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Patterdale, St Sunday Crag, Grisedale Tarn. Wed 26 Jan 2005 |
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The weather seemed promising as we drove to Patterdale, but climbing the Kirkstone Pass the clouds rolled in. At Patterdale it was overcast with slight drizzle. We left the car in the lay-bye and followed the path to Thornhow End and began the steep climb up. Some recently blown over trees were lying on the fell-side, presumably the result of the storms a few weeks ago. There was nothing much to report about the climb as there was little to see. The summit of St Sunday Crag seemed to arrive quite quickly and fortunately the wind didn't get too bad. Although the temperature didn't drop lower than +3deg C the ground was still frozen making it easier to cross some of the wetter bits. We found some shelter behind a rock outcrop and stopped by the snowdrift for a quick cup of coffee before pressing on. The plan had been to continue to Fairfield but with thick cloud and nothing to see there was no point. At Deepdale Hause we came to the branch path down to Grisedale Tarn. It was "make your mind up time". Trudge on in the cloud, or down to the tarn? The tarn won and we took the easy path down, along the contour for a while, then across to Grisedale Tarn. The visibility improved a bit but cloud still clung to the fells above. The Tarn was quiet, misty and serene. |
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A misty Grisedale Tarn. |
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We hung around for a few moments before starting the descent to Ruthwaite Lodge. We decided on a short detour to look at the 'Brothers Parting Stone'. It was hereabouts that the poet William Wordsworth last saw his brother John on 29 Sept 1800. | |
'Brothers Parting Stone' |
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John Wordsworth was the Commander of the East Indiaman "Earl of
Abergavenny" when she sank off Portland on 5 Feb 1805. More than 200 died, including John Wordsworth. The Wordsworth Society arranged the inscription in the 1880's and the text reproduced on the rock are an extract from William Wordsworth's work. It is now very difficult to read but here is the text: |
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At Ruthwaite Lodge we stopped for our sandwiches. Unfortunately the building has to be kept locked to prevent vandalism. It's such a shame that people like Eric and myself are denied shelter because of those who would destroy for the sake of it. | |
Boyd and Eric on the way down Grisedale. | |
The views down Grisedale cleared a bit as we descended and near Thornhow we saw the sawn up trunks of more storm damage. |
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