Details
Date : 08/11/2014
Duration : 3-5 hours
Style : Solo
Type : Quality Mountain Day (QMD)
Weather : Cloudy - Poor Visibility
Wind : Gentle Breeze
Camping Type :
Nights Camping : 0
Mountains : Blencathra
Flagged :
Description
Started from the lay-by in Scales then headed east along the road to the start of the path onto Scales Fell i followed north east then north west to scales tarn. Had to keep an eye on the map and take a north west bearing as the cloud was down to around 650M. Reached Scales Tarn and had a bite to eat before heading onto sharp edge. I assessed the conditions and decided to wear my helmet, this was a good move as the ground was wet and coupled with smooth polished rock made the scramble very tricky. I climbed round the tarn side of the bad step which required one tricky move at the end then back down onto the path. The rest of the scramble to the top of sharp edge required care due to similar conditions at the start. I reached the summit of Blencathra 2 hours after leaving the car. I took a south west bearing from the summit and followed to the start of the decent at Gate Gill Fell - then followed the path south south west off the fell, then picked up the path headed east back to Scales.
The ground conditions made this a very tricky day, specifically on Sharp Edge. Maybe on hindsight a rope would have been a good proposition for getting across the bad step.
Started from the lay-by in Scales then headed east along the road to the start of the path onto Scales Fell i followed north east then north west to scales tarn. Had to keep an eye on the map and take a north west bearing as the cloud was down to around 650M. Reached Scales Tarn and had a bite to eat before heading onto sharp edge. I assessed the conditions and decided to wear my helmet, this was a good move as the ground was wet and coupled with smooth polished rock made the scramble very tricky. I climbed round the tarn side of the bad step which required one tricky move at the end then back down onto the path. The rest of the scramble to the top of sharp edge required care due to similar conditions at the start. I reached the summit of Blencathra 2 hours after leaving the car. I took a south west bearing from the summit and followed to the start of the decent at Gate Gill Fell - then followed the path south south west off the fell, then picked up the path headed east back to Scales.The ground conditions made this a very tricky day, specifically on Sharp Edge. Maybe on hindsight a rope would have been a good proposition for getting across the bad step.
Area : Northern Fells
The Northern Fells occupy a circular area about 10 miles in diameter. The centre is slightly lower, an area of upland grazing and marshland known as Skiddaw Forest. This name may be misleading since the only trees form the windbreak of Skiddaw House. This isolated building, was once a shepherd's bothy. It currently serves as a youth hostel. Skiddaw Forest stands at the head of the three major rivers of the Northern Fells. The Caldew, Dash Beck and the Glenderaterra. These streams divide the circular area into three distinct sections.
