Monday 28th February 2011

Start point: Wasdale Head (NY 186 084)

Wasdale Head - Moses Trod - Gavel Neese - Beck Head - Great Gable - Westmorland Cairn - Sty Head - South Traverse - Napes Needle - Sphinx Rock - Moses Trod - Wasdale Head

Distance: 5.8 miles     Total Ascent: 1000 metres     Time Taken: 4 hours 15 minutes     Start Time: 09:50

Weather: Bright spells, misty high tops. 6oC

Route Map

I fancied going west to Wasdale today and decided to climb Great Gable. I drove through sunshine and blue skies to get to a rather misty Wasdale Head but I had high hopes that things would improve as the day went on. I was sort of right as the summit itself was a bit gloomy and frozen but the walk along the south traverse was excellent and there were sunny intervals during this section.

It didn't look too great heading for Great Gable but I was hopeful it would clear as there was good weather behind me.

Crossing Lingmell Beck on Moses Trod.

Looking back to the good weather from the start of the climb.

The sunshine has caught me up but the Napes are still shrouded in mist.

Yewbarrow has caught the sun.

Getting higher - and sunnier!

Heading for a water stop at Beck Head. There was a really icy wind blowing across here now and it felt like winter once more.

Kirk Fell across Beckhead Tarn.

Someone has drawn a line under the cloud at 700m looking across Ennerdale to High Stile. Lower Haystacks remains cloud free.

Climbing the rocky northern face of Great Gable.

The frozen summit memorial on Great Gable.

Disinterested summiteers. I had a wander over to the Westmorland Cairn but there was nothing to be seen so descended towards Sty Head.

Dougal on the descent towards Styhead Tarn.

Seathwaite Fell across Styhead Tarn.

Skew Gill and Great End.

Lingmell and Piers Gill.

A panoramic view from the south traverse.

The Great Napes and the scree of Great Hell Gate from the South Traverse.

Looking up to a climber on Napes Needle.

The Cat Rock.

A climber tops out on Napes Needle, taken from the Dress Circle.

Rather them than me!

Dramatic skies over the Scafells. This view shows the airy location of Napes Needle.

There will be a good view from the top of there I think!

The Sphinx Rock - the same rock as The Cat Rock but from a different angle.

Wasdale from the South Traverse.

Looking up Little Hell Gate.

Dougal checks out Moses Finger.

Clear on the Scafells now.

All clear on Great Gable as well now, nearing the end of the walk.

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