Sun 30 Nov 2014
St Andrew's Day
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| Patterdale and beyond from near Thornthwaite Crag |
Andrew (not the saint) picked me up at 7 a.m. and we drove to Hartsop, where it was sunny and clear with little wind. We set off up Threshwaite Glen and half way spied a deer climbing among the boulders below Raven Crag.
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| Raven Crag, Threshwaite Glen |
There was a cold wind at Threshwaite Mouth, to be expected, it being a high pass between Patterdale and Troutbeck valley. We had a short snack in the shelter of some rocks where we had a fine view south as far as Windermere.
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| The view over Troutbeck valley as far as Windermere |
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| Caudale Moor from the path to Thornthwaite Crag |
Then it was up to Thornthwaite Crag, a very steep climb on loose scree seeming further to me than on previous occasions. We had a more substantial and much needed snack near the magnificent cairn.
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| Thornthwaite Crag's summit landmark |
As we passed over the first few yards of the long top of Gray Crag I caught my left foot on a small tuft of grass and went right over, luckily missing some small stones and thus not getting hurt. I tend to find these falls amusing, but luckily I have never tripped in a dangerous place. I really must take more care: the weakness in my left ankle sometimes prevents my picking up the toe high enough to clear even simple protrusions on the ground.
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| Hayeswater. Rest Dodd left, The Knott, right |
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| Proof positive I was part of that day's walk! |
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| There were splendid views all around from the summit. |
I wasn’t looking forward to the steep descent over the end of the fell, but it proved much easier than on the last occasion I was there in 2008. In fact, the first part is very easy, with splendid views. On the steep section a good path has been trodden out by many boots in the intervening years but we were glad when we reached the bottom. The cold breeze we had on the summit had dissipated, and we had become very warm.
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| The initial part pf the descent to Hartsop |
Further down the track there is a notice about the remains of the old lead mine and, surprisingly in such terrain, of an old corn mill. We dropped down to explore the ruins.
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| The mine workings from Threshwaite Glen |
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| Ruins of the corn mill |
An excellent day. We were surprised to see that AW reckons the length of the walk we did today to be six miles! Because of our early morning start we were back home by 5:30.
