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.
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.
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!
Scafell Pike sunrise - fantastic!
It was beautiful the way the rising sun lit up the rocks - and Scafell - like a martian landscape.
Great Gable and Green Gable through the mist, beyond is Grasmoor.
looking along the Scafells to a distant Blencathra left and the Helvellyn ridge above the cloud.
Skiddaw...just appearing.
Sunrise panoramic.
I was joined by runner Dan on the summit to witness the sunrise.
Me with Fletcher.
The Coniston fells and sun pillar.
Scafell and beyond an ocean of clouds.
As the sun rises, Scafell Pike casts a shadow with a Brocken Spectre visible .
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.
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.
Coniston.
Fletcher looking down on Pen, Crinkle Crags beyond.
Any biscuits?
Bowfell and Crinkle Crags panoramic.
Blencathra all alone.
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.
The sun beating down on Mickledore.
Closer up on the edge of the inversion.
Looking across Mickledore to Broad Stand. The cloud was pouring over the ridge as we crossed.
Fletcher wondering which way we are going.
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.
Pillar and the Mosedale fells.
Lingmell and Great Gable.
The Scafells from the summit.
Looking across Scafell to Symonds Knott - only the highest fells are through the clouds now as it has lifted - Lingmell has disappeared.
The view to the south.
Great Gable and Skiddaw (which looks so close!).
Fairfield beyond Esk Pike, the gentle rise of High Street to the right.
Time to head down (steeper than I remember!) from Scafell and into the clouds. As we headed down the sun was directly shining behind us projecting Brocken Spectres.
Once you se one you can't stop seeing them.
Brocken Spectre and 270 degree fogbow.
I don't recall having seen a fogbow before.
Down below the clouds was this - a different world to the one I have just spent the morning in!
David says
Taken awhile to notice you are back. Great to see that you are back in the hills, and great for us that we see the pictures. Definitely a vicarious pleasure. Makes me jealous, in a good way. It’s inspiring and will compel me to back up to the Lakes sometime soon.
Thanks for the boost.
Sean says
Thanks David, I hope you make it back to the Lakes soon!
Ian A says
Simply amazing, it certainly is a special feeling. Great to see you enjoying ‘retirement’
Sean says
Definitely Ian, it is pretty unbeatable in those conditions.
Ian Hanley says
Did cross my mind that there was an inversion that day but didn’t gamble and went for a low level run from Threlkeld rather than up Blencathra. You’ve really made me regret that decision with these pics.
Sean says
Not to worry Ian, there is always next time!
Cheryl says
Oh Sean, these are superb photos. Here’s me way over in Australia, taking a dip back into your website after a long time. Definitely enjoying the pleasure vicariously – and belatedly! It’s such a joy to see these trails that my father often trod in his youth. Scafell and Crinkle Crags were favourites of his. He would have been over 100 yrs old had he still been with us, bless him. Hope you’re doing well. We hope to get over there again in 2023/24. Not sure if you’re still involved in the shop but will drop in. Might even attempt some walks cos will have refurbished knees by then! 🙂
Steve Oyston says
I just wanted to take a few minutes to say how amazing these pictures are Sean, having recently climbed Scafell via Lords rake, it was a pleasure seeing them from your experience!
Having never experienced a climb with a cloud inversion, I was wondering if you could offer any forecasting tips to look out for, to hopefully catch one some time! 🙂
All the best
Steve
Sean McMahon says
Hi Steve, thanks – it’s never an exact science but in general the temperature needs to be <5C and foggy/cloudy at valley level without precipitation....then keep your fingers crossed!