Hartsop above How - weather 1 pearsy 0.

The wife kindly let me go off on my Jack Jones to the lakes for a couple of days. Thanks Deb xx. Today's rant is roadworks. between Selston and J36 of the M6 there were 12 sets of roadworks, some about 6 miles in length. I'd set off very early and arrived late. 2 hours late. Was it a blessing in disguise. I'll never know. But I have to go back to climb Dove and Hart Crag, Red Screes and Middle Dodd and High Hartsop Dodd. More of which later.
I camped at Sykeside campsite, its expensive, a bit damp underfoot and the ground is rock hard. Its next to a pub and the views are to die for. This was the view from the tent.


After faffing about for far too long on went the rucksack and off i went. the route was along low wood then almost double back on myself. An ascent of Hartsop above How then Dove Crag and Hart Crag, over to the Kirkstone pass and bag a few tops before falling off the end of High hartsop dodd (seen here from the tent, told you views to die for)


Weather was nice and calm when I set off, a bit breezy and cool but it was October. A couple of miles later a quick left turn and it was off up the hill.




It started to rain and the wind got up. I started the rigmarole that i hate, layering up. We hikers have so much to put up with in this country, an outfit for any and every occasion. Off went the windproof and water resistant jacket, on went the fleece jacket and over the top the waterproof and windproof jacket that's breathable which lets all the sweat out, but never quite does. If you have a jacket that does that then let me know. Oh and gloves. Not nice thinsulate ones today but cumbersome thick leather ones. The wind was cold and so was the rain thinking back. I was glad of the gloves. I took my walking poles off my rucksack and strapped them to my hands. I feel a bit safer with them in my hands. I was on my own and the conditions were to put it mildly a little bit shit! Onwards and upwards. i got to a decent height and wandered off the path to look down in to the valley and right below me was the campsite with the poor lonely tent. It was blowing a hooley and persisting it down and I had a quick chat with a Mum and Dad and two boys who looked entirely miserable. They were at least two miles from the nearest PlayStation 3. They were also the only people I had seen since the valley floor.
I pressed on, conditions were quite bad now. The rain was straight in my face and stinging as it was blown by the wind, i turned and took a picture looking back the way i had come. Theres nothing wrong with the camera. The greyness is due to the rain.



I turned round, as I was putting the camera away a gust took me sideways about 6 or 7 foot. I carried on the wind taking me all over the ridge, I was enjoying this, little old me against the wind funneling down kirkstone pass and racing up the hill. The clouds was also coming down over Dove Crag and the Fairfield horseshoe fells.

I was "crabbing" sideways now as it was almost impossible to walk straight in to the wind. It was tearing at my rucksack cover and making a hell of a din, much like when a parachute deploys. It was then the wind knocked me off my feet and i fell over and banged my shin on a rock. I wasn't enjoying it any more, it was difficult to look up as the rain was incessant and the cloud was getting closer and closer. I took a final picture and stowed the camera inside my coat. It couldn't live on a strap on my bag anymore.


I was about 400 metres from the top of Hart Crag on the edge of link cove which I couldn't see the bottom of. I'd already decided it was time to bale out. Problem was i couldn't go back the way I came, the wind would have then been at my back and there is some tricky descent with lots of sharp rocks. I needed to get down off the ridges. I couldn't really see more than 100 yards.

I found some shelter behind some rocks and with trepidation took out the map. If this gets blown away I may be in for an uncomfortable time. I got the coffee out too. Brilliant in a crisis is caffeine. I'm good with maps and compasses. Anyone who gets lost as often as I tends to be above average. All that was needed was a perpendicular track across to where Dove Crag was, find the source of Dovedale back and follow the water down. There will be a path some 300 meters (height) below my present position. Double checking the casio pro trek (my watch) confirmed I was 780 metres give or take a metre or so (a great investment). I still needed to be careful, there were some nasty drops going down and the place was deserted, I had no mobile signal so a banged head could be serious. I also didn't know the ground. I haven't baled out too often in the past and was bit fed up about doing it now. I'd used up all my favours in getting a pass whilst Debs sat at home alone. I also thought how bad it would be if I hurt myself or worse. Off down the hill then, overly cautious. Ten minutes later after a sort of sweeping zig zag i found the beck. Twenty minutes later the path was found a sigh of relief and now it was full speed ahead to get back, get changed and off to Blackpool for some fish and chips and to watch the blades. That didn't go well either, Got a puncture somewhere between the lakes and the M6 didn't know till I hit a bump in the road on the motorway, limped to a service station put some air in and got to the game. Had the fish and chips (lovely). the Blades were absolutely woeful and got whupped by the Tangerines 3 to nil, we were lucky to get nil. Stephen Quinn nearly had a fight with some supporters who weren't happy with him. he was one of maybe four trying it looked to me. the final whistle couldn't come soon enough and i raced to the car. because of the puncture I never made the supermarket and food was needed for Hellvelyn tomorrow. well it was me that needed the food, not the 3rd highest hill in England.....
Got to the car and the tyre was as flat as the proverbial pancake. I wondered if Paul Whitehouse and Harry Enfield had based unlucky Alf on me. Oh bugger.
proceeded to change the tyre whilst half the population of Blackpool completely ignored me. I knew it was a mistake to have personalised number plates, basically advertising the fact I support Sheff Utd. I'd have done the same, completely ignored me that is. Thanks to the couple in the house though who saw me and offered to help. It restored some of my faith in humanity. It wouldn't last as there is always some arsehole to put it right back. The latest was that prick who pissed all over the war memorial in barkers Pool in Sheffield. You make me proud to be British.................
Got back to the lakes at the wrong side of midnight. the Brotherswater Arms was in darkness, but I'd found a tesco express so was all set for Hellvellyn and its neighbours the following day. I brewed up a hot chocolate and collapsed in to bed, listening to the wind howling and the rain lashing down. Roll on tomorrow. Thank goodness for earplugs. I slept like a baby.

