I can't say I had a good night's sleep because I was constantly woken with the sound of mice scurrying and nibbling. I hadn't left any food out because I knew that mice would be around in a house like this. One went for some empty food packs in my rucksack then started to eat my rucksack. Later my boots became a target. I hung everything up on wall hooks and eventually got some peace. The weather was calm through the night though it rained constantly. Being able to walk around made it much easier to prepare breakfast and with no tent to pack away I could have been on the trail way before 7am.

Near Gatescarth Pass summit.

The problem was it was still dark then and the continuing trail was not too distinct. At 7:25 there was enough light so I set off. I knew the way was going to be wet and it certainly was. The whole mountainside seemed to be running water. It didn't take long to get to the top of the pass and to save a descent and another climb I turned right to follow the fence part way up Artlecrag Pike. At about the 580m contour I turned left and followed it round to GatescarthPass summit.

Haweswater from Harter Fell.

The going was much easier than I'd thought and it must have saved me quite some time. I then left the main track and headed up Adam Seat following a narrower but just as easy to use trail. The weather had cleared a bit and I could see down to Haweswater and the Pennines behind. The climb up was steady and easy and when I reached the summit cairn at Harter Fell a walker approached from the other direction and we both arrived at the same time. I said good morning but he was uncommunicative and looked the other way. I turned right and down the steep and winding path to the shelter at Nan Bield Pass. The wind was whistling through the gap so I made use of the shelter and used it for its intended purpose for a while.

The path up the other side is not quite as good but it’s much better than the bog I've been used to for the last 3 days. The weather held as I reached Mardale Ill Bell. Tomorrows planned train home isn't till the afternoon so I didn't need to continue too far today. I kept an eye out for a place to camp but I couldn’t find any shelter from the wind. I followed the trail along the edge of Bleathwaite Crag and its commanding view down into Kentmere. Froswick and Ill Bell loomed up across the valley, their summits in dark cloud. I came to a nice grassy shelf just above the path. It was an ideal pitch but I was still a bit concerned about the wind. If it didn't get any worse I'd be OK but there was no way of knowing. I sat for a while and decided to go for it. Water was nearby and the tent was soon up. I had a superb view from my altitude of 745m but later in the afternoon I was battered with hail and heavy rain.

Froswick in the cloud.