Two day walk

This was a walk of two halves, our first attempt at wild camping and our first weekend trip to the lakes. I could only persuade Isabelle to give this a try, which did at least mean we could do the driving in the Lotus.  We'd discussed kit list and how to split it between us, which was a great chance to buy some more equipment.  I think we ended up taking too much food though, so could have travelled quite a bit lighter.

Outbound Difficulty: 8.0

Walkers: Tim, Isabelle (17)

9:18, 0.0km 0h00 0m, Start (84)

11:23, 5.9km 2h04 428m, Great Crag (449, Wainwright)

14:08, 11.3km 4h50 907m, Eagle Crag (525, Wainwright)

14:35, 12.3km 5h17 979m, Sergeant's Crag (571, Wainwright)

16:00, 15.1km 6h42 1220m, High Raise (High White Stones) (762, Wainwright, Hewitt)

16:23, 16.7km 7h05 1260m, Thunacar Knott (723, Wainwright)

16:38, 17.4km 7h20 1265m, Pavey Ark (700, Wainwright)

17:20, 19.4km 8h02 1323m, Sergeant Man (736, Wainwright)

18:10, 21.2km 8h51 1340m, End (467)

We drove up on Friday evening, staying at The Leathes Head.  We had a great breakfast, and were planning to leave the car at Watendlath car park, but the hotel were happy to have the car overnight so we left it there as we set off.

We set off full of optimism with an easy start along the valley floor before starting to climb up.

First Wainwright of the day, Great Crag.

Setting off to find the way back down to the valley floor again so we could cross over, our route choice at Dock Tarn wasn't great so it did take a little longer then planned.

Now up the other side of the valley to Eagle Crag, and a great view up Borrowdale.

While I took photos Isabelle took her chance for a rest.

Now over to Sergeant's Crag, looking south. 

Isabelle wisely taking her chance for another rest.

High Raise brought out the big guns, Chocolate Hobnobs.

Another shot of High Raise, looking west.

Over to Thunacar Knott.

Pavey Ark, it seemed a bit rude not to sweep up a few of these that Isabelle had missed on previous trips. 

Finally Sergeant Man.  We very briefly considered a few more, but it was now getting close enough to lights down where we should make a move to our destination.

As we descended it hove into view: Codale Tarn, mercifully without any evidence of other tents, just nestling into the surrounding hills.

A brief look around for the best site picked out the grassy knoll, so we brought out the tent and made a start on dinner.

For a first wild camping trip I'm quite happy.  The return journey was a bit miserable with the weather and a couple of niggling injuries, but everything worked, we were comfortable enough in the tent (for one night), and we certainly didn't run out of food!

Return Difficulty: 4.0

Walkers: Tim, Isabelle (17)

9:25, 0.0km 0h00 0m, Start (467)

15:05, 14.4km 5h40 393m, End (84)

The route back was mainly in the rain, so we optimised for the return car journey, taking the short route back to allow enough time for a cafe stop in Keswick for tea & cake.  I didn't take any pictures on the return journey, but here's the route map.

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.