February Half term 2010.

Location of Start : The red phone box, Loweswater , Cumbria, Uk ( NY 143 211 )

Walk details : A combination of photos from our other walks over the holiday period.

Highest point : Many and varied.

Walked with : Simon, Beth, Paula, Thomas, Abigail and the dogs, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : Varied . . . from good to bad and back to brilliant.

Our daughter Paula and Grandchildren Thomas and Abi

pictured on the walk to Crummock Water,

with Low Fell behind.

Saturday dawned brightly for a short walk planned with Simon and Beth.

I had a busy few days ahead and afternoon commitments, as daughter Paula and children were due to arrive next day.

Would the fine weather last for their stay ?

She is joined by the ever attentive Harry.

Simon and Beth walking along the summit ridge of Ling Fell

with Broom Fell and Lords Seat directly in front of them.

The snowy slopes of a cloud-capped Skiddaw ahead as we descend the eastern side of Ling Fell.

A lot of the snow on the lower slopes of Skiddaw have melted away in the recent mild weather.

- - - o o o - - -

Paula, Thomas, Abi and Paula's friend Sue joined us on the Sunday and that evening we planned a short night time walk.

They are both in training for their Walking Group Leader Certificate, in order to take D of E groups out from School.

They wanted a navigation exercise so that they could practice their map and compass work.

I laid on a route up Brackenthwaite How (Scale Hill), some darkness and yes . . . some low cloud and drizzle.

Paula and Sue consult their maps . . .

Check their watches to time rather than pace certain sections . . .

. . . and made it round successfully, here crossing the footbridge by Crummock Water outflow.

( Photos on my phone due to forgetting to take the camera )

- - - o o o - - -

While Roger and Tom were climbing Mellbreak, Paula, Abi and I parked here at Lanthwaite Green

and walked to Gasgale Gill to inspect the November flood damage to the footpaths.

Abi had fun 'standing' on Mummy's shadow head as we walked across the grass !

The small footbridge which avoided being washed away because the flooding beck cut a new route to the side.

All this previously grassy ground has been eroded and covered with boulders.

[ Note that a causeway path has now been built by the National Trust, once again allowing access to the bridge.]

The track to the Gasgale Gill has totally disappeared at this point under a mass of rubble and boulders.

We picked our way carefully alongside the left hand side of the beck.

This is the route that led to the 'Bad Step'. A landslide has caused it's complete collapse which makes progress up the valley very difficult from this side.

Further landslips on the opposite bank have widened and choked the beck with soil, boulders and rubble.

I ( Roger) visited the valley today (Friday) and took a few extra photos of the landslip . . .

. . . the waterfalls by the 'Bad Step' . . .	. . . and the valley just above the falls where there is even more erosion.

Paula, Abi and Ann retreat and walk to the second bridge which was completely swept aside and crushed by the raging waters.

We have had little rain here over the last ten days so it is possible to wade across at this point.

However Abi is taking no chances about getting her feet wet !

- - - o o o - - -

The final day dawns before they leave for home in Yorkshire.

Typically, the weather is simple glorious and the views stunning . . . Whiteside and Grasmoor, with plenty of fresh snow on Hopegill Head and Sand Hill.

Crummock Water ahead

with Mellbreak to the right and the High Stile Ridge resplendent in snow and sunshine.

Glorious Crummock from the beach.

Views across the lake take in the distant snowy Gables.

Paula and Abi enjoying the sunshine.

Our garden view today of Green and Great Gable, Haystacks and the High Stile Ridge,

with plenty of snow about following more overnight precipitation.

Zooming closer . . . a perfect Lakeland day.

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon 75 or my Canon G10 digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . visiting family and friends.

Go to Top

© RmH.2010 # Email me here # or leave me a Guest Book Entry

Previous walk - 16th February 2010 Melbreak with Thomas

A previous time up here - 13th Feb 2008 Local to home - Crummock hovering

Next walk - 21st February 2010 Arctic Grisedale Pike