Lakes Weekend

Fantastic weekend filled with sun, summits and socialising it doesn’t get much better than this!  Arriving early in Great Langdale the conditions were perfect cold, frosty and firm under foot but without a cloud in the sky, the sunshine looked every bit as good as the forecast predicted. 

A frosty Great Langdale with clear blue skies above

Not long after setting off from the Old Dungeon Ghyll we were forced to de-layer on the climb up Rosset Gyll to Esk Hause, meeting Kev Davison (the Navigator FRA) en route.  

Rosset Ghyll with Rosset Pike on the right

A frozen Angle Tarn with Great End peaking over Esk Hause

Bowfell with Angle Tarn below

Sunshine on Angle Tarn

We parted company on the summit of Great End, with Kev going on to Scafell Pike and us returning to Esk Hause before going on to Esk Pike and Bowfell. 

Kev and FSS with Scafell Pike between them

Highest summit in England!

Wisps of cloud gathering in Mickledore

Great Gable from Great End

             Gable, again

Pillar (centre) then Black Crags, Scoat Fell with Steeple behind – from GE

Just below Bowfell summit we met up with Dave Makin and the other Achille Ratti lads who had started at Dunmail to run back to the ODG as a recce for Dave’s impending Joss this year.  We then clambered over the Crinkles.  I made a bit of a show of meself going down the Bad Step, which I’ve done many times before with no problem but perhaps the degree of caution required in running over the hard packed snow and ice in some parts resulted in a bit of shilly shallying on the down-climb.   Lucky FSS was there to look after me! 

The last climb of the day over Harrison Stickle before the descent to the car at the ODG, where we decided to take light refreshments from the bar.   Of course, the AR lads were already in residence and we joined them in a glass or two before returning to the hut along the valley.   The day gave us 12.7m with 5,148ft climbed.

Pike O’Stickle

Interesting ice formations on the grass

At bishops Scale, after a hot shower, Dave’s wife Jan and co. laid on a splendid repast of pie and peas for about 30 or so runners/walkers.   After supper, some hardy folk returned to the ODG, however, we were content to sit by the log burner with a glass of wine before retiring.

Sunday morning and a leisurely start to the day with me dropping FSS in Ambleside at about 9.00am to run over Wansfell, Garburn Rd etc (you can read about it on his blog) to me at George’s Garage, on the outskirts of Levens, which is the final checkpoint on That’s Lyth, (LDWA event) where I was marshalling for the day.  A cold day in the garage, but great conditions for the runners/walkers – of which there were 299 starters, all of whom passed by or through the garage.  Great to pass the time of day with so many familiar faces, one of which was our own YJ, who just ran in to say hello as he was having a great run and didn’t want to lose the momentum for the last five miles – look forward to reading about it YJ  :)  The first man through was at 10.13am for interest.

Quality weekend had by all!  Hope the piccies capture a bit of it!

NLN