Height: 642 metres / 2106 feet Grid reference: NY 28012 07131

Pike o’ Stickle, Loft Crag and Thorn Crag

Loft Crag and Pike o’ Stickle from Thorn Crag

Harrison Stickle from Thorn Crag
Height: 642 metres / 2106 feet Grid reference: NY 28012 07131
Pike o’ Stickle, Loft Crag and Thorn Crag
Loft Crag and Pike o’ Stickle from Thorn Crag
Harrison Stickle from Thorn Crag
Walked on
Start point: New Dungeon Ghyll Car Park (NY 295 064)
New Dungeon Ghyll – Stickle Tarn – Harrison Stickle – Pavey Ark – Thunacar Knott – Pike O’Stickle – Loft Crag – Thorn Crag – Pike How – New Dungeon Ghyll
Distance: 5 miles Total Ascent: 791 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 09:00
Weather: Lots of wintry showers. 5°C
The weather took a turn for the worse as I climbed alongside Stickle Ghyll this morning and became really wintry on the climb to Harrison Stickle. Backed by a strong wind is was a proper winter’s day with the weather changing minute by minute. There were fleeting clear spells which were magical, but I really enjoyed every step of today’s walk – weather and all.
Lingmoor Fell and there is a bit of weather around now - sleety rain at this height but it soon turned to hail, then snow.
A brief interlude between the showers to look down on Stickle Tarn with distant Fairfield in view. Things soon changed however...
Pike o' Stickle from the path to Pavey Ark. Beyond there is an eerie blue light over Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.
For a fleeting minute of two there was full sunshine as I made my way across to Pavey Ark, here looking towards Thunacar Knott...but look at that ominous sky beyond.
The view from the top of Pavey ark into Langdale, Windermere up to the left and Lingmoor Fell central.
Walked on
Start point: New Dungeon Ghyll Car Park (NY 295 064)
New Dungeon Ghyll – Stickle Tarn – Pavey Ark – Thunacar Knott – Harrison Stickle – Pike O’Stickle – Loft Crag – Thorn Crag – New Dungeon Ghyll
Distance: 5 miles Total Ascent: 770 metres Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes
Weather: Cold out of the sun, clear. 3°C
What a day after the heavy snow in the south Lakes yesterday, the sun was shining for most of the time and the snow was powder perfect. I had a walk with StridingEdge stalwart Andy Lang around the Langdale Pikes and it was quiet up there – we only saw a few fellow walkers from afar today. Over on St Sunday, the big news is that there was an avalanche at the top of Pinnacle Ridge which required a rescue.
Jack's Rake to the left, Easy Gully to the right on the face of Pavey Ark. We are climbing the North Rake, round to the right of this photo.
Andy checks out the view - that's Great Gable up to the right - whilst Dougal checks out - well, me!
It started clouding over on the way to Harrison Stickle and to the north the weather was really closing in.
Walked on
Start point: Stickle Tarn Car Park (NY 295 064)
New Dungeon Ghyll – Loft Crag – Thorn Crag – Pike O’Stickle – Martcrag Moor – Stake Pass – Mickleden – New Dungeon Ghyll
Distance: 5.8 miles Total Ascent: 677 metres Time Taken: 3 hours
Weather: Cold and wet on the tops. 10°C.
I was up and about early this morning and initially it looked promising as though it might turn out beautiful and sunny as it has been over the last few days. In fact it turned out to be completely the opposite as I got a good soaking and so opted to complete only half of the intended route (fair weather walker!). Casper has had a makeover too…
The mist is starting to envelop me now here looking across Great Langdale to Lingmoor Fell and Side Pike, Blea Tarn is also in view.
How now foxy loxy? I bet Casper is as glad of his haircut as I was that I managed to remember to wear sun cream, shorts and t-shirt!
Heading for Pike o' Stickle and this is as good as it gets. There was a really cold wind up here now so it was hat and gloves time.
Pike o' Stickle summit and now it was raining so it full waterproofs time as well. In fact it was completely miserable so I headed across boggy Martcrag Moor and decided to get down to valley level at Stake Pass. Thank goodness for GPS too, the most valuable time saving piece of fell walking equipment you can buy.