The Hellvelyn massif.

After yesterdays disaster (see hartsop above how blog), going to Blackpool having to change a tyre, getting back to a wind and rain ravaged tent, getting to sleep about 4AM i started a bit later than i expected...3 hours late in fact. Half seven became an half ten and a quick drive to Patterdale saved me an hour of flat woodland (which I'd done most of yesterday) and at the end of the day it turned out to be a good decision. Being a tightwad Yorkie, I won't pay for parking if I can utilise a lay-by etc so, opposite the White Lion in Patterdale was where the car was abandoned. I was tired and emotional and my boots hadn't quite dried out but not to worry. Plan was straight up Birks -St Sunday Crag- Dollywagon-Nethermost- Hellvelyn ( I was excited as the cloud was high and may get the view at the 6th? time of asking)- Whiteside-Raise-Sticks Pass-Sheffield Pike- Glenridding Dodd and back along the shore of ullswater and on to Patterdale.
Starting at 10:30 and it goes dark at 6:20 ish meant I'd have to get cracking. I'd checked the map quickly in the morning so straight on with the climbing......Ullswater through the trees.

The man coughed for the second time in 2 days"cough" Ian "cough" I don't think you are where you think you are. I looked at the map and my surroundings, to my left was errrrm birkhouse moor..but thats not Birkhouse moor is it.The voice said "yes thats birkhouse moor but whats that hill BETWEEN"

I'd climbed Arnison Crag by mistake! I now extended my sit down by 5 minutes as it was now obvious to me that i needed to sort myself out. Twice in 2 days i'd gone charging out without properly preparing! It cost me some time and also cost me a lung busting ascent up the western flank of Birks which wasnt easy and certainly harder than the way i'd expected to go. Which was up there (right to left up Birks)!
Still, Arnison Crag is a wainwright. "Bonus" the little man voice told me. I carried on summited the Crag then hung a right and down and up to catch the Birks - St Sunday path.

Birks is just a slog up all the way:

The summit. St Sunday on the left and the Hellvelyn range in the rear. There's no way I'd make that today is there really!
I set a merry pace over the three or four false summits with a bit of easy scrambling along the way.
Shortly after I reached the summit which was shared with some fire fighters. Luckily they weren't there on business.

I then set off looking for a suitable spot to have my scoff. There was an enchanting view down to Grisedale tarn with Seat sandal behind. My route up to Hellvelyn was on the right up Dollywagon Pike.

I clambered down about halfway and sat almost opposite Dollywagon and had my cheese and salami. A lovely view from my my dining room!

The hard work was about to start. I'd descended Dollywagon Pike before and remembered it was a steep path, it was also a long way down. I had to cross Grisedale tarn first though.


It was then up the flank of the Pike....phew! You can just make the path out. Its one of the biggest staircases i have ever seen!


I got up there in less than an hour but it took its toll. I looked back at St Sunday


Onwards and upwards towards Hellvelyn. the summit traverse path is airy nice and staedy walking and easy on the legs after a grelling climb. It does have its moments and its a trek to the mountain, however there are some nice views from: Nethermost Pike with striding edge and catstye cam being the obvious draw.


Finally got to the summit of Hellvelyn and had a rest in the summit shelter

Then the sun came out when i got to the summit cairn:


It was then time to make a hasty retreat across to raise and down past keppel cove back to Patterdale. i reached Greenside mine as it got dark and it was pitch black when i got to Glenridding so walked back to Patterdale in darkness. I was exhausted and exhilerated at the same time. i hadn't achieved all my objectives but its never a dissapointment climbing Hellvelyn.

I retired to the Brotherswater Arms for a lamb casserole and a beer. Then back to the tent and a good nights sleep.

you can read a more detailed vesion of this walk and day at:

http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,4953.0.html