My daughter was ill yesterday and so I took the day off work and we spent lots of time doing this:
My wife came home at 3pm, tag - you're it! After a quick dash to the garage for some calpol, I calculated I had about three hours of daylight left. Off I sped to Buttermere with a plan to tackle the High Stile range. Parking at the National Trust carpark and cutting through the path that runs alongside the river, around past the Fish Hotel and along the tracks that lead to Buttermere lake. I then ran up to the bottom of Sourmilk Gill and took the steep pitched path up through Burtness Woods:
This is probably as far as I could go without stopping running. Quite impressed with myself given the steepness of the path. Wainwright claims that this is, "the most trodden mountain track out of Buttermere." I would suggest that the Scarth Gap path, leading to Haystacks might take that title (and he might be responsible for it doing so).
Here's the athlete in question.
Not much further is the edge of the forest and out onto open fell. Good pitched paths on this part, no doubt thanks to fix the fells. Views were clearing up over the woods and with the rapid height gain, the unmistakable profile of Fleetwith Pike came into view at the other end of the lake:
over the lake - Robinson.
and together
from left, Rannerdale Knotts with a slope down towards Buttermere Village. Whiteless Breast is the ridge sloping towards the camera going up to Whiteless Pike. The big fell behind both is Grasmoor. To the right of Whiteless Breast is Wandope and Scar Crag.
plane flying low
Hazy Crummock Water with Melbreak in view on the left
First view of Chapel Crags. This is the, "oh, there's another bit to go" part of the climb
Bleaberry Tarn below Chapel Crags
looking back towards Whiteless Pike and Grasmoor
Dodd. Very tempted to find a path back down to Buttermere/Crummock at this point. I had totally bonked and had zero energy in my legs.
on the right in the foreground is Dodd. Looking over Crummock and behind Dodd in this picture is the Grasmoor and Whiteless Pike range. Melbreak is on the left-hand side of Crummock Water with part of the climb to Red Pike visible on the left in the foreground. Quite windy here but still ok in a t-shirt if you were working hard enough.
top of Red Pike looking towards High Stile
looking to the West and over Ennerdale
I would say that Pillar is the high fell on the left, to the right are a haze of fells including maybe Scoat Fell, Steeple and another Red Pike (Wasdale).
Higher and hazier over Crummock Water
heading towards High Stile, do you see the indentation on the left
here's a close up - quick way down anyone? Bleaberry Tarn below - buildings of Buttermere just visible beyond the edge.
looking back to Red Pike and Dodd. Melbreak behind.
top of High Stile, Pillar much clearer now
Pillar from High Stile. Scafell and Scafell Pike behind to the left.
full view of Pillar. Pillar Rock almost visible through the haze
back towards High Stile
close up of Scafell (right back) and Scafell Pike (middle back) with KirkFell in front?
looking down on Haystacks from High Crag
looking back up Gamlin End towards High Crag, just come down that way
Haystacks
Fleetwith Pike
Heading down the Scarth Gap path, good opportunity to check those drains
back towards Buttermere - looks like I beat the sunset today
Fleetwith Pike at the end of the lake. Path up through the woods on the right, path back along the shore on the left. Back on the level now!
GPS went a bit wild at Bleaberry Tarn and added about a half mile on.
Very tough going for a run. Steep climb up and then not too pleasant to run along the top - very rocky. Of course, beautiful views. Steep run down Gamlin End and Scarth Gap path but then a really quite wonderful run along the shore back to Buttermere Village. Very tempted to have a pint at the Fish Hotel but carried on up to my car. Quick change of shoes and home in time to tuck my daughter into bed.
She's feeling much better
No comments:
Post a Comment