Seathwaite, Thornythwaite Fell, Glaramara, Allen Crags, Styhead Gill, Cumbria.
[ 16.5 km] Wed  10 Feb 2010

NY 2357 1229
I returned to Seathwaite as the weather was still good and I wanted to visit Glaramara while it was still covered in snow. I left the car in the lane and walked through the farm to pick up the path heading NE along the base of Thornythwaite Fell. For a while the path is a mass of sheep droppings and is fairly indistinct. Eventually it reaches the access track to Thornythwaite Farm but soon leaves the track to head up the fell and the main path up Thorneythwaite Fell. It is a good steady climb giving good view back over Borrowdale. The ground was still hard due to frost and was good to walk on. Across the Combe I could see Dovenest Crag which I visited a couple of years ago.

Higher up I could see snow and cloud. Glaramara summit was in the cloud and seemed a long way off. The ground was now covered in hard snow and I’d just put my ice-studs on for safety and grip. The path was obliterated by the snow but the cloud had lifted and I was able to see my surroundings. I didn’t follow the direct route to the summit but checked the minor summit of Combe Head first. I had a short descent before crossing a flat area of ice before starting a steep snow climb up the NE side of Glaramara. I was able to use my new collapsible ice axe to make the climb up safer.

There was now a cold NE wind so after checking out the two summit cairns I found some shelter behind a rock where I took in the views while eating my sandwiches. The path to Allen Crags was somewhere under the snow and ice but the route was easy to find and the hard snow easy to walk on. Approaching Allen Crags I saw the first walkers of the day and two men approached from the south and we exchanged a quick hello as we passed. I stopped briefly on Allen Crag summit to take in the view and some photographs. Sca Fell Pike was clearly visible in the distance. I descended to Esk Hause and then easily down towards Styhead Pass.

 Now there were quite few people around. Several climbers were making the best of the good ice conditions up the various Geat End gullies. Approaching Sty Head I didn’t go as far as the first aid box but took the short cut to the descent path heading north. I wouldn’t go this way if the temperature were above freezing as it is very wet. Today it was frozen hard and easy walking. The walk down Styhead Gill was very enjoyable and even though it was after 2pm there were still several people heading up the valley. At Stockley Bridge I took my ice studs off for the final walk back to Seathwaite. It was quite a relief and made the walking much easier. Just as I got to the car a couple of climbers walked down the lane behind me. One was Chris Bonington.

Styhead Tarn still covered in ice