Going Ape

Following a successful ascent and descent of Walla Crag and a tasty lunch at The Lakeland Peddlar, we decided to have a wander around the festival village at Keswick Mountain Festival.  Hannah immediately spotted a mini version of the Go Ape course and decided that she wanted a go.

safety briefing

we're off, smiling and laughing all the way around

   

getting more confident now

   

final obstacle

I should think so!

Hannah's fifth Wainwright - Walla Crag

Hannah bought some new boots while we were on holiday in Wales so it was pretty easy to persuade her to go up a mountain.  She has already done four and this will be number five, the popular Walla Crag.  I had been on my bronze NNAS navigation training the day before and so this was an ideal opportunity to practice my map reading skills.

climbing up Cat Gill and my favourite view in the Lakes opens up - a bit hazy today though

quite steep

  

at the top now

 

great family walk

looks like somebody beat us to the top

number five

running down

Hannah showing off her 'special stone' gawd knows where this is from, probably Wales

kissing gate

refuelling

What a lovely walk.  Hannah did really well, We probably did about five miles altogether and this is the first Wainwright she has done without being carried for any of it.  My map reading went really well although I did lose track of our position when we went back into Great Wood.

We had some lunch at the Lakeland Peddlar and then went to check out the festival village at Keswick Mountain Festival.

More Treasure Hunting

Geocaching is on Hannah's list of 50 things and even though we have done it before, it's a fun family activity. Seeing as we have family visiting, we decided to head off to a cache in Ambleside.

lots of wild garlic and bluebells but where is the treasure?

Jay

 

shelter, need to build one of these for my list one day

hmm...

getting warm, time to call in the family

here they come

spoiler alert!

time to stand on a tree, on one foot, holding the treasure

When I asked Hannah to stand on one foot, she took it literally

into Ambleside for refreshments and art

Cycling Progress - Whinlatter and Newlands the easy way

Choosing the day of the Fred Whitton to try to climb two of the famous passes in the Lake District might not have been the best idea.  Luckily, we managed to miss out on other cyclists coming up or down the passes and actually took a lot of inspiration from the sight of some pretty 'normal' looking people taking on the challenge as we passed them going through Lorton.

We parked above Crummock Water and headed up through Lorton and then took the back way to Keswick over Whinlatter.  Jonathan and I both managed the climb to Whinlatter fairly easy.  Jonathan only stood up for a short section and I had a gear to spare and sat down the whole way.  After a quick stop for an energy bar at Whinlatter visitor's centre, we enjoyed the descent to Braithwaite before setting off towards  Newlands.  Again, we were tackling this pass the easier way (20% climbs as opposed to 25%) but I was still fairly convinced that I didn't have a chance of getting over it.  We took it really easy on the long ride to Newlands Hause, it was like a death march.  The wind was really blowing hard to the point where we were having to pedal quite hard on down hill sections.  I was hoping that, as the road turned a corner and got deeper into the pit of the valley, the wind would come from a different angle but it was not to be so.  The initial stages of the hill are very manageable and it is only the last section which is really steep.  The wind blowing right against me really didn't help and it was this rather than the steepness of the hill that was going to stop me if anything was.  I was really bobbing towards the top, I never got to the point where I had to stand up but I've never been so glad to get up a hill as when the top of Newlands Hause rolled under my wheels.

Jonathan did really well and I think it was the wind that eventually stopped him and made him walk the final section.  In the right conditions, I think he would have a really good chance.  

Feeling victorious, we took it very easy down into Buttermere and back along to the car.  We couldn't resist a drive over/recce of Honister Pass on the way home.  Now that is a tough one!

A turn of weather in Langdale

I was looking forward to a nice walk around Great Langdale, starting with the steep ascent up to Stickle Tarn, then looping around the back, bagging six Wainwrights (five new 'uns).  Even better, my gorgeous wife was coming with me!  Here is the planned route:

the green is as far as we got

actual route

 

Heading up a group of children ghyll scrambling

plenty of water flowing down for them

looking back over the path and Lingmoor Fell

stepping stones

 

mug shot

 

up at Stickle Tarn

climbing up to Harrison Stickle, starting to hail a bit now

quite a bit

 

ok, time to turn back

we've got our waterproofs on, just take it steady

view opened up again to Lingmoor Fell.

Back down to Stickle Barn for a pint and a packet of crisps.  It got really clear on the way down but we had already set off back and I think it was the right decision.  Hopefully, my wife will come walking with me again.