Sun 18 Jan 2015
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| Wansfell Pike |
Foggy and very cold when Andrew drove us up the M6 to Ambleside, but clearer weather was to permit sun and blue sky later. We visited Stock Ghyll Force first.
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| Stockghyll Force |
We then set off up the path to Wansfell Pike.
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| The early part of the relentlessly steep ascent |
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| A surprising country lane at around 700ft above the road |
The steepness was unrelenting, and the snow covering hid icy patches, but many people were out on the fell. When we reached higher up the path a wind arose which drove snow flies in our faces, and its gusts threatened to send me over. I realised I was not enjoying the climb, not daring to trust my boots on the slippery foot-holds, so I decided to turn back. Andrew was enjoying the challenge, so I encouraged him to continue on to the true summit a mile further than the Pike, and later on either catch me up or meet me in Ambleside.
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| I managed to reach the foot of the final peak |
I took my time descending to the road, and as it was decidedly warmer than on the high fell I sat on a roadside seat and drank my coffee and ate part of my lunch . Andrew later joined me, and said he hadn't been able to find the summit, hampered by the wind which along the ridge was even stronger than that encountered further down the fell.
We took a stroll around the town, and then walked back to the car, parked near Waterhead.
An interesting day, but disappointing for Andrew, and also for me in not being attaining the rocks of the Pike.
