Three Tarns and a River

Members: Midge and John Castick, Michelle Harvie, Mark Garrod, Sue and Graham Harkness, Jim and Sandy Gregson, Lester Payne, Mark Ashley, Christine Beeston, Kate Horgan, Mary Stuart (Cath Sanderson made a guest appearance at Blackmoss Pot and was out climbing and planning a dip downstream).

Guests: Fay Castick, Mark Anderson and Toby, David and Liz Gibson, Steve Cheslett.

 

The recent rainfall guaranteed enough water for swimming, but was bound to reduce the water temperature and enthusiasm for the meet. Surprisingly we seemed to have plenty of volunteers for this aquatic mountaineering adventure.

Mark and I arrived at chilly Stonewaite campsite at dusk on Friday Night to find Mark and Lester pitching Mark's new tent and the rest enjoying hospitality in the Lanstrathdale Inn.

The walk started from Seathwaite, although Mark and I walked from the campsite. The first target was Styhead tarn (150 m) which was windy and cold (11.5 0 C in the shallows). Despite this, 6 of us dived in wearing an eclectic range of swimwear; Midge and Fay (shortie wet suits and bobble hats), Mark Ashley (wet suit jacket and lycra shorts), Mark Anderson (wet suit), Liz (oversized cut down dry suit) and myself (no wet suit, neoprene hat and gloves) whilst the team plus Toby (Fay and Mark's dog) carried our bags round. A short ascent uphill and barely time to thaw out before myself, Midge, Fay, Mark Ashley Mark Anderson, Liz, joined by Katie (no wetsuit) crossed a balmy Sprinkling Tarn (200m 13°C) with great views of Gable.

We were really pleased to be joined by Christine, Mary and Steve who had come up from Manchester that morning and caught us up. The sun finally made an appearance as we carried up to Esk Hause and 6 swimmers I, Midge, Fay, Mark Ashley Mark Anderson, and Katie crossed our final tarn, Angle Tarn (225m 13.6°C).

Then our descent into a sunny Langstrathdale with beautiful Rowan trees and the river tumbling and hopefully warming over warm rocks. A few km downstream we came to Blackmoss Pot (GR SD 266 110) a magical natural Jacuzzi, crystal clear water and a 20 m swimming channel (16°C) with an optional jump entry. This aquatic highlight of the day lured in 9 in swimmers including Christine and Mark who enjoyed a few laps. A short walk back to the campsite and the end of a great day.

Stonewaite campsite has a great location, a fairly rough approach track (not a patch on the approach to Ty Powder), but comes with a bit of a health warning. There was no running drinking water at the time we were there, except greenish drinking water from a Bowser. Despite a "no large groups" sign there was an influx of large noisy groups who insisted on playing bad music loudly and worse still singing along. Having seen Sunday's weather forecast and our neighbours for the night, Mark and I returned to Manchester that night, and avoided one of the worst Lakes weather days Midge can recall!

Thanks to Midge for devising the route and all for making this a fun day out. Watch out for details of a Welsh adventure next summer.

Virginia Castick