Hayeswater Circuit - Thursday 5th March 2009

Thursday 5th March 2009

Start point: Hartsop (NY 410 130)

Hartsop - Gray Crag - Thornthwaite Crag - High Street - Straits of Riggindale - The Knott - Hayeswater - Hartsop

Distance: 7 miles Total Ascent: 770 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 15 minutes

Weather: Mostly clear. 2oC.

Route Map

I managed to get over Kirkstone Pass this morning even though it was pretty icy again. This is the fourth walk in a row in the same area, I guess I am just drawn over that way at the moment for some reason. The weather prediction was for great clarity today and it was indeed clear all morning, but the sun did not quite manage to get through the cloud although there were some quite amazing skies over the snowy fells.

Sun rising over Gray Crag from the corrals at Hartsop.

Looking back to Hartsop from the path to Hayeswater, St Sunday Crag beyond the Hartsop above How ridge.

Threshthwaite along Pasture Bottom.

Hayeswater Gill and the climb up to Gray Crag in view.

Hartsop from the first wall on the steep climb to Gray Crag.

Despite not being sunny there was great clarity today, looking across to Helvellyn with a corner of Brothers Water visible below. Blencathra is visible on the far right.

Strange light over Gray Crag from the start of the plateau as the sun was trying to break through the great sheet of cloud that hung over the fells.

Heading for the summit ridge.

Distant Blencathra.

The Knott above Hayeswater, the route of return.

Casper was not keen on the soft new snow today as it kept balling up on his fur, as he demonstrates here with his snowball beard!

Heading for Thornthwaite Crag from Gray Crag. The sky was amazing as the sun continue to try and burn through the cloud. It looked like sunrise even though it was 10.15 when this photo was taken.

Caudale Moor, the scene of yesterday's walk.

The view through Threshthwaite Mouth into Troutbeck.

What a slog it was to get this far in the deep, virgin snow (apart from the fox tracks in this photo that is. These tracks went all the way round to High Street so perhaps Fantastic Mr Fox was doing the same round as me!) but well worth it. It was a great day to be up here.

The Knott and High Street.

The view back along mine and Casper's tracks to Gray Crag.

Just beautiful on Thornthwaite Crag.

Ill Bell and Froswick.

Windermere from Thornthwaite Beacon.

The sun was starting to shine through now, here looking to the north-west where it is still lovely and clear.

Harter Fell and Kentmere Pike from the wall heading out to High Street.

Ill Bell and Froswick from further along the wall.

The route of return along the High Street ridge.

The Ill Bell ridge and Windermere from High Street Roman Road (well, I think I was on it - I couldn't make out any paths!).

High Street summit.

Looking over the eastern side of High Street to Rough Crag and Haweswater.

Harter Fell and Mardale Ill Bell over Blea Water.

Kidsty Pike and High Raise across Riggindale.

Heading for the Straits of Riggindale, the weather took a decided turn for the worse with an arctic blast blowing in from the west. Time to put another layer on here for me.