Coed Brenin Enduro 2014

Coed Brenin Enduro 2014

Thursday 27 September 2012

Scafell - not the Pike!

Roughly twenty years ago Abi used to go walking regularly in the Lake District with her father (Chris) and the only mountain they didn't climb in this period was Scafell. So for a long time its been an itch that needed scratching!

Scafell is always over shadowed by its busier neighbour the 'Pike', and it also presents certain difficulties because the shortest ascent (and steepest) means committing to a scramble, either up Broad Stand from Mickledore, or Lords Rake.

Chris's only stipulations for the walk were that it was a circular route, with no scrambling, it could have a steepish ascent but the descent had to be more gradual! A tall order indeed! I knew it had to be a route from Eskdale, but from this side its a much longer prospect. Parge was the saviour and found 'the' route on the Internet.

So both pairs met in Eskdale on a bright Autumn day (rescheduled after 2 days of rain!), having both driven in from different directions, and both stressed after epic journeys!

We set off from Boot and soon got our first views of Scafell. 


Scafell





We followed the old corpse road up to, and past Burnmoor Tarn. The route used until 1901 to carry coffins from Wasdale to St Catherine’s Church in Boot, for burial. The road was still suitable for horse and cart well into the 20th Century.


Approaching Burnmoor Tarn (Scafell topped by cloud)

After the interesting (wet!), river crossing the climbing began, but we soon gained height, in fact we struggled keeping up with Chris, who was declaring a lack of fitness!!


Chris meets a hungarian shepherdess on the shoulder of Scafell - Burnmoor Tarn well below


After battling some heavy showers we finally made it up the scree to the breezy summit! Its a great 'top' and every time the cloud cleared you could see folk on the Pike. This fine perch seemed somehow even more special because of the wild weather and the fact that we had this lofty perch to ourselves.


Parge, Chris and Abi on the top, lets hope the lightning doesn't get them (with Scafell Pike behind)!


The descent over Slight Side, was brilliant, on the map it looked like it fitted the bill, and luckily this also proved the same on the ground! It gradually drops height, so you get fine views, out to sea, and into the Great Moss/Esk Buttress and over to Crinkle Crags - perfect.


Looking back to our descent from Slight Side (Scafell is behind and left -hidden by cloud)

Wearily (but happy), we finally made it back to the car and proceeded to celebrate in the pub at Boot. This was a special day in the hills that none of us will forget.

No comments:

Post a Comment