Author Topic: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011  (Read 2960 times)

sgt_pepper46

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[TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« on: 11:55:04, 08/06/11 »
This is my first Trip Report for a while (i think)

Firstly, let me take you back to the summer of 2010...

A fresh, eager (not particularly young though) sgt_pepper46 (thats me by the way) registered onto Walking Forum, as he was interested in getting some advice from and eventually meeting, like-minded fellows who had a passion for hill-walking and general hiking etc..

My first proper trip report was a gush of new emotions experienced while i had completed my first mountain, this being my sole ascent of Snowdon via the Watkin Path...

http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,9553.msg112987.html#msg112987 (for anyone interested)

This was a pivotal moment for me and from then on i've known that walking/hiking, call it what you will, is part of me.

After this moment though, the reality closed in... and on just about every time i've been walking, I've been plagued with poor weather. (strangely though, not when i've been on walks organised by others). This has quickly given me a reputation among the forumites who who me, as a bit of a bad weather urchin. and the fact of the matter is, i had not seen a single English Mountain Summit while out walking. The Scotland meet in March was the only exception to this, but as i was ill, i didn't go on this...obviously...  ::) )

That was until friday 03/06/11, which i shall hold in my memory for a long long time...

On with the TR now....

My plan for the day was to complete 3 of the 4 English 3000's in a single day, with a 400 mile round trip thrown in.. From the outset, it was going to be touch and go...

I arrived at the Western Edge of Wastwater on the shoot north to Wasdale Head and the start of part 1 of my Challenge, Scafell Pike...

I had to stop half-way along the lakes' edge, as i was greeted with this Vista of the Scafells and surrounding mountains...



A good start by anyones reckoning, don't you think?

Well I arrived at Wasdale Head, and was ready to go for 8.45am, so i set off along the path that skirts Kirk Fell and Great Gable up to Sty Head and the start of the corridor route up to Scafeel Pike.

Kirk Fell and Great Gable


A view of Great End from along Wasdale


The big problem, as you'll be aware, with good weather, is it slows you down. Now myself, having never had to endure good weather while walking, was not quite prepared for this, and was dissapointed at the time it took to reach Sty Head, well over an hour. This was my first indication that my challenge might be at threat..

But on i went, up the corridor route, which i found to be thoroughly entertaining.

Corridor Route with Lingmell and it's impressive gully (probably the wrong word) in full view.


it was taxing to say the least in the rapid increasing heat with no breeze for respite. There was one other guy going at roughly the same pace, so we kept swapping the lead and silently helping each other up to the summit.

But get to the summit we did...


I had done my first ascent of Scafell Pike in August of 2010, and i was thoroughly under-impressed with the experience, but this was a completely different ball-game. i found myself on the top of England with the whole of Lakeland within my view-point, and it was astounding! Admittedly, not as dramatic of the pics i'd seen from the Scotland meet, which i didn't go on, but equally impressive.



Next on my list was Scafell, which I'd never even seen the year before, and i was in for a shock... For me, it is a mountain that asks a lot more questions of the hiker than The Pike, only 17 metres lower than it's brother. The traverse to it, brings on the image of it's north face, and an immediate alarm in my mind of "how the hell am i going to get up there!?!"


Well the answer is, you have to go down about 300 metres along steepish a scree slope and ascend up an equally steep gully carved into the East side of the mountain. thiks i thoroughly enjoyed, albeit if draining.


About half-way up the gully there are a collection of seemingly precariously wedged boulders, massing about 30tonnes at a guess. for some quite bizarre reason i found myself tentatively near-tip-toeing around them! Which i laughed to myself about after clearing them!

Well on i went at my slow pace and i was very pleased to summit eventually. And what i feeling this was. the solitude of Scafell was apparent after the busy-busy peak of The Pike. A couple of other guys up there, with whom i exchanged pleasantries.
I had been impressed with Scafell's summit views, but Scafell felt different, more pure if i can describe it as such.



The view of Wasdale and Wastwater alone was worth every bead of sweat from the day.

I finally understood what people meant when they say they have had their "moment" the epiphany if you like, of hitting a certain summit and it takes a little piece of your soul, and keeps it forever. i was a happy man at this moment, a very happy and content  man!  8) (if a little hot )

This was taken a bit off the summit on the descent:



Well talking of descents...

I'd taken an hour and a half longer than i'd intended to do the first two 3000's so i had to get off Scafell as soon as I could, so the shortest route is always a straight line, and seeing as i could see the pub and a path marked on the map, down i went...

Steep!?! Steep!?! Bl***dy Steep more like!  I'de seen the flanks from below on the way in, and been impressed, but thats nowt compared to gingerly padding sideways down, kicking off 800m+ of height in just over a mile! It was an expence that was.

i was very pleased to get down to level ground and the pic does it no justice at all (IMO)


It was now knocking on the door of half past 2, so the decision to bin the third 3000, Helvellyn via striding Edge, was a simple one to make. It also opened up the opportunity to bask in my contentment with a pint and a cig... An opportunity i took with
both hands!


