Lake District: Blencathra (868m), Blease Fell (804m), Atkinson Pike (845), Doddick Fell (742m), Scales Fell (682m).
Total Time: 5 hours 38 Minutes; Total Distance: 12.9km; Max Elevation 868m, Minimum Elevation 239m, Total Ascent: 1,339m
Camped over night in the valley near Keswick for an early morning start at 6:30AM from the Blencathra Center (239m) in Threlkeld. Light rain during the night, but just heavy overcast at the start. Ascended from the public parking at the Blencathra Center up onto Blease Fell to the Blease Fell summit at 804m on a bearing NE. Visibility was good to 500m elevation, then was walked up into the cloud cover and blowing mist. Visibility dropped to about 50m, then 30m, then 20m by the time I reached the summit of Blencathra (868m). It was good to work with the impaired visibility, but a shame to miss out on the amazing views all along the edges and precipitous drops off the summit path. Continued north to Atkinson Pike, which is not on a trail. From a position directly east of the summit I took a baring due west and walked up to the summit identified by the ring contour. Visibility was poor. Returned east to the trail to descend "Sharp Edge" to Scales Tarn. This was a change to my original plan, based on a feel for risk from the conditions under foot. Sharp Edge is aptly named, as it is a narrow edge with a steep descent to Scales Tarn. The path, which is just the narrow edge covered with loose rock, which was very wet from the driven mist, and with winds of 25mph with busts to 30+mph, and poor visibility, I made the decision to return to the upper trail and drop the circumnavigation of Scales Tarn from the walk plan. I returned to the Blencartha summit and then dropped east to Doddick Fell (742m) and then Scales Fell (682m), descending the Scales Fell trail to the valley at Scales Farm. Then turned west, following the edge of the Public Access area, passing Doddick Farm, Blease Farm, High Row Farm, Middle Row Farm, and back to the Blencartha Center pubic Parking area.
Route Planning was conducted using the Harvey Lake District North Ultamap XT40, 1:40,000 map for over view, and the OS Explorer OL5 1:25,000 "The English Lakes, North-eastern area map for detail. Then I plotted the route using the OS Mapping App on my computer and printed A4 sections of critical points.
For this walk I developed a detailed "Expedition Route Card" to provide estimates of time to traverse from key points on the walk, and set a route plan to paper. (photo of Route Card attached). The estimated time, with ascent and descent taken into account was 6 hours, 15 minutes. The actual time was 5 hours, 38 minutes. I think eliminating an adjustment for most descent time would bring the estimate close to the actual time. Assumptions were average time on flat at 3mph, plus 1 minute for every 10m of ascent and difficult descent (per Naismith). I over estimated the time for descent.
Weather reports were gathered from the Met Office Mountain Weather for Blencathra, and from the MWIS. I was aware that the weather above 500m was going to include low visibility. I was intending to use the opportunity to work at recognizing changes in slope by feeling the change between contour elevations in low visibility, as well as using 'timing' to identify my location in low visibility.
I look forward to returning to this walk when the weather is set to be clear.
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.
