Sat 30 Aug 2014
Andrew's birthday: off to the car park at Dob Gill by Thirlmere. It cost £7 to leave the car there. We went up the track through the forest way-marked by United Utilities. Higher up numerous felled trees hindered progress.
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| The path through the wood by Dob Gill |
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| The forest grows more dense |
Some trees had fallen of themselves due to the phytothphera ramorum disease which is killing trees all over the country. Unlike at Bleasdale, access for modern felling machines on the steep fellside is impossible and the job has to be done by saws and axes. It's obvious that these forests have never been properly managed and trees have been planted and allowed to mature too close together. Removal from the site after felling is a real problem.
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| Harrop Tarn is a beautiful place at any season |
We reached Harrop Tarn, a popular place within the forest, but many trees below it have been cut down. When I was here in March 2010 before the felling of trees I saw a deer walking away from the tarn. Today we found some interesting fungi.
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| Fly agaric |
There were short bursts of sunlight, but the possible sunburn risks warned of in the weather forecast didn't occur, and the lunch stop in the shelter of Standing Crag was quite a chilly experience. My hands became almost numb as we set off again en route for Ullscarf.
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| Standing Crag |
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| The summit of Ullscarf |
The wind dropped a little and in fact it felt warmer on the summit than lower down!
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| View northwards from Standing Crag |
On the return journey trying to locate High Tove and High Seat from the top of Standing Crag was a frustrating problem, as the almost straight line indicated in AW's book didn't seem straight at all! I think we finally sorted out what were Bell Crags, but the other fells just didn't stand out at all. It is a puzzling place, and if it weren't for the fence the lack of any other landmarks make identification from above very difficult. Navigation would be a problem if the mist were to come down.
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| Helvellyn from Standing Crag |
We grew quite warm on the descent. Although both of us had been on Ullscarf before the climb was well worth the effort, especially the visit to Harrop Tarn.
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| Harrop Tarn 8 March 2010 |
