Spirit of Adventure .org
Wasdale 2006

 

An Epic Day

 

 

 

Wednesday 16th August

Dad woke around half past six to find a total change of scene outside. All the mist had disappeared, the tops were clear, and the day looked set fair. Previously dad had suggested an ascent of Red Pike, but Peter had made a counter proposal of doing the entire horseshoe of Red Pike, Scoat Fell and Pillar - a huge undertaking. Ah! The foolish enthusiasm of youth! However, with such a fine day in prospect, and an early rise, dad sensed that Peter's project might be a possibility. Soon the cottage smelt of sausages and bacon - designed to get Peter out of bed (it worked) and after breakfast we made our packed lunches and set off at 9.15 for Wasdale Head. Here Peter rented out a trekking pole, to try it for a day, and we set off up Black Sail Pass at a steady pace.

 

 

(Above: Peter with trekking pole setting off up Black Sail Pass for the Pillar horseshoe)

From there we enjoyed a good scramble in places up the ridge to the summit of Pillar. A mist had come down on Pillar against our expectations but it disappeared as we approached the summit and we had clear views in all directions.

 

(Above: Peter on the summit of Pillar after a good scramble)

We had a snack, Peter phoned home, then we made a scrambly descent to Windy Gap. From there the ridge opened out onto the flat tops of Scoat Fell, which had a strange wall leading to its summit. Scoat Fell was Peter's fourth mountain top, and certainly the least dramatic. Just as we got there we saw a large wall of mist approaching us, so we hurried down to the start of the Red Pike ridge, and very soon we were sitting on Peter's fifth summit, still clear of mist. Peter spoke to mum on the phone and we had a quick drink and piece of chocolate.

 

(Above: Peter pointing to the summit of Red Pike ... Below: Peter on the summit of Red Pike - his 5th mountain)

 

We had climbed the horseshoe, and three mountain tops, and now began the long descent. We stopped at Scoat Tarn - a beautiful, lonely mountain lake, hidden away at 2000 feet. The sunlight sparkled everywhere on its water, we had the whole place to ourselves, everything was still and peaceful. Fish were rising in the water all over the place. It was beautiful.

 

(Above: Peter at Scoat Tarn)

Then down the long and weary path to Netherbeck, where we stopped for an hour to do bracken racing on the river. This got very competitive, seeing whose bracken would float down the course the fastest. Competitors were allowed to 'bomb' the opponent's bracken with stones (or even boulders), and Peter got so carried away that he fell in. In the end, Peter beat dad 9-6 and we continued on our way, until at last we reached the road at Wastwater. By now we felt thirsty and tired, but at least the walking was on the flat, and the evening was calm and peaceful. Out of the blue, Peter spotted a perfectly good football on the lake shore (which may have floated away days or weeks before) and a quick clamber down a steep slope resulted in: new owners for a good quality football! Further along the road we met a man with a dog, who asked us if we would tell his friend (further behind) to hurry up. A few minutes later, another man (also with a dog) came running past, so we passed on the message. Our cottage finally came into sight. We were very tired by then. We had completed a 12-mile route if you just measured the distance on the map, but in reality it was about 20 miles (with three mountains along the way). At the cottage it was boots off, socks off, ice-cold drinks out of the fridge, oven on, chicken and roast potatoes in. Then collapse! After we thought we were full up from supper, we went on to enjoy the sweetest melon you could imagine, and then continued our ridiculously close cards tournament over mugs of hot chocolate. Score at bedtime: 60-60. Time: after midnight.

 

next : river walking in the Mosedale valley