Start point: Brackenclose (NY 182 074)
Brackenclose – Brown Tongue – Scafell Pike – Mickledore – Lord’s Rake – Scafell – Green How – Brackenclose
Distance: 7.5 miles Total Ascent: 1140 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 06:45
Clear above cloud Temperature 2 ℃ Felt like 2 ℃ Wind Speed 0.9 mi/h Wind Direction SSE
Conditions looked favourable for an inversion again today so I took the leap of faith and set off in the dark heading for Scafell Pike to get the best chance of seeing a sunrise over the inversion. Of course you never quite know – will it, won’t it? Climbing higher and through the clouds is a magical moment; witnessing the sunrise in such a place is a truly jaw dropping and inspiring moment; a great day to be on the fells.
![DSC9175 DSC9175](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2022-01-14-scafell-pike/DSC9175.jpg)
When I reached the Lingmell ColI came through the mist and into a fantastic dawn. On the climb to the summit it was already dawn and it was a fabulous sight, here looking to Lingmell and Great Gable appearing through the cloud in the early light.
![DSC9176 DSC9176](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2022-01-14-scafell-pike/DSC9176.jpg)
Frozen rocks on the summit made the going slippery, here with Fletcher camouflaged against them. I hit the summit dead on sunrise at 08:25, phew!
![DSC9217 DSC9217](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2022-01-14-scafell-pike/DSC9217.jpg)
All looking good now the sun has risen. I talked to one other person (the 'Wasdale Womble'!) but apart from that the roof of england was all mine for a good half hour this morning.
![DSC9235 DSC9235](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2022-01-14-scafell-pike/DSC9235.jpg)
We headed over to the southern cairn for a closer look at the sea of cloud and sat with a coffee for a while to contemplate life. Looking back to the main summit there is still no one around.
![DSC9256 DSC9256](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2022-01-14-scafell-pike/DSC9256.jpg)
Time to move on much as I wanted to stay. The next stop would be Scafell via Lord's Rake so first of all we need to head down to Mickledore over more treacherous icy rocks.
![DSC9275 DSC9275](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2022-01-14-scafell-pike/DSC9275.jpg)
At the top of Lord's Rake looking back to Scafell Pike. The chock stone has fallen since the last time I was here (admittedly it was a while ago!) and the way round the top was a bit of a squeeze.
![DSC9284 DSC9284](https://www.stridingedge.net/wp-content/gallery/2022-01-14-scafell-pike/DSC9284.jpg)
Looking across Scafell to Symonds Knott - only the highest fells are through the clouds now as it has lifted - Lingmell has disappeared.