Sun 5 Apr 2015
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| Majestic Hartsop Dodd |
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Set off early. Fog all the way; but we hoped that on topping Kirkstone Pass we would see Shangri-La below. Not quite, this time, but the outlook was promising when we arrived in Hartsop at about five to nine.
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| Threshwaite Glen and Raven Crag |
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| Brock Crags from Threshwaite Glen |
I was uncertain as to whether I could manage all the way up to Threshwaite Mouth and climb to Caudale Moor in order to take the ridge route to Hartsop Dodd. But at the col I had a drink and some food and after that I found the scramble up to Stony Cove Pike very enjoyable.
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| Two worlds! |
On Caudale Moor we saw that Red Screes was visible but everything else to the south was shrouded in cloud. The weather had distinctly improved, at least north of the Kirkstone Pass. We were undecided as to where the path for the Dodd left the summit, and in fact set off along the one to the pass. We had to double back to the wall junction and take the correct route which showed us that our intended destination was a long way off!
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| Pleasant walking to Hartsop Dodd |
The views over to Dovedale and Red screes, and beyond to the Fairfield and Helvellyn ranges, were breathtaking, in spite of the haze that was developing! They must rate as some of the best in Lakeland. When we reached the ancient fence post marking the summit we sat with our backs to the wall and basked in the sun, which threatened to burn any exposed skin.
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| The views westward |
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| This is not a scarecrow |
This walk saw Andrew's completion of all the Far Eastern Fells. Banzai! *
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| The 'summit' marker in 2005 |
While writing this report I was shocked to discover that my only ascent of Hartsop Dodd, still vivid in my memory, was just over ten years ago, on 18 March 2005!! I had puffed my way up the steep north ridge using AW's old route (now blocked at the start) on a very hot day.
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| Pity we couldn't sleep in a little hut with this view |
The drop down the north ridge was steep, and my feet were punching the end of my boots and hurting my toes so it wasn't an enjoyable descent for me. However, I was happy to have made the whole round trip, instead of turning back down the valley as I had thought I might do.
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| Caudale Moor from Brothers Water |
* A traditional Japanese exclamation meaning 'ten thousand years'. In various East Asian languages, the phrase is used to wish long life, and is typically translated as 'live long' in English.
In some countries this phrase is mundanely used when expressing a feeling of triumph; 'hurrah' may be the adequate translation. (Yeah, right!)
