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| Date & Time: 8th February 2006 - Midday start. Occasion : A fine walk on a fine day in the classic Cumbrian valley of Langdale. Hills, rocks, tarns, and a pub at the end. Location & starting point : New Dungeon Ghyll car park. Map ref NY 294 064. Walk details : 4.5 mls, 2530 ft of ascent, 5.5 hrs incl lunch. Weather : Fine and dry, blue skies and great visibility. |
Thanks to Sean for the original picture |
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The Langdale Pikes from Chapel Stile. An excellent walk in prospect.
We started from the New Dungeon Ghyll car park and set off up the Loft Crag path which gave us fine views of Crinkle Crags, Pike o' Blisco, and the whole of the valley.
Usually missed, unless you make the effort to venture a short way off the main path, the main falls are hidden in a cleft of rock and obscured in the summer by the vegetation.
The view expands with each step as we climb progressively upward above Raven Crag .
Harry and Bethan pause while we catch up. In the background, Wetherlam and Coniston - Sean and Angus country today.
Zooming in on Blea Tarn across the valley evidence there of the northerly breeze as it ripples the lake.
Making the level ground it could be assumed that most of the work has been done. Far from it. There is the second climb (up to the left) to complete yet. ( l. to r.) Gimmer Crag, Loft Crag, and Thorn Crag, the face of Harrison Stickle.
Reaching the true top of the main climb. Looking back to Harrison Stickle as we make our way up Loft Crag. Time to put on an extra layer as the cold northerly wind drops the temperature considerably. You wouldn't think so but the clear air and sunshine does little to indicate the rather low temperature.
Pike o' Stickle from Loft Crag. Great End and Great Gable stand tall to the left of the Pike.
A wider view from Loft Crag. What a superbly clear day and what fine views all around. No wonder the Pike is a familiar landmark on the Cumbrian skyline with a shape like that.
Looking back over Loft Crag. The view to the south from our lunch spot on Pike o' Stickle.
Zooming in on Gable from the Pike, and looking down on the RAF trainer flying up and over Stake Pass !
Much of the ground is frozen, and here the "infant" Dungeon Ghyll runs under a layer of ice.
Looking down on Stickle Tarn from Harrison Stickle, then east to the Helvellyn Ridge, St Sunday Crag and Fairfield on the far horizon.
A small deviation from the direct route took us over to Thunacar Knotts, a small but separate peak, set back from the high ground on the edge of Langdale Valley.
As the sun casts longer shadows it was time to be moving down. We walked over to Pavey Ark summit and then down the eastern side to the tarn.
As we watched, probably the last two summiteers of the day for Pavey Ark were just finishing the climb of Jack's Rake That route follows up the scree path on the left hand photo, then diagonally up following the cleft in the rock. A fine scramble up there on the exposed climb across and up the face.
Leaving the tarn we start on the right side of the stream but crossed on the stepping stones to the left as it looks in a better state of repair. This was possibly not the best choice as the eastern path improved as ours deteriorated.
Back then to the car to complete a fine round of the Langdale Pikes, a classic trip on a cold day.
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