
Grasmoor/Wandope/Whiteless Pike (Lake District/North Western Fells)- Planned walk comparing weather forecasts from Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS), Met Office Mountain Weather (which was most accurate), BBC Weather, and Accu Weather. Tropical storm was rotating counter clockwise over entire UK. All forecasts called for Heavy rain all day with Poor visibility, and winds to 25 mph. Freezing point was above summits. Conducted map planning and followed the Ordnance Survey OL 4, and reviewed route options from "Walking the Wainwrights with Stuart Marshall". Started from Crummock Water parking lot near Rannerdale, east to Rannerdale Knotts, east up Squat Beck to turn north to Whiteless Pike (2,165 ft/660m), continuing north along Whiteless Edge to Wandope (2,533ft/772m). Took a bearing directly back across the moor/moss to the trail leading west to the summit of Grasmoor (2,795ft/852m). At the summit of Grasmoor the wind speed was a steady 25 mph, with minor gusts to 28 mph (measured by my Kestral weather station). Heavy rain blowing horizontal with occasional sleet. Returned east to trail leading north to the head of Gasgale Gil. Descended west down Gasgale Gil to Lanthwaite at the north end of Crummock Water, and returned south to parking lot. This route allowed several adjustments based on the weather and ground under foot. The original plan was to start by climbing up Rannerdale Knotts, which, with the heavy rain and high winds I adjusted by heading up Squat Beck instead. Climbing to the summit of Whiteless Pike the wind, which was coming from the east, was blocked, so I was just dealing with rain and fog/cloud. Once I reached the summit of Whiteless Pike, and for the next several hours, I was in continuous rain and high winds, so when I reached Coledale Hause I turned west down Gasgale Gill to get out of the wind, which would have continued if I would have stayed to original plan of returning by way of Whiteside, where the winds on the summits and edges would have continued. Distance: 9.5 miles; Time: 5 hours 6 minutes; Total Elevation Gain: 3,074 ft; Loss: 2,956 ft.
Area :
North Western Fells
Essentially this area is encompassed by Lakes of Bassenthwaite, Derwent Water, Buttermere and Crummock Water with the southern boundary being the Honister Pass