Lake District 2011: Day Three - The Big One
Day Three The Big One
It was a beautiful morning and the forecast was good. Today's plan was simple. We intended to climb Scafell Pike, 3,200 feet. It is just a 3.5 mile hike up from Wasdale. The contingency plan was that if it was too much for us or the weather was bad we would do Lingmell which is beside Scafell Pike and is on the same route.
Lake District 2011, Uploaded by M+MD.
We drove to the other side of the lake and started up Brown Gill. This route had a number of options. We had a choice of two routes up Scafell Pike. It also allowed us a fall-back objective Lingmell, which is 2,700 feet if Scafell Pike proved too much. Brown Gill is probably the most direct route up Scafell Pike, It is just a 3.5 mile hike with a climb of about 3'000 feet.
We met a group of "3 Peakers" coming down the path we knew we were on the best route. They had climbed Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike, and were about to drive to Snowdon. It was only 10 in the morning so they had had an early start.
There were lots of people on the path. We made good steady progress. The path had been paved with steps for much of the route. It was also one of those quick rising routes that a a little more difficult at the start - but very satisfying and also gave a good reward for effort.
After 2 steady hours walking with lots of short breaks it was clear that Scafell Pike was not going to be a problem for anyone in the group. As we reached the col between Lingmell and Scafell Pike it was only 12.15. It was time to make some choices. The first decision was that we would all go for Scafell Pike - the was still a good 700 feet of climb to go. But since we had already climbed about three times that we were fine.
So the contingency plan was unnecessary. However Lingmell was one of those Wainwright peaks I hadn’t bagged yet. So while Sheila, Louie and Senan waited on the col the rest of us took the 30 minute detour to climb Lingmell. It was worth it. The views were fantastic.
Back with the main group at 12.45 we were ready for the last 600 feet to Scafell Pike. We were well ahead of schedule and I started to hatch another plan. We were on top by 1.30 along with about 300 other people!. We found a quite shelter and had lunch.
On Scafell Pike, Uploaded by M+MD.
After lunch I announce my crazy plan. It was to climb Scafell also. Although Scafell and Scafell Pike are beside each other with a col connecting them, there is a 30 foot high rock wall known as Broad End, at the col which make the direct route only possible for climbers with ropes.
There is a route which involves dropping down about 200 feet and then going up a gully filled with scree called the Lords Rake. It is a route I have often looked for on the Scafell side but never quite found. It is easier to see from the Scafell Pike side and I had checked it out on the way up. I was hoping that I would get one volunteer – though in the end I got four! So we split the party in two Sheila, Louie, Nicky and Senan headed down the main descent while Barney Eoghan, Katy and Mark headed down with me to the Lord's Rake. The path down to the entrance was narrow and very steep. But it was only about 100 feet, before we could see the challenge clearly.
The Lords Rake is a traverse through a couple of gullies to the other side of the mountain. Wainwright says that the path is straight and as long as you go through three ups and two downs you are one track.
The first up is a very steep scramble up a gully full of scree. The gully is about six feet wide and the walls of the gully give some handholds. Like any scree you just have to go with the flow. Unfortunately the flow is down while we want to go up! But we made it with a bit of effort.
After that the path dropped down a little with another little climb, followed by a steeper drop and the last scree run to climb out of the traverse. The last run was easy enough and then we were on the other side of Scafell about 400 feet below the top. From there it was just an easy walk up over stones.
On top it was windy and quite - there were none of the hoards that were on Scafell Pike. there was just one other couple who had been 10 minutes ahead of us in the gully. We got the photo to prove it and set off down the ridge to Wasdale Head. We were tired, but very proud of ourselves.
We decided on a pretty steep descent back to Wasdale. A narrow scree path which got us down very quickly and then we had a very steep sheep pasture to get back to the bridge over Brown Gill where we started. We were pretty shattered but The stream was cool and refreshing.
Back at the hostel we swapped stories - the others had a pretty steep descent at first and then rejoined the paved path down Brown Gill. The Big One had been a very successful day. It reminded us of that day one Hellvellyn two years ago.
We had a swim in the lake. It was cold... icy cold, but invigorating. Showers and a clean up and back to the pub for dinner. We were tired and ready for home. Another successful Lake District week-end.
Soon it'll be time to start planning next year. There was a strong view that the Hostel was probably the best of the four we stayed at recently. So maybe Wastwater would be a good base for next year. Then again there are a lot of Far Eastern Fells that we have still to explore.
Steady Progress - Short Break
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From Lingmell
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First Peak - Lingmell
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On Lingmell
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The Scafells from Lingmell
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