Thursday 4th March 2010

Start point: Brackenclose (NY 182 074)

Brackenclose - Lingmell - Lingmell Col - Scafell Pike - Mickledore - Hollow Stones - Brown Tongue - Brackenclose

Distance: 5.8 miles     Total Ascent: 1061 metres     Time Taken: 4 hours

Weather: Clear, 7oC

Route Map

I was drawn back to Wasdale today by the almost irresistible force of the high fells and more great winter walking weather. The views from the top of Scafell Pike were stunning this morning and yet again there wasn't a soul about. We took a slightly unusual route of descent as explained later...

In the shade at the start of the climb to Lingmell, I needed to get to the wall a third of the way up to get into the warm sunshine. Dougal doo proved himself a world class long jumper by vaulting the cattle grid on the way here from the car park not once but three times (one way, then back and then back again!). He has an odd style, all four legs tucked under and a huge leap like a lamb or a deer. I thought he looked quite motorcross-y as he was sideways on as well!

Looking to Wasdale Head, shaded by Scafell with Pillar and Kirk Fell dominating the background.

Pillar from further up and into the sunshine now.

Early morning Wast Water and Illgill Head.

Up onto Goat Crags looking across Lingmell Col to Broad Crag and Scafell Pike.

Mosedale from the column on the western end of Lingmell.

Great Gable.

Casper has a look over the edge - what a day, what a view.

Dougal looks guilty at this act of sheer vandalism in the snow - the second 'i' has a paw print for a dot, giving the game away!

Great End from the summit of Lingmell.

Piers Gill below Lingmell.

Descending to Lingmell Col before the climb to Scafell Pike. There were no paths and no footprints visible so we would have to blaze our own trail up there today.

Looking back to Lingmell - you can follow our trail all the way back to the top.

With snow on, the climb to Scafell Pike looks almost impossibly steep. Here Dougal tries to get up hopping on two legs only.

Frozen cairns on the climb.

Raised footprints and the view to Skiddaw.

Approaching the summit.

The summit of Scafell Pike.

Broad Crag, Ill Crag and Great End in the foreground with the Helvellyn ridge, Fairfield and a view to High Street beyond.

A 360 panorama from the summit of Scafell Pike. Select on the image to see a larger version.

I'm not sure where Dougal thinks he is off to but I guess he is checking out the view to Esk Pike, Bowfell and Crinkle Crags.

Scafell from Scafell Pike.

Across Ullscarf to Helvellyn, where some lucky person is in a hot air balloon.

Blencathra.

Skiddaw.

Pillar.

Crinkle Crags and a ghostly, distant Ingleborough.

Top dogs on the roof of England.

The summit was all ours today, in fact we never saw a soul for the whole walk.

Scafell from the cairn on Pulpit Rock.

The view towards the Coniston fells over Great Moss.

Scafell from the approach to Mickledore, Lord's Rake to the right.

Once at Mickledore it would have been a steep and icy descent into Hollow Stones - I donned crampons and had my ice axe at the ready but when I was about a third of the way down the steep section, I looked up to see Casper (and by default, Dougal) issuing a refusal. No way were they coming down that way, so there was nothing for it but to climb back up and then back up across Pulpit Rock to drop back down via Lingmell Col. Thanks Casper! (Actually it wasn't so bad, it took half an hour to get to where I would have been descending this way).

Scafell Crag from the Hollow Stones path.

Looking down on Wast Water with a snow capped Seatallan to the right.

Mickledore.

Following the path to the north of Brown Tongue.

The view back up to Scafell Pike from Lingmell Gill.

Lingmell and the Scafells across Wast Water.

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