Walked on
Start point: New Dungeon Ghyll Car Park (NY 295 064)
New Dungeon Ghyll – Stickle Tarn – Pavey Ark – Sergeant Man – High Raise – Thunacar Knott – Pike O’Stickle – Loft Crag – Thorn Crag – New Dungeon Ghyll
Distance: 7 miles Total Ascent: 822 metres Time Taken: 4 hours
Weather: Sunny and bright, lots of snow. 7ºC.
What a fantastic day today, the best of the winter by far I think. I knew it was going to be good when I went through Coniston and the snow was down to a low level and the sky was clear. We were nice and early, climbing alongside Stickle Ghyll to meet the sunrise half way up which gave a lovely red hue on the snow. When I reached the dam on Stickle Tarn, I thought I must have died and gone to heaven – this is how winters should be!
Walked on
Start point: New Dungeon Ghyll Car Park (NY 295 064)
New Dungeon Ghyll – Stickle Tarn – Pavey Ark – Thunacar Knott – Harrison Stickle – Pike O’Stickle – Loft Crag – Thorn Crag – New Dungeon Ghyll
Distance: 5 miles Total Ascent: 770 metres Time Taken: 3 hours
Weather: Showers. 16oC.
The early bird caught the worm this morning! We were up at the crack of dawn today for a circuit of The Langdale Pikes. Setting off in the rain, I didn’t hold out much hope for any dry weather but fortunately it wasn’t too long before the skies cleared somewhat, although elsewhere – notably over to Bow Fell and the Coniston fells – the clouds remained down for most of the time during the morning.
As we climbed, the rain stopped for a while and here the early morning sun catches Lingmoor Fell across Great Langdale.
High Raise and Sergeant Man from Thunacar Knott. This photo doesn't convey how bad the conditions were - it was blowing a hooly, raining and absolutely freezing up here. Wish I'd packed some gloves.
Bow Fell and Esk Pike in the clouds with Rossett Pike centre and the next objective, Pike o' Stickle, from Harrison Stickle.
Mickleden from Pike o' Stickle with Bow Fell at its head, Esk Pike and Great End beyond. The prominent fork is the joining of the Rossett Gill and Stake Pass paths.
The sun lights up Loft Crag with the familiar outline of Pike o' Stickle in shade and the dark silhouette of Glaramara beyond.
Walked on
Start point: New Dungeon Ghyll Car Park (NY 295 064)
New Dungeon Ghyll – Sergeant Man – High Raise – Thunacar Knott – Pavey Ark – Harrison Stickle –Pike O’Stickle – Loft Crag – Thorn Crag – New Dungeon Ghyll
Distance: 8.1 miles Total Ascent: 1047 metres Time Taken: 4 hours
Weather: Overcast but clearing – warm and still. 23oC
When Angus (the ‘lost boy’ – kept a close eye on him today!), Casper and I set off from the New Dungeon Ghyll, it was quite murky but surprisingly warm. The sun threatened to break through the clouds all morning and eventually did for spells. Casper was recognised (from 1000 yards I think!) on Loft Crag by Chris and Lin, up in the area for a weeks holiday and it was nice to bump into someone who visits this website. Previously I have said I wouldn’t take Angus up on the high fells again, but how could I resist? He loves it up there…
Walked on
Start point: New Dungeon Ghyll Car Park (NY 295 064)
New Dungeon Ghyll – Thorn Crag – Loft Crag – Pike O’Stickle – Thunacar Knott – High Raise – Sergeant Man – Pavey Ark – Harrison Stickle – New Dungeon Ghyll
Distance: 8.2 miles Total Ascent: 1017 metres Time Taken: 3 hours 50 minutes
Weather: Warmer than of late with the tops in and out of mist all day.
A return visit to old favourites The Langdale Pikes today – it’s a little while since I’ve done them so this round made a nice change today. With it being Easter soon, this area becomes very busy so I thought I’d better get out while the place was virtually deserted…
Walked on
Start point: New Dungeon Ghyll Car Park (NY 295 064)
New Dungeon Ghyll – Stickle Tarn – Jack’s Rake – Pavey Ark (28) – Thunacar Knott (29) – Harrison Stickle (30) – Thorn Crag (31) – Loft Crag (32) – Pike O’Stickle (33) – Martcrag Moor – Black Crag (Mickleden) (34) – Buck Pike (Mickleden) (35) – Rossett Pike (36) – Rossett Gill – Mickleden – New Dungeon Ghyll
Weather: Sunny, some cloudy spells.