" Rossett Pike in Winter sunshine " at EveryTrail
 

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Helped by the arrival of the fine weather and longer days,

we make a determined effort to visit another of our missing third round peaks.

We have to travel an hour down to the Langdales and walk an hour up Mickleden Valley before we even start our climb.

Parking at ODG

Start out as you mean to continue . . . and as you mean to end !

What a delightful prospect as we see the snow covered peaks through the bare winter branches.

The sun is bright but the temperatures still low and the snow is still present on the high fells.

It was almost Swiss in style as we look up at the high fells.

Our path takes us behind the hotel and out into the valley . . .	. . . where we get our first view of the mighty Pike O'Stickle.

The last gates to the open fell . . . or here the open valley.

Our objective today is Rossett Pike, the green fell on the right rather than snowy Bowfell on the left.

Summer walking trousers were unzipped to make shorts  . . . which gives you an idea of the temperature in the sunshine today.

Wide angle view here as any closer would reveal too much leg !

Pike O'Stickle with Loft Crag to the right.

A large winter landslip has brought down a large mass of turf and soil.

Each one of those lumps of grass was about six foot wide and a foot thick . . . quite some power involved no doubt.

Looking ahead as we approach the moraine towards the top of the valley.

The walk in is about a mile and a half, most of it is a flat but stoney track.

Our route today will be up Stakes Pass to the right of Rossett Pike, across the top and down the Rossett Gill path to the left,

involving a high level ridge walk of the Pike itself.

We'll leave the Rossett path, seen faintly with a slight infill of snow, for our descent.

It starts at the coll and traverses down to the left. 

Looking back as we near the moraine.

Lingmoor, Side Pike, the ridge to Pike O'Blisco and the Band are all in view.

The sheepfold at the head of the valley is still in good condition.

It marks the change in the walk . . . as from here the only way is up.

Across the simple Stakes Gill bridge . . .	. . . and turn right to start our ascent.

Well on the way up now as we look down at the zig-zags.	Pike O'Stickle is as dramatic as ever.

The photo shows about the first half of the climb from the sheepfold below.

It's a good path and straight forward walking as this is a significant path for many, crossing the high ground between Langdale and Borrowdale.

We leave the main path as it crosses Stakes Gill.

It is time to take to the grass for a direct ascent of the Black Crags end of Rossett Pike.

Don't look for any great path as the route is little climbed . . . but there was a cairn or two occasionally.

Maybe the snow patches were hiding the specific route.

Climbing up, the full extent of the drumlin field at the head of Stakes Path opens out below us.

Having lost our lofty companion for a while, the climb reveals the proud summit once again.

The full extent of the high ground behind the Pike is now in view.

The dappled snow covers Martcrag Moor, the skyline leading across to Thunacar Knotts and High Raise.

The snow was icy but soft enough to kick steps.	Bethan waiting for us on the way up.

Picking our way up through the rocks.	A large boulder overlooking Mickleden.

The final snow ridge to the eastern summit of Rossett Crags . . . the apparent summit from below.

. . . a nice place to sit for lunch !

- - - o o o - - -

Time passes . . . delightfully . . .

We descend the back of the fell

and the lengthening shadows climb up the fell to meet us.

This would  be the last of the direct sun that we would see today

for it will have left the Mickleden Valley before we had chance to get there.

Iced over Angle Tarn . . .	. . . and the fell was also still in wintery mode.

Pitched on most of the steep sections . . .	. . . lower now and out of the snow.

Out of interest we had removed the microspikes soon after leaving the coll as the "rock to snow" percentage had changed.

Following the zig-zags down.

I made a slight diversion higher up to try and locate the Pack Woman's Grave but to no avail.

Maybe I had misjudged its location or maybe it was hidden under the snow ?

Back at ground level, or should we say valley level again . . . here we are back at the sheepfold

having completed a round walk of Rossett Pike.

" Up and Back "	Once more over the bridge . . .