On Sunday we wanted to do Blencathra so we got the bus to Threlkeld. We debated about doing Halls Fell but our legs were still feeling like lead and we weren’t 100% and as we got near to the start of Halls Fell we decided to go up the Glenderamackin Valley to the col then up Atkinson Pike instead which had been the other option we’d talked about. That was the plan anyway. It was sunny with a cold wind but the long distance views were really hazy so not a great day for photos.
Hall’s Fell
It looked really inviting but we didn’t have the energy, it is a strenuous ascent.
Doddick Fell
Beefy on the rock step beside Scaley Beck
I’d been down this rock step once and up it twice before but I still struggled getting down it. The rock is polished smooth and feels like it has no grip. I took about three times longer than Beefy did getting down it. At least. He has stills of me bottom mountaineering
Scales Fell
Looking back at the top rock step
The bottom rock step
Now we started climbing steeply up Scales Fell to the path that skirts above Mousthwaite Comb, the path normally used to go up Sharp Edge.
On the path above Mousthwaite Combe
We had really struggled up the steep path and we gratefully stopped for some lunch and a rest before we got to Scales Beck. We had a great view of Sharp Edge.
Sharp Edge from our lunch spot
An even more zoomed in shot
It seemed to have taken ages for us to get where we were and I wondered if we would have time to get up onto Blencathra and down again for our bus. I thought we might be pushing it because we might struggle if we had to rush. We don’t know if it is a virus or the pollen affecting us. It is possible it could be both.
On the way to Glenderamackin col
Our legs were still not behaving and I suggested we do the smaller fell on the right of the col, Bannerdale Crags. We struggled enough up that one.
Beefy on Bannerdale Crags
Bowscale Fell from Bannerdale Crags. The wind was bitter up here.
We returned to the col and returned on the opposite side of the Glenderamackin valley.
Beefy ready (or not) for another climb up to Mousthwaite Col
We dragged our legs down the other side into Mousthwaite Comb and along to Scales and then Threlkeld to catch our bus. Our route was 14.9km with 799m of ascent which wasn’t bad considering we weren’t feeling that great. We still enjoyed being out and loved the route we did. It is ironic that we both suffer with hay fever but love being outdoors. Pollen should be put on the banned list, along with viruses