Scafell and Friends - Photo Gallery
After camping overnight at Brackenclose I felt tired and dehydrated and really not in the mood for what I was about to do. Whilst packing up my tent I was attacked by hordes of midges, I have never been bothered by them before but my legs ended up with a rash of bite marks all over them. I was glad to get on my way despite feeling unprepared for the slog up the Brown Tongue route to Hollow Stones in warm and sunny conditions. After an hour I began to feel better, the combination of painkillers and water having their effect and by the time I reached Hollow Stones I was glad I had made the effort.
Just as I reached the scree fan that welcomes you to Lord's Rake it started to rain, just a shower I hope but you never can tell. By the time I had climbed the scree to the start of Lord's Rake it had stopped raining. I had intended to descend the rake later but there was enough dampness on the rocks to make me realise that I should find another way down. Keep to the left on the strenuous climb up the rake, contrary to Wainwright's advice the rocks on the left offer more support than those on the right.
The fallen boulder at the top of the first section of the rake is certainly spooky looking but it looks more likely to fall to pieces where it stands rather than fall down the rake in one big bang. Ten feet or so before reaching the top of the rake is the narrow escape to the West Wall traverse that I took. The sky had now cleared and from the traverse the views of Mickledore Ridge and Scafell Pinnacle are just awe inspiring. It isn't possible to capture the experience of these crags on photographs, you just have to be there.
The traverse is actually a bit of a scramble over grassy boulders, some care is needed over the damp rocks, until you reach Deep Gill. The rock walls here are just fantastic, it is a unique place on a clear day, now I'm really glad I made the effort. Upwards is the scramble over the colourful rocks and boulders of Deep Gill. As the gully gets narrower there are no more boulders, just bare, wet serrated rock to scramble up with a final “clutch at anything” escape to the grassy plateau.
The weather now was warm and sunny, tee shirt and sun hat as I made a beeline for Scafell summit, busy today with five other walkers.
Descend back to the X shaped pattern of rocks, it looks like the foundations of the same sort of shelter as the one near Esk Hause but its use is that of being a landmark in mist. Turn right here and follow the cairns to the reconstructed path down to Foxes Tarn. The scree on this slope is constantly trying to unconstruct the path which is difficult to locate sometimes but it is worth finding because the alternative is a sliding descent on scree.
Foxes Tarn, the puddle with a boulder, looks delightful but hardly worth naming. The descent of Foxes Tarn gully is certainly easier in the dry conditions but you still have to be careful going down over boulders, sometimes loose and sometimes wet. Going down is more challenging that going up but it is another one of Scafell's attractions, my second favourite mountain.
From the bottom of Foxes Tarn gully the climb up to Mickledore Ridge is a physical challenge especially after a hard walk yesterday and a strenuous climb today. It is slightly easier walking over grass and boulders on the right hand side of the gully rather that the steep slippery path below Broad Stand but it still hurts. Eventually I reached Mickledore, a splendid little ridge and again I can't remember the last time I was here in good visibility, it is a wonderful place.
Having rested and enjoyed the views I set off up the long path towards Scafell Pike accompanied by dozens of other walkers. There were plenty of Three Peaks walkers and some Four Peaks walkers trying to walk Lakeland's 4 three thousand feet mountains in 24 hours, as well as many ill prepared first timers.
I was plodding along with my head down, thinking pleasant thoughts and trying to ignore the complaints of my calf muscles when I became aware of people stopped in front of me. I looked up and it was my friends Jeannie and Bob, they were walking the same route as me but in the opposite direction. Having rested again whilst chatting I made the final climb to Scafell Pike summit and there must have been five dozen other walkers there.
After having another rest it was good to be going downhill, down to Lingmell Col and turn left for Wasdale. On the mainly reconstructed path it was a relatively easy walk back down with Scafell Pinnacle and Scafell Pike's Pulpit Rock keeping me company for a while. I was glad to reach the crossing of Lingmell Gill for a refreshing cool drink and a splash before the final pleasant walk through the woods at the side of the gill.
Finally back to the car park at Brackenclose, hoping that the car wasn't going to be clamped or something because I had forgotten to display my National Trust car parking permit, but to my relief it wasn't.
Andy Wallace 21st June 2003