After this, i thought about my route back and decided driving back via Hard Knott pass would be a good way of finishing off the day, and if all went well, i may have the time to indeed complete the challenge.
This was almost immediately scuppered by a t**d in a land rover who did the whole pass at between 10 and 15mph! it took ages to clear the pass and i didn't get to Ambleside until after 5!
Well that was that, i turned right towards Windermere and looked longingly as i passed the Troutback Turn-off and headed for home, knowing though that tackling Helvellyn alone in the evening was not the brightest of ideas.

All in all a thoroughly brilliant day, not much marred by the heat or the fact i didn't complete my challenge.
40/214
8/283
13/190
26/253


Ciao Marco

Boothy

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #1 on: 12:26:12, 08/06/11 »
Some cracking shots there Cliff, you did well doing two 3000's in that heat!
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HumperLumper

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #2 on: 17:13:47, 08/06/11 »
Crackin report Cliff  O0

amnesiacjimmy

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #3 on: 17:22:32, 08/06/11 »
Hey up Cliff what a cracking TR. You write like poetry, it sure adds to the enjoyment of the pics. that is one helluva walk is that. Ive done both but on separate days and i was breathin out of me arris on both occasions.... :o

I agree exactly with you about the spirit of the 2 mountains being different, like 2 non-identical twin brothers or sisters. Love the bit about them capturing your soul, I can relate to that. So glad you had good weather for once. First year i went to Lakes 3 x it was torrential rain all the time but i persisted and glad i did  O0 O0
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yamyam

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #4 on: 17:35:02, 08/06/11 »
Well done Cliff Scafell is my no one mountain no easy ascent so a true hillwalkers mountain if you no what i mean.A good route to consider is one i completed a couple of years ago start from Hard knott pass walk in from Grt moss over scafell pike then foxes tarn path on to scafell and down over slight side back to hard knott i will be doining this walk again in august so i my post it up if any one is interested. O0
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gotmeheadshaved

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #5 on: 17:44:22, 08/06/11 »
Brill Trip Report and photos matey  O0
 
So glad you broke your duck with the weather. You did really well in that heat. I did Scarfell Pike last year for the 1st time, the long way from Seathwaite, on a glorious day and was blown away, although to be honest Scarfell Pike is a pretty ugly mountain, but the views from the top can be stunning. Never done Scarfell though so must remedy that one!
 
Glad you had a great day  :)
 
Steve
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gotmeheadshaved

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #6 on: 17:45:35, 08/06/11 »
Well done Cliff Scafell is my no one mountain no easy ascent so a true hillwalkers mountain if you no what i mean.A good route to consider is one i completed a couple of years ago start from Hard knott pass walk in from Grt moss over scafell pike then foxes tarn path on to scafell and down over slight side back to hard knott i will be doining this walk again in august so i my post it up if any one is interested. O0

Sounds good Yam Yam. Depending on when you were thinking of doing this I could be interested. Why not start it as a meet to gauge interest?
 
Steve
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yamyam

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #7 on: 17:50:50, 08/06/11 »
Steve i will get june out of the way and then post it up for august and will go with the flow for dates whos interested and when people are free. O0
Every journey begins with a single footprint.
Nuts about walking.

gotmeheadshaved

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #8 on: 17:56:29, 08/06/11 »
Steve i will get june out of the way and then post it up for august and will go with the flow for dates whos interested and when people are free. O0

Sounds good to me  O0
 
Steve
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Brandywell

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #9 on: 18:07:48, 08/06/11 »
Excellent trip report and pics, and a great effort.  I bet that pint tasted good, it was well earned.  O0
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craghopper

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #10 on: 18:53:50, 08/06/11 »
Great trip report and nicely timed as we are planning for these two for next week O0 Don't think we will be starting from  wastwater though having just been there for Pillar + a few more.(two and a half hours e/w travelling time)
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andybeck

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #11 on: 19:25:33, 08/06/11 »
Great TR Cliff.
I reckon we must have passed each other as I headed up Hollow Stones and on to SP. I know what you mean about the heat, it was something like 28 degrees I believe so no wonder you gave the others a miss.
Andy

joester

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #12 on: 19:43:36, 08/06/11 »
What absolute nonsense, I couldn't understand a word of it.
solvitur ambulando

sgt_pepper46

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #13 on: 20:07:08, 08/06/11 »
A big Thank you everyone for your replies, it was warming to read them all.  :)

Yam yam: definitely interested in the meet if you put it up.

Andybeck: Possibly we did, i was the guy with a red t-shirt, red rucksack, red hair and a red face!

Joester: nuff said, i do try though, you know that, but there's only so much eloquence you can fit in when formulating a TR at work... oops! home that is.

Thanks again everybody


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Ciao Marco

joester

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Re: [TR] The Scafells, 3rd June 2011
« Reply #14 on: 20:10:45, 08/06/11 »
It's great, mate.  It bought a smile to my face because I know exactly how you felt.
solvitur ambulando

 

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