Mostly Mosedale - no photos today
Pouring with rain when I got up but by the time I got to Wasdale Head it was dry and calm but very misty on the fell tops. Before setting off I picked up my Wasdale MRT Supporters teeshirts, they are this season’s “must have” and you should get yours before they are all gone.
I walked down to the road towards the Overbeck car park, there were some fascinating cloud formations around the top of Scafell.I decided to use the footpath in order to get off the road, I was soon wishing I hadn’t. I must have lost the path in the bracken and was soon battling through the chest high stuff unable to see where I was putting my feet, I was thankful to reach the path leading up to Yewbarrow.
There was good visibility as I reached Great Door and I made the short scramble up to the top of Bell Rib, a super little viewpoint. I joined a group of walkers from Derby crossing the ridge of Yewbarrow as the mist surrounded us. The mist cleared as we reached the northern end of the ridge enabling us to see Dore Head far below, some of my fellow walkers found the descent of Stirrup Crag to be quite daunting. I was able to help some of them getting down the awkward rock steps and one of them needed some coaxing before he found enough courage to get down the highest of them. It is a first class scramble but definitely not for people with a nervous disposition!
I then walked the relatively easy path to Red Pike, soon back in the mist, and followed the edge of the crags to the highest point, an excellent viewpoint when it isn’t misty. Down to the depression between Red Pike and Scoat Fell, as the footpath bears to the right I headed for the skyline up to the left and found the ridge path, turning left for Scoat Fell.
By the time I got to the summit of Scoat Fell, about 20 to 30 minutes after leaving the misty top of the Red Pike ridge, that very same ridge was clearly visible as was Steeple and its rocky surroundings. Unfortunately the mist came back just as quickly but there was a bit more visibility on Steeple than when I was there last, that little summit is still one of my favourite places.
Back to the completely misty Scoat Fell, following the ridge path over Black Crag and then down the grassy slopes to Wind Gap. The climb up to Pillar isn’t too bad but my legs were beginning to complain a bit by now, the summit of Pillar was completely still and quiet in the mist.
I took the easy way down to Black Sail Pass, on the way down there was a sudden break in the clouds and I could see Yewbarrow and Wastwater beyond but within seconds the window closed again. From Black Sail Pass down to Wasdale Head is an hour’s pleasant walk, as I got to within a hundred yards of the car it started to rain, about eight hours later than I had expected it.
Andy Wallace 10th August 2002