9 hours
Contoured in valley and ascended wind gap. Path difficult to find.
Rain started as we were half way up scree. Became horrible.
Very poor vis on ridge and even worse on pillar.
Wind came up and rain lashed down.
Previous day's MWIS forcast was for good weather, excellent vis. 10mph wind A light rain shower in afternoon and 80% chance of cloud free summits.
We spent 6 hrs in the 20% and a continuous rain shower with wind which at times was difficult to make progress, despite that being our only option in that location to continue.
Skirted Kirk fell and took Napes Path beneath Great Gable which was also interesting. Could see rivers below, tanking it. Napes in the dry would be more fun. Movement encouraged by threat of darkness in one hour. Lots of guiding James.
Passed Styhead shelter box. Weather so poor, considered sleeping in it. Both of us!
Pitched at Styhead, not perfectly flat but only place out of wind. Streams and rivers ferociously full.
James very wet had to get him out of wet clothes and direct him to take dry stuff into tent and sort tent out. Snuggled into sleeping bags and ate food that didn't need cooking for dinner. Consoled ourselves with whiskey and fell asleep warm, dry and cosy in tent.
1.8km/h average
444m wild camp
47.2 km total ( 15.1km)
2.8km/h moving average.
Area :
Western Fells
The Western Fells form the southern wall of the Buttermere valley and the northern fence of Wasdale. Between the two lies Ennerdale so that in effect the group is the shape of a single horseshoe, each branch about 10 miles in length.
At the head of Ennerdale stands Great Gable. The southern arc of the group travels due west from Great Gable, the main ridge consisting of Kirk Fell, Pillar, Scoat Fell, Haycock and Caw Fell.
