Start point: Mungrisdale (NY 361 303)
Mungrisdale – Souther Fell – Scales Fell – Blencathra – Bannerdale Crags – Bowscale Fell – The Tongue – Mungrisdale
Distance: 8.1 miles Total Ascent: 907 metres Time Taken: 4 hours Start Time: 08:40
Weather: An icy cold wind but clear. 5°C
There was a mighty cold and icy wind up on the top of Blencathra today and there was a fresh dusting of snow. The wind and ice were strong enough to keep me off Sharp Edge, that can wait until another day. To the south there was a big cloud build up and the way it lay right across the tops and kept changing made an intriguing backdrop throughout the walk.
The River Glenderamackin at Mungrisdale.
Sky over Great Mell Fell at the start of the climb to Souther Fell.
A bit leaden, but I wondered if it would brighten up?
Bowscale fell and The Tongue, the eventual route of descent.
Casper checks out Bannerdale and Bannerdale Crags. Blencathra is swathed in mist to the left.
The icy summit of Souther Fell. From here and right over Blencathra, the ice cold wind became quite strong.
The cairn at the south western end of Souther Fell.
Heading for Scales Fell.
Sharp Edge from Souther Fell.
The view of Sharp Edge and Foule Crag from Mousthwaite Comb.
Looking back to Souther Fell across Mousthwaite Comb.
Saddleback from Scales Fell.
A zoom shot showing the way the cloud was building to the south and that large layer pouring over the tops and into the valleys seemed to be creeping northwards.
Sharp Edge profile from Scales Fell.
Scales Tarn.
Doddick Fell Top and Scales Fell.
The icy summit of Blencathra, Hallsfell Top.
Hall's Fell Ridge.
Keswick and Derwent Water with that big cloud cap now on the high fells to the west.
Casper and Dougal on the summit of Blencathra.
Looks like playtime for the boys heading to Atkinson Pike.
The Back o' Skiddaw from the part frozen summit tarn.
A contrast in colours from Atkinson Pike.
Mono Blencathra.
The intriguing cloud cap to the south.
At the top of Sharp Edge.
Dougal Doo.
Descending Foule Crag, Bowscale Fell ahead.
Glenderamackin Valley.
Blencathra from Bannerdale Crags.
The main cairn to the north east.
Foule Crag on Blencathra from Bowscale Fell.
Skiddaw from Bowscale Fell summit.
Looks like that big cloud has overtaken Blencathra now as well.
Bowscale Fell from The Tongue.
Mungrisdale from the top of the steeper than steep descent.
Looking back to The Tongue from near Mungrisdale. By the time I got to the car and onto the A66, all the fells that I had been watching under cloud all morning were now clear with the exception of Blencathra which stood alone with its own cloud cap!