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Kirk Fell from Wasdale, Cumbria. Wed 11 Aug 2004

Yes I know the one Whittle Wanderer was listed as doing Kirk Fell from Honister just 2 weeks ago, but this time Eric is back from his holidays so we did the Fell from the Wasdale end.
The motorway was partly shrouded in fog as we drove northwards but approaching Wasdale the weather improved and we arrived to sunshine and a mostly clear sky.
We set off at 8:45 from Wasdale Green and headed up towards Black Sail Pass in the warm morning sunshine. I looked up towards the Mosedale Horseshoe route and wondered if we should do that instead, but decided to keep to the original plan. The roads on the drive in were very wet and it seemed that there had been a lot of rain overnight. The swollen Gatherstone Beck backed this up and I wondered if I should photograph Eric as he hopped over the precarious stepping-stones across the Beck. But I thought better of it.
We had a coffee stop at the top of the pass and took in the wonderful views. Peering down into Ennerdale the recent tree felling was quite evident and we wondered if the deforested fell sides could withstand the topsoil erosion.
Next we had to negotiate Kirkfell Crags to gain the summit area of Kirkfell. The path is very interesting as it winds its way up through the rocks. The old boundary fence of steel posts are still leaded in the rocks but the connecting wires have long since gone.
These posts exist right up to the summit and over the other side and would make a good guide in misty weather.
Approaching the summit the views to the west and Pillar open up wonderfully though Pillar rock was still hidden.

Eric and Boyd on the summit of Kirk Fell,
with Wast Water in the background.


At the summit shelter we stopped to take in the views down Wasdale and out to the coast. A full panorama was visible and we mused over distant fells we'd climbed in the past.
Then it was down to Kirkfell Tarn, which is a double tarn, and across to some rocks for lunch.

 The lower of the two tarns on Kirk Fell.
In the background is Scafell Pike,
Mickledore and Sca Fell.
After butties and coffee it was on down to Beckhead Tarn where we met a couple coming up. They were locals and after stopping for a natter they carried on up and we down. Descending Gavel Neese we met a few parties of people in various states of fitness, or lack of it, climbing slowly up. By now it was afternoon and not a good time to be heading for the summit of Great Gable, as they were.
Down in the valley we stopped off at St.Olafs Church for a look round and inside.

St.Olafs Church, Wasdale.
I