We met up with Karl and his two sons, David and Robert on Saturday to go up Rosthwaite Fell, then Glaramara and pitch below Allen Crags. The cloud was covering Glaramara and Allen Crags when we set off from Stonethwaite but the forecast said the weather would improve by afternoon.
Robert, David and Karl on the way to Stonethwaite
We were going up the steep route by Big Stanger Gill.
Looking back at Borrowdale from the ascent
I realised two minutes after we began the climb that trying to keep up with Karl and 2 fit lads of 22 and 25 years was going to be impossible. They had to keep stopping while we caught up, I now realise that I am old and decrepit and don't have the same speed I used to
It was very hot and humid with little wind to cool us and we were all sweating buckets.
Looking back at the route up
There was a little drizzle on the way up, it didn't amount to much.
Another shot looking back, near the waterfall on Big Stanger Gill
The traverse toward the waterfall
There was so little water in the waterfall it wasn't worth taking a shot
Racom Bands
Beefy on Bessyboot
I think we got onto Bessyboot after 1 hour and 40 minutes. The steepness of the Big Stanger Gill route is the killer on this route, well it is for me. The ascent and distance is about the same if you walk from Seatoller and I did Bessyboot from there up the Dry Gill route in 1 hour, 25 minutes a week and a half ago when I was carrying over 1kg more. It is a more gradual ascent by Dry Gill so it feels much easier.
David (left), Karl and Robert (right) on Bessyboot
Robert and David are very nice lads, they are both quiet. We put it down to having Karl as a father, they would never get a word in with him about so they don't get much chance to practise talking
Off to Rosthwaite Cam next. Karl, David and Robert climbed Rosthwaite Cam, we didn't bother, we got our chairs out and began our lunch below it. After our lunch it was on the way to Glaramara and into the cloud.
Karl route
Looking back at our route, the normal route is through the gap on the right, Karl took us steeply down it on the left
Joking apart, Karl did the navigating, difficult in the conditions and he was brilliant. I was having a rest from navigating this weekend. Well I had to save all my energy to keep up with Usain and Linford.
Beefy on Glaramara summit
We went up the rocky step scrambly bit onto Glaramara which I have done before a few times and had no problems. I found it more difficult with the heavy pack with camping gear in and struggled.
Tarns on the way to Allen Crags
We were well into the clag now and we cheered as there was a brief glimpse of the Langdale Pikes before they were hidden again.
On the way through the clag
Langdale Pikes and another tarn
Below the summit of Allen Crags, Karl asked if we wanted to find a pitch first then maybe do Allen Crags later, okay with us so we went off to find a pitch. Not easy, we wandered around for half an hour, or more before we found somewhere. It was still claggy so we didn't really think it mattered that much about having a view. It was colder here, the wind had picked up and we probably wouldn't be sitting outside the tents.
The MSR, the Enan and Scarp below Allen Crags.
We were in the MSR, Robert and David in the Scarp, Karl in the Enan. We were at 732m asl according to viewranger.
Sprinkling Tarn below the cloud
We got some water from one of the tarns nearby and had a brew and our tea.
The cloud cleared off Great End for a short time
We hadn't realised how close we were to it when we pitched. Beefy got Willo out for a fly.
The cloud on Great Gable
There was some dramatic cloud on display when the clag dispersed...until it clagged in again.
Glaramara free of cloud but only briefly
The promised lifting of the cloud never happened, except for the gaps in the clag we didn't really have much to see
Karl and Beefy timelapsing the cloud
It was bitterly cold so I didn't stay long, I was soon back in the tent to keep warm.
Ill Crag appearing over Calf Cove
Our camp below Allen Crags
There was no sunset of course, there was too much cloud. Never mind we'd enjoyed the camp and it is always nice to see Karl, it has been a while and nice to see David again, he came on a camp on Green Crag a few years ago. Also nice to meet Robert for the first time
Great lads, Karl and Mrs Karl have done a great job bringing up their children
Day 1 was Stonethwaite - Big Stanger Gill - Bessyboot - Rosthwaite Cam - Combe Door - Glaramara - pitch below Allen Crags 10.9km with 1,032m of ascent 397m of descent