Langdales in the rain

So the forecast was some rain in the afternoon, but I was hoping that by the time we got to the group of peaks it would have cleared.  Best laid plans...  Still, it was another walk from the house, going up the path onto the fell side.

Difficulty: 6

Walkers: Tim, Caroline, Grace (12), Evie (9), Poppy (6 1/2)

9:49, 0.0km 0h00 0m, Start (96)

11:23, 3.0km 1h34 474m, Blea Rigg (541, Wainwright)

12:23, 5.3km 2h33 660m, Sergeant Man (736, Wainwright)

12:42, 6.3km 2h53 705m, High Raise (High White Stones) (762, Wainwright, Hewitt)

13:37, 8.1km 3h48 750m, Thunacar Knott (723, Wainwright)

13:56, 8.6km 4h07 752m, Pavey Ark (700, Wainwright)

14:41, 9.7km 4h52 826m, Harrison Stickle (736, Hewitt, Wainwright)

15:31, 10.7km 5h42 879m, Pike of Stickle (709, Wainwright, Hewitt)

16:08, 11.5km 6h19 926m, Loft Crag (680, Wainwright)

18:42, 16.5km 8h53 991m, End (98)

So first up Blea Rigg, conquered the day before, but en-route to Sergeant Man.

The morning was nice, warm and sunny.

Now at the top of Sergeant Man, the last steep climb up on this walk.

And now all the way to High Raise.  A little wet underfoot, but much less soggy than when Caroline and I had walked up here before.  With the wind direction most of the walk up the gradual slope was in shelter, but once at the top there was a very strong wind.  We took cover in the walled shelter at the top and had lunch.

Now along to Thunacar Knott, and it was starting to rain.  

Across to Pavey Arc, and the rain was only getting worse, with only occasional glimpses down the valley.

 A fairly easy climb up to Harrison Stickle, and it was really raining hard.

Quite a hard walk down to the bottom of the bowl and up again to Pike of Stickle - at this point Evie was really not having fun, and Poppy was soaked through as well.  Evie had not wanted her waterproof trousers on when it started to rain, and Poppy's weren't actually that waterproof, so it wasn't too surprising.  A pity, since scrambling up Pike of Stickle was something I hoped both of them would have enjoyed.  Caroline at least was having fun.

Getting down was a team exercise.

Finally onto the final peak of the day, Loft Crag.  

The view across to Pike of Stickle.  The weather was improving a little by now.

By the time we were down it had brightened up quite a bit.  We took the opportunity to start to dry out...

And finally the walk back to the house was lovely - the Langdale valley bathed in beautiful low sunshine.

Mopping up the Langdales

We'd done a few walks in the Langdales before, but not covered this exact ground, so it was a good choice to end the weekend on.  We parked in one of the car parks by the hotel at the bottom of Dungeon Ghyll (cunningly named the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel).

Difficulty: 6

Walkers: Tim, Caroline

10:39, 0.0km 0h00 0m, Start (98)

12:46, 6.7km 2h06 566m, Rossett Pike (651)

14:30, 11.3km 3h50 810m, Pike of Stickle (709)

15:03, 12.6km 4h24 916m, Thunacar Knott (723)

15:22, 13.4km 4h43 950m, Harrison Stickle (736)

15:54, 14.4km 5h14 999m, Loft Crag (680)

17:22, 17.0km 6h42 1022m, End (100)

We started up the path we had come down when we walked up the Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell on honeymoon, I always remember that descent being really quite hard, and it was certainly a lot easier going up on fresh legs.  The weather didn't really look that promising though.

Still the cloud would occasionally lift and give us both hope and a stunning view.

The route we took to Rossett Pike was great, up until the path disappeared after we reached Angle Tarn.  I'm sure this was my navigation, but it wasn't that far.

Our path woes continued on the route across to the Pike of Stickle,   In parts it was good, but we ended up walking freestyle for most of the first stretch before the crossing with Stake Pass.  This picture shows the Pike sticking up - it took a bit of persuading before Caroline got up.  In fact I had given up and gone up myself, had enjoying the view and taken some pictures before I looked behind me and saw Caroline had clearly got bored waiting and had made it to the top.  A small amount of climbing up is needed...

The view from the top, probably taken when I was waiting for Caroline.  Thankfully the cloud had really started to clear, so we were getting reliable views.

I love this picture - I'm sure some foolhardy people go this way, but not us.

Following a fairly tedious cross country stretch we made it to Thunacar Knott.  I suspect that with the obvious views from the peaks around the cliff edges many fewer people make it over to here.

Harrison Stickle, with a great panoramic view taking in Pavey Ark on the left, to Stickle Tarn in the center and Loft Crag to the right.

Our final peak for the day, Loft Crag.

Around the back of Pavey Ark

The last full day we headed up to the Langdales to explore.

We headed up the path from the Old Dungeon Ghyll, and was passed by several other walkers - include a lady carrying her toddler on her shoulders.  Caroline (and I) was very impressed with her not having to use hands on the boulders.  

First view over Stickle Tarn at Harrison Stickle on the left and Pavey Ark on the right.

Caroline, being gently garrotted by the map case.

Not feeling brave enough for Jack's Rake, we headed to the right of Pavey Ark. 

View looking back with Blea Rigg on the left.

Finally to the top, the small matter of the waterlogged ground to cross to get to Pavey's Ark. 

At the top, looking towards Harrison Stickle

Caroline admiring the view back down the Langdale valley.

Me, not knowing how to pose for the camera.

Looking back towards Pavey Ark.

At Harrison Stickle.

Now looking towards Pike O' Stickle, the bump across the way.

Heading across the path. 

Looking at the approach to the climb up to the top.

From Pike O' Stickle, looking towards Blea Tarn and Squeeze Rock/Side Pike.

With Harrison Stickle on the left and Loft Crag on the right.

Heading back down, with what now seems a criminal disregard for other nearby Wainwrights.

Caroline, enjoying this part of the descent.

The flatter section before we start dropping faster down..