A still cool and very comfortable night. I set off up Greenup Gil at 6:30am. The sky was mostly clear but I was still in shadow. The west side of Langstrath was bathed in sunshine but as I got higher the cloud rolled in and by the time I’d reached the top of the steep path up Lining Crag I had to say goodbye to the views for a while.

The climb of Lining Crag.

Lining Crag summit.

I’d done the steepest part of the climb and the remaining stretch to the summit of Greenup Edge was fairly easy. Approaching the summit the old iron fence posts loomed out of the mist but as I started down to the next small col above the descent to Grasmere I dipped below the cloud and was able to see down the valley below. It was a picturesque descent into Easedale but I was surprised that I still hadn’t seen anybody, especially as it was a Sunday morning. I’d reached the track before I met anybody and by now the morning was well on.

Misty summit of Greenup Edge.

Grasmere from the climb of Grisedale Hause.

When I’d reached the tarmac and Goody Bridge there were people everywhere. I turned left and followed the lane to the main A591 road near the Travellers Rest. I had quite a wait getting across as the traffic was continuous in both directions. It was good to leave the traffic behind and I climbed the stony track up to the footbridge and the bottom of Great Tongue. I took the left path as the right was the way most people usually take, because it’s easier. I climbed up for a while and stopped for a lunch break and soak my feet in a small stream. Much refreshed I continued up and looked down on the lower path and its crowds, while I was on the higher path with two other people. I didn’t stop at the summit of Grisedale Hause because of the crowds but continued my descent to the tarn.

It was surprisingly devoid of people and I remembered back to 1980 when we reached here on a very hot day that Charlie decided to go for a swim. He stripped to his trunks, waded in as far as his knees and retreated to the bank. The hot day wasn’t reflected in the water. It was now sunny and warm in the sunshine and I enjoyed the descent to Ruthwaite Lodge. It was boarded up when I arrived and I can’t recollect a single occasion ever when I’ve passed and someone has been there. The last part of the descent was quite stony and I was glad to reach the easier gradient of the lower reaches of Grisedale.

There were plenty of people about now and when I reached the road it was quite busy, but it was a sunny Sunday afternoon. Walking into Patterdale there were plenty of people sitting outside the hotel at the benches and tables partaking of quick snacks and drinks. They looked at me with blank expressions as I passed by. At the end of the road I set off up the path to Boredale Hause. A short way up I had to retrieve my second food depot that I’d left last Wednesday. As with the Stonethwaite one it had been well packaged in tin foil and plastic bags and buried. However when I reached it the backfill had been removed and the package was exposed. It was intact and I can only assume some animal had dug it up. I continued my climb and found a good flat spot at the top near water. I could also get the tent pegs in. My previous two camps had been on very stony ground.

The climb from Patterdale to Boredale Hause.