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Whittle Wander|
Grasmere, Stickle Tarn, Pavey Ark, Easedale Tarn. Cumbria. Thu 02 Mar 2006 |
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Left the car in Grasmere village on the Church car park. A voluntary paybox was there which I used. It was a delightful cold clear morning and I set off along the narrow lane towards Red Bank. The Mere was to my left as I walked and I took a few photos across it. |
| Shortly after the landing stage I took the right turn up the access road to The Wyke then followed an icy path through the woods and on to clear ground. I had a look at an old foundation with some old steel plates fixed to a base. It looked like it had been involved in some industrial process many years ago but I can’t think what as there was no sign of a mine or quarry workings nearby. |
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I continued along the high level path into the Langdales. The sky remained clear and all the fells were covered in snow, though it didn’t feel particularly cold. As Stickle Tarn appeared ahead I could see the diagonal line of Jack’s Rake running up Pavey Ark. I’d sort of hoped I could climb up this scramble for the first time in about 30 years but as I got nearer I saw that the groove was choked with snow and ice. I had crampons and ice axe with me but didn’t fancy risking it. To the right of the Pavey Ark rock face was a much more pedestrian climb up a ridge. It was still quite steep and icy in places but not too difficult. At the summit I had great views across the Langdales. I would have like to have lingered longer but was conscious of having to get back to Grasmere for an afternoon lecture in the Tithe Barn at 14:30. |
| I headed north towards High Raise but realised I wouldn’t have time to get to the top and make the lecture. So I cut across to Sergeant Man and tried to find the path down to Easedale Tarn. There was no sign of it in the snow but by now walkers were starting to come up from the tarn. So I headed down towards them and soon found the path. It was tricky in places due to lots of ice and many detours had to be made. At Easedale Tarn I stopped for my sandwiches and then had to make a quick descent to the road and back to Grasmere village to make the lecture with minutes to spare. |
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