Question: What do you do when work and family
commitments have kept you away from the fells for a few weeks? Answer: you cram your newly received Berghaus
rucksack with as many warm clothes, food stuffs and flasks as it can handle and
head for the hills. We decided it was
about time we tackled some of the big name routes that we hadn’t gotten around
to yet, so we whizzed off to Wast Water, nabbed a parking spot near Wasdale
Head and headed for the big lumpy stuff.
Our plan was
to head up Scafell Pike but this time via the Corridor Route; after that we
would drop down Mickledore to Sca Fell then down underneath
Broad Stand and up onto Sca Fell via Foxes Tarn before finally descending via
Lord’s Rake. An ambitious plan but
exactly what was needed to put the new rucksack through its paces.
If you’re
not familiar with our hiking habits then you need to know that
this time of year we are very late starters and it was 12:15pm before we left
the car. This routine usually works
really well for us as we still have daylight until 10pm but most people have
headed home long before then, thus giving us the peace and quiet we crave on
the fells.
The first
part of the route was very easy, winding past St Olaf’s church, along Lingmell
Beck and up to Sty Head tarn. 90 minutes
later we were enjoying lunch in the sun overlooking the tarn and admiring the
perfectly framed view of Blencathra away in the distance. There was a cool breeze so we didn’t hang
around long, plus we were keen to get stuck into the Corridor Route. We were both under the impression that this
was a tough and challenging route but the reality is that these days it’s a
very straightforward and largely paved route up past Lingmell to Scafell
Pike. Don’t get me wrong, it’s very pretty, but if you’re after a challenging
hike then this isn’t it. It’s also far
from quiet and we were passed by dozens of people as they made their way back
down towards the tarn.
As we came
up onto Lingmell Col we couldn't resist quickly nipping up to the top of
Lingmell and enjoying the wonderful views of Great Gable – by far my favourite
fell to look at. It just looks like a
“proper” fell; when you’re a kid and you draw a picture of a mountain, it looks
like Great Gable. Well mine did
anyway. That’s not to say my favourite
cars are the ones that look like the ones I drew as a kid, for a start that
would mean they’d all have very oddly shaped wheels… Anyway, back to the hike!
The final
haul up to the summit of Scafell Pike is a bit of a scramble in places but
still very straightforward and clearly marked.
Each time I ascend Scafell Pike I wonder how the height of the mountain
is measured as it appears to be nothing but scree on the top; I wonder where
the solid ground begins? After the
obligatory photos we huddled down beside the war memorial for a spot of drink
and some chocolate before making our way over towards Mickledore. (Incidentally, did you know that this whole
area was gifted to the Lake District National Park following the death of its
owner, Lord Leconfield, in World War I?)
The route
down to Mickledore is well marked but you do need to watch your footing on the
lose screes. At the foot of the screes
is a short col linking Scafell Pike with Sca Fell, this was easily passed in
the good weather we had on Saturday but it’s not a route I’d fancy tackling in
torrential rain. Mind you there aren’t
many routes that I think could be improved upon if only there were an
apocalyptic downpour.
As you cross
the col towards Sca Fell you become immediately aware that you are now dealing
with an entirely different type of fell.
Scafell Pike is the famous, sanitised fell that everybody wants to
climb; Sca Fell on the other hand is big and brash and makes no concessions for
anyone. It reminded me in an odd way of
Princes William and Harry. Prince
William (Scafell Pike) is the public face, the one that has to behave and be
accessible to the public; Prince Harry (Sca Fell) on the other hand, can get
away with being rather more mischievous and badly behaved. I immediately warmed to Sca Fell…
Join me in part II when we scramble up a gill, successfully navigate through the mist and
finally descend the infamous Lord’s Rake.
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