And finally... Skiddaw

Despite the broken bones in my shoulder and the inflamed tendons in my knee and the rain forecast this was a walk that was going to happen.

Difficulty: 5.7
Walkers: Tim, Caroline, Poppy (13), Piper (4)
10:20, 0.0km 0h00 0m, Start (291)
11:51, 4.5km 1h30 512m, Lonscale Fell (715, Hewitt, Wainwright)
12:36, 6.7km 2h15 721m, Skiddaw Little Man (865, Wainwright, Hewitt)
13:16, 8.3km 2h55 866m, Skiddaw (931, Wainwright, Hewitt)
14:08, 9.5km 3h47 909m, Carl Side (746, Wainwright, Hewitt)
16:31, 14.9km 6h11 1100m, End (307)

We parked at the Latrigg carpark, arriving just early enough to get a space on the road, about three cars from the carpark.  A little earlier would have been better, but that's close enough for me.

Cloud at around 500m meant a clear start, but this was about the last good view we got on the way up.  The path going up was very wide and well built, so fairly straightforward.  Given the rain forecast we inevitably passed some people who didn't look dressed for the conditions, and one lad who we met half way up who asked us which way to Skiddaw.   I really hope they all enjoyed their walks and were safe, although I try and leave less to chance. 

Lonscale Fell, standing at the Wainwright, looking back to the cairn, the views were astounding.  As we walked back we passed another family heading here, clearly bagging Wainwrights on a cloudy day.

Skiddaw Little Man.  Up uptil this point it hadn't actually been raining, although all the moisture from the cloud was condensing on us, so we were pretty soaked already.

However on the final ascent to Skiddaw it started to rain, and the last 500m along the ridge was pretty windy as well.   Still, I like to feel that it would have been a let down if it was warm with a good view.

We celebrated at the top with champagne - sorry for not bringing up the glasses, the table, the table cloth, chairs, etc.

The steep path down towards Carl Side was great - very steep, wet, and all slate scree, so progress was very slow.   For a change this week I did get to have Piper so that Caroline could concentrate on getting down the path.  I just made sure that she didn't pull me over, since landing on a broken shoulder wasn't in my plan for the day.  The final pay off was that it stopped raining and we got a view back - here's Carl Side on the left.

At the top of Carl Side, where we finished the champagne.

Heading further down the hill we got the occasional view over Derwent Water.

White Stones, where we stopped for a break to finish lunch before heading further down.

Down towards Millbeck, just before the zig zag path that Caroline swears we've been down before.