Some thoughts on Routes

If you havn't read Rambling: Open Post - Private Invitation then read it now.

The idea is to travel over probably by boat and car on the fast ferry to Holyhead and drive up to the western side of the lakes. We will probably need 2 good sized cars. If we get a morning ferry at 8.45 we could be at Wasdale Youth Hostel at about 2.30pm. Its about a four and a half hour drive. We could leave the cars at Wasdale Youth Hostel and walk to Black Sail.

The challenge will be getting all of us into the small remote hostel that is Black Sail. The walk is about 7 miles along the bottom of the screes along Wastwater – very dramatic and not too strenuous for a first day. The second day is a bit of a step up with a choice between the route (which we did last time) of Piller - Steeple and Haycock returning to Wasdale or we could do Great Gable. The final day would be more ambitious and if we were fit enough then we would take on Scafell and/or Scafell Pike. The key would be to travel light on the big days.

It may be simpler to base ourselves in one place and travel light every day - a little different from travelling with the world on your back but more sensible maybe. The limiting factor anyway is going to be the size of the group and getting accomidation. There are other configurations and locations. Black Sail may be impossible as it only takes 16 people. In that case we would try Ennerdale which makes for a longer walk on the first day.

In any event a little advance training is important - there is no point is finding your climbing legs just as we are going home. There are a couple of good warm-up walks in Wicklow I have in mind. Some are short enough to do in a an evening after work.

Dates are the next challenge - the sooner we settle on dates the sooner we can tie down locations. If we could settle on a number of feasible dates I could start investigations. I am going to suggest Thursday to Sunday though it could end up being Friday to Monday.

The following work for me: 24 July to 27 July 21 August to 24 August 28 August to 31 August I'm open to other suggestions - June would be better - but there will be a challenge getting accomodation.