I had headed up to the Lake District for the Kendal Mountain Film Festival, planning to go there on the Saturday and squeeze in a walk on the Sunday. As I approached the Lakes under clear blue skies I could hardly contain my excitement as I was met with a view of the mighty peaks covered in snow. Winter, it seemed, had certainly arrived!
My initial plan was to walk up Red Screes, so I had tactically car camped nearby late Saturday night with the hope of an early start and cloudless summits. As I woke early and popped my head out of the window I was miffed to see that I was in a cloud itself, and no summits or even the road could be seen. I decided to grab a couple more hours sleep with the hope that the fog would lift.

At 8am I got up to make breakfast and although the fog had lifted a bit the summit of Red Screes was shrouded in cloud. It was looking rather doubtful that I would get the views I had expected today but decided to head on up nonetheless – after all, it could clear later! Walking boots on, rucksack packed; I went to grab my map and start walking.

My map. Where was my map?

Having riffled through the car and bag numerous times it soon began to dawn on me that the map was not in the car. If it wasn’t in the car, it was more than likely still at home in the place I had last had it before I left early on Saturday. But I am sure I packed it, almost positive even. Nope, it’s definitely not here.

Oh Balls!

With claggy conditions and no idea what the tops would be like I decided that it would not be good to head on up without the map, even though I have done the route a fair few times before.

So that was it, the Red Screes plan was abandoned and so was my mountain walk by the looks of it.
As I began to put my bag back in the car I noticed a map peeking out from under a scarf on the passenger seat.

It was OS map OL5, the north eastern territory, which had been left in the car from the last time I was up in the Lakes a few weeks before.

A quick look at the map and the back-up plan was settled – head north and attempt Blencathra as I was familiar with the route, it’s got a car park at the bottom and takes about 3.5hrs give or take.

As I drove from Kirkstone Pass towards Blencathra I couldn’t help but notice that all the surrounding hills were covered in thick clag, so no summits could be seen. I was a bit disheartened by this as the last time I had checked the forecast it was supposed to be a fairly good day. That’s mountain weather for you though - ever changeable.

Onwards I went until I the mountain came into view, featuring a heavy shroud of cloud on the tops but clear flanks that intermittently lit up to a golden autumnal hue as the sun tried its best to break through. I drove passed the White Horse Inn and continued on the narrow road to the car park, pleased to see that though it was bust I managed to get the last spot. I got out, threw on my rucksack and started out on the path under blue sky and accompanied by the sun that had managed to make it through.

I walked up the fairly steep path Via Mousthwaite Comb checking back to see the views behind me that were more or less blocked by the cloud that was still hanging heavily on most of the mid lakes area.

Up and up I went before shortly arriving at the saddle where I was met with snow patches here and there and a small glimpses of a snowy Atkinson Pike as the cloud blew across it. Continuing on the path I was soon surrounded by the fells which featured a smattering of snow on their flanks!

The further I walked the more snow there was and as I reached Scales Tarn it was quite obvious that winter had arrived in the mountains. The snow became deeper as I left the tarn behind and continued on my way up to the top and on to the summit (868m). Fortunately this was not ice axe and crampon conditions, which is good as failing to have both with me, I would have not continued if it was.

There was a handful of people at the summit with more approaching from the Hall’s Fell Ridge route and what a wonderful place to be. The cloud drifted in and out providing either great views across to the peaks or a few seconds of whiteout. There was still a lot of cloud on the southern fells and I wondered if Red Screes had a clear summit, most likely not.

After enjoying being surrounded in a winter wonderland high up on that mountain, the wind whipped up so I began my descent, taking the Scales Fell route back down to the car park. Lo and Behold, the skies cleared and the views were extensive.

Rucksack in the car, boots off and engine on I headed off on the long drive home, chuffed to bits with what I had experienced that day. Though the day had begun with a slight spanner in the works having forgot the map for the original route, all was not lost and I am kind of glad that it led me to head north to Blencathra. A moment of serendipity indeed!

Oh, and the map that I had left at home? I found it tucked away under the driver’s seat when I got home……

Now, when a weekend arrives, especially in the Spring time, I’m often away to the hills or trying to squeeze a little adventure into the two days. However, when a four day weekend comes into view it’s smiles all round as I load the car, jump in and head for the hills.

