|
- United Kingdom - Summer 2002 - |
|
We relaxed as much as we could and managed to experience some of the best weather the UK had seen all summer! In fact, we really only experienced two days of foul weather out of a possible fourteen. Incidentally, it was the first time I had experienced a British summer since 1992. This trip took place during the middle two weeks of August. I've been told I ramble on these pages... so, here are a few of the highlights of our 2002 summer trip:
Blencathra via Sharp Edge - I first ventured up Sharp Edge with a brief walking companion in the late eighties. I was a boy full of piss and vinegar. At the time I had only begun to "bag" peaks. Over thirteen years on I returned with Ellie wanting to show her the splendor of this classic route to the summit of Blencathra. On this occasion, ironically, I chose a day that had the worst weather of our entire trip. Regardless, we headed up into the 1200ft ceiling of cloud. At the beginning of the ridge above Scales Tarn I waited for Ellie to catch up in a gusting wet wind. I was completely soaked regardless of the fact that I was wearing GoreTex. She arrived and we ate a quick sandwich before ascending the ridge. The upper section of the ridge opens out onto a broad sloping buttress of wet rock and I was glad that it hadn't been like this thirteen years ago. I don't think I had accumulated the route finding skills necessary to overcome this obstacle at that time. Below us lay a ghostly abyss of swirling cloud that made me realize I was mortal and very much alive. Although they weren't the most favorable of conditions, I was happy that Ellie got to experience the ridge in adverse conditions. We reached the summit and stayed briefly as the visibility varied from 20 feet to about 40 feet. We then followed Doddick Fell back down into the valley bottom. It was a different, but great day on the fells. ñ
Neil's Caving Trip - Iain Holland and I decided to take in a quick jaunt up Penyghent before heading to Ingleton. It was an absolute glorious day and we could see for miles in all directions at the top. On the way down we even took in Hull Pot which entailed a chimney climb to the bottom. It was a very pleasant walk with great company. By the time we had set up camp at Moorgarth Campsite the rest of the group had began to assemble. All said and done, Slim, Degsy, Winston, Mad Paul, Arthur, Rick, Seth (and girlfriend), Simon, Pete, Claire, and Dave had turned up for what turned out to be a mild weekend for cavers. Although, Simon did acquire a George Cross for my Northwoods flag pole.
As usual, saying goodbye to friends is always difficult. Sunday night in Clapham's New Inn was typical of that scenario! It was good to see old friends and catch up on each others lives. It's hard to head back to reality. However, it is good to know some things don't change so radically. ñ
On the summit of Pillar we could see Heysham power station far to the south and in the north Scotland and the Solway Firth were prominent. I can think of few days in the summer months when it had been so clear. It made the hike a pleasure. Our route continued around the head of the Mosedale Valley across the tops of Pillar, Scoat Fell, and Red Pike before the long descent to Dore Head. I gave Ellie a choice of three routes. Firstly, up and over Yewbarrow, secondly, down the swampy, vague path parallel to Over Beck, or lastly down Dore Head screes. Surprisingly, she chose Dore Head screes which is the most direct route, but certainly the most hazardous. Over the years this route has deteriorated to become an extremely treacherous route that the wise should avoid at all costs. Although a little shaken up at the bottom, Ellie had learned a valuable lesson regarding shortcuts. ñ Castle Crag - By this point in our trip my gimpy knee was fat from past injuries and the abuse it had endured over the past nine days. That's how it came to be that a little jaunt up Castle Crag was decided upon. I don't think I communicated to Ellie very well on this occasion of what exactly a "little walk" entailed. I think Ellie was expecting a mile of flat ground while window shopping. But, it was a day of reflection and it marked our fifth anniversary of marriage. Borrowdale appeals to me as much as it appeals to many others who prey upon its beauty. Hence, the traffic was bad and the "walkers" were as abundant as summer mosquitoes in the Northwoods. Of course, I have to admit that we added to the ensuing masses and therefore shut my mouth. ñ |
|
Links: Lake District
National Park, Yorkshire
Dales National Park, Craven
Pothole Club,
|
Our trip came as a needed break from the stress, long days, and
seemingly non-existent summer due to the House Project. As a
result, we snuck in and out of the United Kingdom without letting on to most
friends that we were even there. Sorry to all those people who we
should have seen but didn't. Hopefully, next time we visit Ellie
and I will have more time to visit some of those far flung places in the
rural depths of Lancashire.
On the Saturday we explored and got to the bottom of Little Hull
Pot. In all my years of caving I had never been to the bottom of
this grade four. Why not? Probably because the walk to the
entrance is a slog that LOST rarely opted for. As a pothole,
Little Hull provides a good offering of deep, elliptical shafts, rift
passage, and a cold but short crawl in water. The variety of cave
passage is certainly worthy of the slog. Sunday brought miserable
weather more reminiscent of days gone by. We eventually chose
Flood Entrance as the venue and used Craven Pothole Club's ropes as they
were already rigged on the pitches. We explored the passages
around Sand Caverns before making our way out of the system. Arthur, Iain, Mad Paul, and
myself opted to use the bosun's chair to exit the system while Slim and
Simon expended some energy by the way of Stream Passage Pot. Sorry
boys, but all the pictures I took underground were crap.
The Mosedale Horseshoe
snow, and water can make the
last section before Pillar Rock a little awkward.