Dove Crag After the floods - no photos

Because of work commitments and, of course, the recent flooding, I had missed two consecutive weeks walking for the first time in eight years; I was fairly keen to get onto the hills. I parked at Rydal Mount, it was pouring with rain as I set off walking along the track through the grounds of Rydal Hall. There is a secret gate that lets you onto a relatively unused path towards Low Sweden Bridge; after walking on a precarious muddy path by the side of a fast flowing gill, there is a short climb up to a gate that doesn't need to be climbed over these days, although the retaining chain is awkward to replace.

I carried on uphill, across sheep-trimmed grass, until I reached a track, the track quickly takes you to the start the climb towards Low Pike; it didn't stop raining as the mist closed in. Keeping as close as possible to the stone wall means you are off the path, but also out of the worst of the muddy ground; it's a good strategy on a very wet day, but there is still plenty of mud to be avoided. It also means you have to make a couple of short, but nteresting, scrambles on Sweden Crag and Low Brock Crags, made more interesting when the rock is very wet.

Eventually, near a wall junction, you will come to a stone step-stile in the wall; the path seems to carry on ahead, but getting on to the other side of the wall at that stage keeps you out of the man-eating bog. A wet and muddy, but obvious, path takes you uphill, it gets very wet in places and it is probably only a matter of time before this side of the wall turns into another bog, it has the potential to become another man-eater.

After an initial steep ascent, there is a more straightforward climb, before another steep climb ahead; at this point there is a gap in the wall that gets you back on to the traditional path. The path moves away from the wall to avoid the steepest ground, but I was in no mood for an easy walk; I climbed up the steep, grassy ground by the side of the wall, some of the wet rock slabs needed a big step up, whilst clinging on to the wet grass.

There are less steep sections between the steeper scrambles and it's easy to wander away from the wall, and follow the path along the contours; you have to climb back up to the wall eventually, and I think it's best to get back up to it as soon as you can. After the final scramble you reach another crest, where the summit of Low Pike comes into site; being on this side of the wall means you can reach it without making an awkward scramble over the wet crumbling wall.

After a short scramble downwards, the path by the side of the wall becomes extremely swampy; I usually keep close to the wall and step on the partially submerged stones to keep out of the mud. There are more scrambles up the steep grass, and more clambering up the boulders and slabs; it does get a little bit exposed in places too, where the ground falls away steeply down to Rydale. Once again the path tries to lure you away from the wall but you should resist that temptation; it isn't much further to the summit of High Pike.

It stopped raining too, I had been wondering if I would get my full walk done, but I then started to think it would be possible now that the rain had stopped. My clothing was saturated, although I was dry and warm, but with any more heavy rain I might not have been. I began the long walk up towards Dove Crag, there was wet snow on the ground now, it was partially frozen and not always strong enough to take my weight; taking the wrong line meant I was up to my ankles it slushy, peaty mud.

I crossed over the wall to try to find a drier line, but ended up crossing back again; it wasn't quite as muddy but the combination of soft snow and longer grass made it hard work for my calf muscles. Eventually I passed the series of three cairns, marking the various routes down to Bakestones Moss, and shortly before the final slightly steeper, but drier ascent to the summit of Dove Crag.

It started to rain heavily again, it was being driven by a strong wind and I had to take stock of my position; I had been walking for three hours and it was likely to take me another four hours to finish my route. I decided that in those conditions I should retrace my steps, it wasn't going to get any better the closer I got to Fairfield.

It was wet, misty and steep, just wonderful to be back on the hills.

© Andy Wallace 5th December 2009