Saturday we were out for another wild camp, this time we wanted to pitch near Little Hart Crag and we hoped we might get a bit of a sunset view. We left home at 7.45 and eventually reached Ambleside at 11.25. We were going over Red Screes and we started climbing straight away going up the Kirkstone Road and Sweden Bank Lane for a while then right on the footpath to rejoin the Kirkstone Road. I mentioned to Beefy that the road was called The Struggle, well it is at the top. As we were both struggling we could well understand the name
The view from the footpath to Kirkstone Road
There were some highland cattle in a field along with some cute babies. It gave us an excuse to stop for a rest so we could take some pics
A very cute highland calf
A highland cow
We got to the footpath onto Red Screes and we stopped to take a layer off. We were too hot. There wasn't any wind this low down, although we had climbed quite a bit. The sun was out and it was quite warm for February
The long distance views were very hazy
Beefy The Birthday Boy and Squeaky on the way up Red Screes
Squeaky had no layers on!
We stopped for some lunch after and hour and then carried on climbing up, up, up! It is 4 miles to Red Screes, all uphill from Ambleside.
I think that is Snarker Pike ahead
Squeaky now had a coat on, the wind was getting stronger as we climbed
The summit still seems a long way away
The views were even more hazy now, claggy almost
Beefy and Squeaky on Red Screes summit
The wind was stronger again here and we put a layer on in the shelter. It was forecast to be much worse so we thought we were lucky!
We descended to the Scandale Pass with a threat of rain in the air. We wandered about a bit until we found a pitch out of the wind but we went to the tarn to get some water first before we pitched. We got the tent up just in time as light rain started to fall when we were having our tea.
The MSR below Little Hart Crag
The clag came down with the rain so we got no sunset view, or any view at all but it was getting dark anyway. We had some wine and enjoyed our second camp of the year. The wind had died down to nothing by 9pm.
Next day the MSR below Little Hart Crag
The last mountain forecast we'd looked at before we left had said the temperature at 600m would drop to 6 or 7 overnight. Wrong! It dropped to freezing and there was frost on the tent and the ground in the morning. Squeaky was warm enough in her bag but Beefy and myself felt a bit cold; we had thought it would be as mild as last weekend and our +5 bags would be enough. What do you do, bring your winter bag just in case or believe the forecast? We had our breakfast and packed our gear. We saw someone had been camping here before us and left a rusty peg and some cigarette ends. We picked them up and put them in our rubbish bag.
Inversion over Ambleside
The inversion had covered Scandale overnight.
Beefy and Squeaky on Little Hart Crag
It was very windy and cold up here. We had a glorious day with blue skies and nice views though.
The view toward Place Fell from Little Hart Crag
The view beyond Middle Dodd to Rampsgill Head and High Raise
Dove Crag
On the way to High Hartsop Dodd
On the descent of High Hartsop Dodd
We did this descent in June 18. At the time I wrote it wasn't bad enough to put on the "Never Again in Descent" list but it earned a place on the "Won't do that again in a hurry" list. I've changed my mind, it was torture this time. It goes on the "Never Again in Descent" list. At the top and on twice
A look back at the route off High Hartsop Dodd
We stopped for a break and brew near Brothers Water. We had to keep an eye on the time because if we missed the 12.50 bus it would be three hours until the next one. The views became hazy like they'd done the day before and we had had the best of the day weather wise.
Arnison Crag from the path to Patterdale
Place Fell from near Beckstones
We walked at a brisk pace by Crookabeck and Rooking and we got to Patterdale with 5 minutes to spare for our bus. It was one of our favourite bus drivers, he is good for a laugh, a Scot with a very dark sense of humour.
Day 1 was Ambleside - Kirkstone Road - Sweden Bridge Lane - Kirkstone Road - Red Screes - Scandale Tarn - pitch below Little Hart Crag. 9.25km with 814m ascent.
Day 2 was Pitch - Little Hart Crag - Brothers Water - Beckstones - Patterdale. 8.5km with 200m ascent. Not a bad wild camp, considering it is only February and Beefy had a birthday wild camp