Busy times this last weekend.

Kate was guiding on Scafell Pike, following the Langdale route. Weather was reasonable but with only limited views all the way up.
A treat was in store though, as the clouds parted and views opened up to show the drama of the mountains, what a glorious sight.

On Sunday we were both on and around the Scafell range. Helping to marshal the Wasdale Triathlon. Local lad Chris Sterling put in a brilliant performance to take 1st place, well done Chris.

Whilst every effort was made on our part to clear up after the event. We are now aware not all the marshals working that day actually did their jobs properly. We of course feel bad about this as we were a part of it. Please accept our apologies.

Monday saw me back on Scafell Pike, again from Wasdale, this time with Roy (a writer) from Tonbridge. We had a lovely day out, taking the Mickledore route up and the Lingmell Col route back down. Managed to clear more of the litter left behind after the triathlon.

Thanks all.

Mark

The past few days have been busy times for Climb Scafell with 4 ascents of Scafell Pike since Thursday, plus an ascent of Helvellyn today.

Thursday was a recce of the Wasdale Triathlon route and I guided Judith around the 13.5 mile route (taking in Scafell Pike, Foxes Tarn, Scafell, Slight Side, Eel Tarn and Burnmoor Tarn) so she could familiarise herself with it before the big day. It was a perfect day to do a recce with clear views of the route ahead of us and it was a treat to find the usually boggy parts relatively dry due to lack of rain.

Friday and the sun shone again!  Colin, Dave and Martin were up from the south for a few days of fell-walking and Scafell Pike was their first objective.  We went up  the glorious Grains Gill/Ruddy Gill and the onto the Corridor route to the summit where we briefly bumped into Mark who was guiding a corporate group from Langdale (see blog below).  They  were also out again on Sunday with Mark for a walk up Helvellyn, again with superb weather and views.  

A Scafell Pike walk from Borrowdale was how Marion decided to celebrate her 40th birthday, with eight of her close friends and family. We were in cloud some of the way up, but it cleared coming down the Corridor route so they could see the fabulous views!  Near the summit some hardy fell-runners ran past us on the annual Scafell Race from Wasdale.  We watched in awe, trying our best to keep out of their way as they leapt and flew past us on their descent over the rocky ground. 

Thanks to all involved for some memorable few days out in the fells!  Kate

Today we've been out on a corporate 'walk & talk' day with Malcolm Hollis surveyors.
This is the 3rd years running we have provided mountain guiding services for Malcolm Hollis, and it's really nice to see the same faces back each time.

This time Scafell Pike was the objective. The weather was on our side, time was on our side, fitness was on our side.

So did we make it? Of course we did.

Starting from The New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel in Langdale this is the longest route to the summit of Scafell Pike, so today would be a challenge.

It took around 4 hours for us to reach the summit. Here a long rest was enjoyed, savouring the views over lunch.

Our return too was straightforward, if a little slower initially. But once it was realised the pub awaited, the pace quickened, and we made back to the valley in good time. A few tired muscles this evening and I suspect a few beers will be enjoyed in the Stickle Barn Tavern this evening.

A great day out in perfect weather.

Thanks to everyone and especially Abbie for arranging everything.

Mark

3 trips to the top of Scafell Pike for us since Saturday morning.

Firstly Kate guided Becky & Lindsey via the Wasdale route. They were doing the 3 Peaks Challenge, but not in a major rush, so were able to spend a little more time enjoying the amazing scenery these mountains offer.
Good luck with the rest of the challenge.

And Kate again late on Saturday evening met a group at around 11.30pm at Wasdale Green.
This night ascent took around 5 hours, so pretty good going. Sadly, Kate experienced a punctured tyre on the drive back over the mountain passes to Ambleside so had a long wait for recovery! Back home now, but very tired.

I was also out on Scafell Pike, working for our friends at Highpoint Mountain Guides. With a strong team of 7 we took the mountain by storm, completing the round trip from Wasdale to the summit and back in just 4 hours. This rapid time more than made up for the 3am start!

I thought we may see sunrise whilst out, but our pace was too quick, it was only just getting light by the time we were back at the Hollowstones boulder field. Stopping briefly at Hollowstones to admire the beautiful crags of the Scafell range has been a highlight of tonights / this mornings walk. Simply breathtaking.

The mountain was incredibly busy last night and still many teams making their way up as we left this morning.

Thanks all.

Mark

A big day was had today, a route that's been on the 'to-do' list for far too long.
The High Level Traverse to Pillar Rock.

Starting at the Honister slate mines I decided to include Grey Knotts and Brandreth summits too as they are virtually en-route.

Walking under Green Gable & Great Gable provides fabulous views into Ennerdale and of things to come, Pillar still seemingly a long way off!

A short way beyond Black Sail Pass a Cairn marks the beginning of the High Level Traverse. This is a narrow path that skirts underneath (and over) crags and offers some magnificent scenery. Care is required as a slip would be nasty.

Robinson's Cairn is soon reached and the full extent of Pillar Rock is revealed, WOW! I sat for a few minutes to admire the rock features and study the onward route to High Man. Looking at it from here I wasn't feeling too comfortable doing the route solo and un-roped. But as I approached it started to look more friendly. The rock is very polished so route finding is easy and the climbing is straightforward too.

Not having a rope with me I had to reverse the climb to get back down, all good fun. The huge drop below kept me 100% focused at all times. Then I explored Pisgah which involved more scrambling.

A quick blast up to the main summit of Pillar before heading back to Honister.

5 hours 25 mins for the round trip, pretty happy with that, not like me to run much, but today there was plenty running and it was fun.

Those willing to drive over to Wasdale (or are staying over that way) would be advised to follow the Mosedale route to Black Sail Pass. This is somewhat shorter and far easier to follow.

The Wasdale Triathlon is not far off and Tim asked us if we could help him familiarise himself with the 'run' route.  So me (Kate) being a so called fell-runner was given the job. It is described as the world's hardest traditional half iron distance triathlon, so we set out from Wasdale Head to see just how hard the 'run' route would be. This is the last discipline, after the swim and the bike, so legs are already going to be very tired!

We decided to walk the route at a good pace instead of running it, so headed off to Styhead Tarn, then up the Corridor route to Lingmell Col and to the summit of Scafell Pike - ticked this lot off in just under 2 1/2 hours.

Next stop Sca Fell - it looked so close but unfortunately our route took us on a descent from Mickledore below the huge cliffs, before gaining height again by scrambling steelply up Foxes Ghyll to Foxes Tarn - a beautiful green oasis.  From there the path to the summit of Scafell is steep scree and legs were starting to get tired.

Sca Fell summit down to Slight Side - and we felt like we were on the way back, but checking our watches we were dismayed to see that we were only half way round the route!  The technical and steep sections had been completed though and the next bit looked easy - grassy descent and flatter ground to Eel Tarn, then onto Burnmoor Tarn before descending back to Wasdale Head.  Not so though! The path over to Eel Tarn went on and on, a small trod, non-existent in places and extremely boggy - a leg sapping experience with a fair bit of navigation needed through the tricky terrain.  Eel Tarn was eventurally reached and then onto Burnmoor Tarn with superb views over to Yewbarrow and Pillar, and finally a nice, flat finish to Wasdale Head.  The 'run' route is down as 13.5 miles - both our watches clocked in at almost 15 miles.

Thank you Tim for a great day out and good luck with the Triathlon!