The Easter weekend was dedicated to the Lake District, meeting up with friends to get on the fells and recce the route for the LD Ten Peaks Challenge, which takes in the ten highest peaks, covers c. 73km, with over 5,600metres of ascent, in under 24hrs. Something we were pondering about the of doing in the Summer. The forecast was looking pretty sketchy, but hey ho....here we go:

 (For more info about the LD Ten Peak challenge see http://www.lakedistrictpeaks.co.uk/10-peaks.html) 



Friday 6th April 2012:


Having had a day to kit sort and get prepped I made way up to Seatoller arriving in time to meet up with folk in the Riverside Bar, for a few cheeky beers and a game of Top Trumps (it’s addictive!) It was always on the cards (excuse the pun) that the Easter weekend would be a busy one in the Lajkes and this was supported by the great atmosphere in the bar which was packed with walkers, climbers and general windswept, ruddy cheeked folk donned in a vast, colourful array of outdoor apparel. After much chat and once we lost interest in Top Trumps we headed to  Seatoller Farm Campsite (Grid Ref 245135) where the group had stayed the night before to hit the hay. Having arrived in the rain and decided to go to the pub straight away rather than put up my tent, I decided that I may as well sleep in the steel tent, aka my car.

Sat 7th April 2012:

Once up we brewed up and had breakfast before we set off from the campsite at 09:00 making our way toward sour milk gill which we made our way up alongside, with a wee scramble here and there, and over Gillercomb, before ascending a little, prior to making our way up to Green Gable (801m) summit. The weather provided low cloud occasionally breaking to a magnificent view across to Derwent Water & Skiddaw. Once at the summit, the cloud had shrouded , so there was minimal visibility apart from brief openings in passing cloud to see the looming summit of Great Gable (899m). Having made our way across to Great Gable, where we were surprised to see a group of 30+ strong Irish walkers all in good spirits, and again with visibility poor at summit a brief photo stop was had before making our way down to Styhead Tarn were the Mountain Rescue stretcher hut is based. The cloud had lifted at this point so views across the valley were good, with the Seathwaite Fell and surrounding lower peaks to the East as well as Lingmell  clear. Great Gable still held it’s summit cloud as well as Scafell Pike (978m) which wasn’t a surprise really.

We took the Corridor route up to Scafell Pike summit, on which, as it was late in the day, the majority of people we passed were descending (18:00). By chance, once we arived at the summit the cloud had blown on to leave good views of surrounding fells and across to the West coastline as well as the sun lit Langdale Pikes. The wind had picked up a bit by this point and it was clear that another cloud front was coming our way, so after a brief stop at the summit we descended to make our way across to Broad Crag and on towards Great End (910m) before dropping down before Great End summit ascent to Angle Tarn where we were to wild camp that evening. On descent of Scafell Pike the cloud had come in making visibility poor & surrounding peaks out of sight. At this point we took a bearing so as not to get led off course, but there were often breaks in the cloud allowing us to see Broad Crag and the route up and over to Great End. When we got to the Great End we veered right, rather than continuing up to Great End Summit,  picking up the path that takes you to Esk Pike and Angle Tran. On approach to Esk Pike (885m), which looms over Angle Tarn, the cloud held at the top but at 606m visibility was ok. 

Now.....weekends are busy in the Lakes, but Bank Holiday Weekends, come rain or shine, can be pretty chocka, so really it was no surprise to find about 6 other tents up around the Angle Tarn area. At this point, at about 20:30, the winds picked up a bit so we recceed the area to find a good camp location (Grid Ref 247078) and set up tent and had dinner, discussing a possible swim in Angle Tarn, to which we then decided was a rubbish idea (though one to remember for the warmer months) before retiring to bed, The winds by this time had dropped and the area became surrounded by cloud but no issues with weather throughout the night and a great night’s sleep was had. 

Sun 8th April 2012:

With a 07:30 awakening, and a head stuck out of the tent to survey the morning’s weather,  it wasn’t the sunniest of weather as desired, with more low cloud, poor visibility & slight precipitation . Once up it was breakfast & brew before packing up before heading off at a leisurely 09:00 toward High Raise (762m) via Lining Crag. At this height there was still the low wet cloud, so visibility continued to be poor especially up toward High Raise summit, where we had to walk on a  bearing for most of the ascent and descent to ensure we kept on course. On descent we decided it was easiest to follow close to Flour Gill down the valley, rather than go across country, and we were actually glad that we did as Flour Gill is really quite lovely and had the interesting feature of old building ruins tucked nicely in one of the its snaking bends.....well, to be honest, as we hadn’t seen much for a few hours we probably got more excited about this than we would have normally (a sign of civilisation after several hours of not seeing anything apart from rock and cloud!).  The gill took us all the way down to the pickup point at Steel End car park, at the south point of Thirlmere Reservoir to which we arrived at 16:00 ready for a good cuppa and a big plate of hot food, which we accustomed after a drive to Keswick at the Ramblers Tea Room (which I can highly recommend for darn good veggie food that would turn any meat eater!).