dave- and Sara on Sunday 9th July. We were accompanied by Leaping Leo, Smoky's sure-footed little Patterdale Terrier cross.
We started after lunch having waited for the morning cloud to clear the summit. Leaving one car at Threlkeld, we drove the other to a layby on the A66 east of Scales. Our route was Mousethwaite Combe, Scales Tarn, Sharp Edge, Foules Crag and Halls Fell Top.
From the summit, Dave and Sara took their leave and descended Doddick Fell back to their car. Smoky and I traversed the rest of Blencathra to passing Gategil Fell Top and Knowe Crags before descending the zigzag path down Blease Fell to Threlkeld.
The highlight of the day was undoubtedly Sharp Edge - it's magnificent to look at and exhilarating to walk along with a lovely steep ascent on slabby rock at the end. Sadly it's very short so the fun is over all too soon.
I expect Dave will post some photos soon on his
blog.
