We parked at Buttermere on Saturday, we were lucky to get parked because we were late away. I spent over half an hour trying to find the zip lock bag I use for my meds, compass and ear plugs. It had disappeared off the kitchen table. It wasn't to be found so I got more meds ready, beefy took his compass and we were away. We were on a wild camp and off to have a look at an alternate route that sussamb asked about going up Haystacks that avoids the scrambly route up. I'm sorry there are a lot of pics on the report. I was going to separate them and send the relevant shots of the alternate route only to sussamb but look at the time, it is after 10pm and it is nearly my bedtime
We walked along the Buttermere shoreline path through Burtness Wood.
High Crag from what is left of Burtness Wood
Buttermere from the path leading to Scarth Gap
There was no wind at first but as we climbed we could feel it and it was cold.
Haystacks and Squeaky
She was Squeaking at us because we were going too slow for her.
Robinson and Fleetwith Pike from the path up to Scarth Gap
Haystacks from the Ennerdale side of Scarth Gap
We stopped for some lunch trying to shelter from the wind. We watched mist going over Haystacks summit. As we were going on an unknown route to us and possibly pathless, we didn't fancy exploring it in mist. We had planned to camp somewhere on Haystacks but we made an easy decision to pitch near where we were and go up next morning when the weather was supposed to be clearer. There is a bit of a path seen in this shot going across the scree. I wondered if it led up to the v shaped gap that I called The Notch?
Haystacks from near our pitch
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We'd found a trod near the fence below Haystacks before we pitched and we could see the fence traversed the fellside for a while before turning left steeply up the fellside. We would follow that the next day.
The Southern Cross near Scarth Gap
The Southern Cross above Ennerdale
We were early pitching at 2pm but there was nobody about here. We do enjoy being lazy these days.
Sunset
There was too much cloud about for a sunset view. We weren't sure where the sun was going down anyway, it might have disappeared behind Pillar. We had some food and wine and got into our bags, the temperature was dropping quickly when the sun went down. Day 1 was Buttermere - Burtness Wood - Scarth Gap - fence - pitch below Scarth Gap 4 miles and 370m ascent.
Sunlit Pillar from our pitch next morning
We awoke to a hard frost but no wind.
The Gables and Kirk Fell
Nice to see them they had been cloud capped the day before when we pitched
Lovely cloud above Pillar
We packed our gear and set off toward Scarth Gap and the fence
The same cloud formations above Haystacks
We turned right at this cairn
We crossed the beck and came across a path that led to the fence. We hadn't spotted this path yesterday.
Looking back at the path leading to the fence
We walked on the right of the fence at first
Now on the left of the fence
We'd spotted big rocks ahead and the going looked easier on the left
Looking back at our route
That is Seat and High Crag in view
The terrain was slippery and rocky in places
The rocks were lethal and with the frost making the grass slippery we had to take care not to slip.
Looking up at "The Notch"
The fellside here looked very rough so we thought it wouldn't be a good idea to climb up to "The Notch" from here although we did spot a bit of a trod before I took this shot.
We veered away from the fence on a little trod that was a short cut
The fence was descending before it re-ascended so we cut the corner off.
Rocks hindered progress
The trod was sloping and every step was taken carefully on the frosty grass
We had microspikes with us, we should have stopped to put them on
Looking back at our route
In hindsight we wished we had stayed with the fence, the short cut trod was awkward going.
We reached the fence again and it was very steep here
It was steeper than it looks in this shot
On flat ground now, thank goodness
Looking back at the fence and Pillar beyond
Innominate Tarn
The fence leads to a path that goes by Innominate Tarn. We turned left though, we wanted to go onto the summit. Haystacks was to be Squeaky's 100th Wainwright.
Haystacks summit ahead
At "The Notch"
This is just below the summit tor and there is a path on the ground so it looks like there definitely is another way up.
On Haystacks summit
The wind had picked up and it was freezing, we took a few shots then dropped back down off the rocky top
The summit tarn and High Crag
The ground was treacherous enough here to make us put our microspikes on. It was so much easier with them on, why hadn't we put them on sooner?
Looking back at our guiding fence
We left the fence and its trod and kept to the path leading by Innominate Tarn. There were some people standing by it and they were shouting. I hope they didn't wake AW up.
Cloud over Grey Knotts and Brandreth
Innominate Tarn ahead
Green Crag and the path leading to Black Beck
We stopped for a break and some food at Blackbeck Tarn. It was sunny and there was no wind at first. After ten minutes the sun went behind cloud and the wind picked up. We finished our food quickly and left.
Buttermere and Crummock Water
The descent to Warnscale Bothy
Our microspikes made this bit much easier, the rocks and path were icy.
Warnscale Bothy
The mine road can be seen on the other side of the beck
Although the beck can't be seen in this shot
Both routes are rough and loose and it is a tiring descent
Waterfall on Warnscale Beck
Zooming in on Warnscale Beck
Once at Gatesgarth we walked along the road and joined the shore path along with about a million other people
Fleetwith Pike and Haystacks across Buttermere
We'd parked at the road side parking above the church and our legs were complaining at the steep climb. We'd had a great two days and we'd loved exploring and finding the trods up onto Haystacks. There is unfinished business though, I need to have a look for that Notch route now
Day 2 was pitch - fence on Scarth Gap - Haystacks - Innominate Tarn - Blackbeck Tarn - Warnscale Bothy - Gatesgarth - Buttermere. 7.25 miles with 270m ascent.
When we got home I had another look for my zip lock back with my compass and meds in, it had puzzled me all weekend as to where it had gone. I knew it had been on the kitchen table on Friday morning. I searched again for it and even looked in the kitchen bin in case I'd put it in there. Nowhere to be found. Until beefy remembered he had been mending our stove bag on Friday afternoon. He looked in the sewing box and guess what he found? My zip lock bag. He had picked it up with the thread and sewing needle and put it in there without noticing