Scafell and Wasdale - Brackenclose

Members: Oi Ding Koy, Jim Gregson, Sandy Gregson, Trish Cranston, Al Metelko, Lester Payne.

Guest: Graham Townsend (FRCC).

 

Saturday we walked from Brackenclose up to Hollowstones and on to the foot of Lord’s Rake in rain and mist.  We had lunch at the foot of Lord’s Rake, mindful of possible stonefall, then carefully ascended Lord’s Rake to the West Wall traverse.  Then left across the traverse and ascended to the top of Sca Fell.  We descended the southeast side of Sca Fell to Fox’s Tarn which had all but dried up, and marvelled at an enormous boulder which had recently fallen.  Then we walked back around Sca Fell via the base of Broad Stand (remembering various past ascents by the meet leader, Jim and Sandy) across Mickledore, back to the base of Lord’s Rake and down to Hollowstones again, then retraced our steps back to the hut.

On Saturday night Al and Trish arrived.  Sunday dawned wet, Ding and Graham decided to head off to the FRCC Rawhead in Langdale, hoping for better weather – they had some luck and found some dry rock, though unfortunately got halfway up a nearby crag on the Monday when rain started and had a very slippery ascent, followed by a tactical retreat to the shops.

Trish, Al and Lester circumnavigated Kirk Fell in mist and rain on Sunday, and on Monday walked up and over Ill Gill Head to Whinn Rigg, descended to Mitredale Forest and followed various forest tracks down to the river Mitre, then followed the river to Burnmoor Tarn, and returned over the saddle north to Brackenclose.  A pub meal at Santon Bridge on the way home completed the weekend.

Lester Payne