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Wasdale 2006

 

Ascent of Great Gable

 

 

 

Sunday 13th August

It was quite a windy night and by the morning the weather had changed, with cloud and mist hanging on the mountain tops. We woke about 7.30 and had a large breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausages, fried bread, and (dad only) tomatoes. Then we checked our mountain equipment carefully into our rucksacks and at 10 o'clock set off up the Styhead Pass. We stopped at a stream to get water then gradually gained height, with our cottage and the whole Wasdale valley spread out below our feet.

 

 

(Above: heading up the Styhead Pass)

There were several other parties heading up the pass, including a large group bound for Scafell Pike. However, we were heading for Great Gable. We made good time. Peter kept up a steady pace, leading much of the way. When we reached the pass we hot the full force of the wind, and put on warmer clothing.

 

(Above: having a break at Styhead Pass)

We were still below the mist as we began for the summit, but it started coming down with surprising speed. However, the route was well marked and we pressed on at a good pace, motivated by the thought of lunch at the top. There were several moments when Peter thought the summit was in sight, only to discover that another huge slope waited to be climbed beyond the horizon. But eventually we got there, placed a stone on the summit cairn, and collapsed for lunch. It was a quarter to one.

 

(Above: Pete on the summit of Great Gable - mist all round but who cares!)

Four or five other groups either came or went while we ate our food. Peter managed to phone mum and tell her where we were (we could only get a connection on the mountain tops). It seemed amazing to be talking to her from the summit of Great Gable! In the end we were getting cold so we headed down to the pass, with views of Styhead Tarn far below us as the mist dispersed, and people like ants were walking past it. We also got a good view of the Corridor Route on Scafell Pike, disappearing into the mist - our route tomorrow if the weather's good enough. From the pass we decided to drop to the river in the valley bottom, where waterfalls dropped into deep pools of clear water. Peter and dad had a contest to see who could make the biggest splash with rocks. The result was hard to judge. Then slowly back towards the cottage, Peter following the river bed, while dad walked on the easy green path above it. Back at the cottage, Peter had a hot chocolate, dad a pot of tea. We walked down to Wasdale Head and bought supplies of drinking chocolate and coke, as well as some postcards. Then home to cards and frisbee - we were unable to break our record because of the wind and what dad claimed was poor throwing by Pete. We had delicious pizzas for supper and more card games and hot chocolate carried on into the evening with the latest score: 22-22. We had accomplished our first objective: Great Gable. Outside the mist was clearing and we hoped the weather the next day would allow us to go for our main target: Scafell Pike.

 

next section : the ascent of Scafell Pike