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Whittle Wanderer|
Threlkeld, Scales Tarn,
Blencathra. Cumbria. |
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Earlier in the week the forecast for today was bad. Last night it was good so I decided to fit in another walk. In spite of a clear night the temperature didn’t drop as low as I’d expected. Driving up the M6 the temperature at Tebay and Shap was only -2degC. I arrived at Threlkeld to a frozen car park. The minor road was covered in ice so I fitted my ice studs before setting off. |
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It’s as well I did because I followed the old road and it was frozen the whole way. Just before Scales I left the path and headed up the path towards Mousthwaite Comb. The sky was clear blue and all the hills were covered in thin snow. Unfortunately as I moved round to the NE side of Scales Fell I was in shade. The first part of the path is relatively level but at Scales Beck the gradient gets quite steep and I had to use my ice axe to get up the frozen snow. At Scales Tarn I decided to stop for a coffee but the area was still in shade. I had to climb part way up Sharp Edge to find the sun but I left it as soon as my break was over. I trudged steadily up to Hallsfell Top and reached the sunshine and full all round views. Near the summit cairn was one of the few circular Ordnance Survey trig points. The views along the summit ridge were tremendous and I wanted to stay for as long as possible. |
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I descended a short way
down Hall’s Fell Ridge where I found some shelter from the bitterly cold
wind. I sat in the sunshine to eat my sandwiches and take in the distant
views towards the Pennines, Cross Fell and Great Dun Fell. I’d not met
anyone on the Way up but by now there were many people on the ascent. I
left my cosy lunch stop and climbed back to the summit where I set off
along the snow covered ridge to Knowe Crags. The descent of Blease Fell
was steep but made a lot easier by the recently cut zig zag path. I’m
sure it wasn’t here the last time I was this way. The weather continued
unbelievable and began to warm up a bit as I reached Blease Gill. The
ground continued frozen and even back at the car the car park was still
a sheet of ice. |
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