Start point: Brackenclose (NY 182 074)
Brackenclose – Lingmell – Lingmell Col – Scafell Pike – Mickledore – Lord’s Rake – West Wall Traverse – Symonds Knott – Scafell – Green How – Brackenclose
Distance: 6 miles Total Ascent: 1162 metres Time Taken: 5 hours 30 minutes Start Time: 08:00
Weather: Clear with a cold wind. 3°C
Cold and clear was the forecast and that was spot on today. This is a relatively short distance mileage wise but the time taken tells how difficult the going was at times. The wind made it hard and the deep snow in Deep Gill made it even harder.
Note: Ice axe and crampons were required for this climb. Lord’s Rake, The West Wall Traverse and Deep Gill are difficult and not for the unwary.
Sunrise over the Scafells.
Wast Water and Middle Fell from the start of the steep climb to Lingmell.
Climbing higher, looking into Mosedale.
Looking back down, Illgill Head to the left. This climb was all in the shade, the sun had to climb above Scafell yet.
Red Pike, Scoat Fell and Pillar at the head of Mosedale.
Looking back to Illgill Head. Once beyond the snowline the wind really picked up, it was Siberian! It made the going tough along here and it seemed to take an age to get to Goat Crags.
Scafell in mono.
Into the sunshine at last and Great Gable comes into view.
Crossing to the column, visible up to the right.
Great Gable from Lingmell Crag.
The column on Lingmell looking to Great End.
The view across Styhead Tarn.
Lingmell summit.
Great End from the descent to Lingmell Col.
Back into the shadows climbing the north face of Scafell Pike with a great view across to Skiddaw and Blencathra.
Onward and upward.
Scafell Pike summit ahead.
Directly below the column.
Frozen Scafell Pike summit.
I can see for miles and miles - a fabulous view from Scafell Pike today.
A cold view towards Scafell.
Top dogs - Casper and Dougal summit the roof of England.
It turned to 'proper winter' when I was up here with clouds swirling around and the sun shining through.
Looking across to Esk Pike and Bowfell.
Dougal weighs up the best way down.
Scafell from Pulpit Rock, Lord's Rake is the diagonal gully on the right.
Down at the stretcher box at Mickledore it is time to get the crampons on.
At the foot of Lord's Rake.
An annotated version of a photo from above, showing the route to Lord's Rake and onwards. I think the climbers (circled) at the foot of the Scafell Crag give a good idea of the scale.
Pulpit Rock on Scafell Pike.
Looking back to Mickledore from the foot of Lord's Rake. You can see my tracks down Rake's Progress on the right.
The view to Scafell Pike from the climb of Lord's Rake. Not much opportunity to take photos here as I was concentrating on the job in hand. Remember: Ice Axe and Crampons were required from the foot of the rake onwards.
Made it to the top! Looking back down Lord's Rake. Everyone wants to know about the chockstone sitting at the top of Lord's Rake and whether it will fall. Undoubtedly it will one day as it is only resting across the top. For the moment (today only, I will make no predictions and you need to assess the situation yourself if you are going this way!) it seems pretty solid. This photo was taken with the three of us sat underneath it. I had planned to carry on across Lord's Rake until I looked beyond the chock stone and saw a very similar picture to the last time I was here in snow - there was a great slab of snow between me and the second col which was just a chute down to Hollow Stones below. I'm not certain it could be crossed as it looked a bit unstable, too dodgy for me anyway and there were no other footprints showing that anyone had tried it. The next thing to look at was the West Wall Traverse and it was a climb up an icy wall to get to it and once there I was committed to continuing that way.
Scafell from the West Wall Traverse.
Looking back to the top of Lord's Rake from the West Wall Traverse. The chockstone is directly below the left hand edge of the large rock (my footprints go beneath it). The West Wall Traverse was straightforward enough but once into Deep Gill, it acted like a wind tunnel and there was snow constantly blowing down it. At least the snow was quite soft but it was knee deep in places and made for an arduous climb. The gully is probably at an angle of about 60 degrees and it looked a long way down when I looked back and it was much harder work than Lord's Rake. Needless to say, every kick of the crampons and every bite of the axe were made to count on this climb.
Made it! Deep Gill from the top.
Scafell summit from the top of Deep Gill.
The view from Symonds Knott across the top of Deep Gill. The left hand part of the 'Y' was my exit point and you can see my footprints below it.
The summit of Scafell.
There is a haze layer to the west, looking across Burnmoor Tarn and Miterdale, Whin Rigg and Illgill Head to the right.
Looking north from frozen Scafell.
One the descent from Scafell - Symonds Knott, Scafell Pike and Ill Crag in view.
Brrr, there was a chilly wind across here.
Seatallan, Yewbarrow and the western fells from the descent.
Wasdale Head.
Yewbarrow.
Looking back to Scafell, the moon rising to the left.
Dougal takes in the sunny view.
Wast Water.
Scafell Pike and Scafell from Lingmell Gill.