Sat 23 May 2015
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| Mickleden from Rossett Pass |
Last May I climbed Scafell Pike alone to prepare for the time when the conditions would be iseal for Andrew's ascent. A year and nine days later that time had arrived, and we set off along Mickleden under a bright sun with just enough breeze to keep us cool on the steep ascent up the stepped route to Rossett Pass. We stopped for a snack just above Angle Tarn. At the tarn outlet a kind walker was filling his water bottles and kindly serviced ours at the same time. Then we continued on the climb. The work being done last year by the path repairers appears to have halted just below the col leading to Esk Hause.
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| Andrew strides out on Ill Crag |
We
walked on, reaching Calf Cove where last year the cloud came
down and obscured the view. Today there was no problem and we could easily
see the summit of Scafell Pike with its dozens of visitors seeming about ten minutes away!
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| A clear view from Broad Crag |
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| Eskdale from Broad Crag col |
The scramble
up from Broad Crag col was easy compared to last time. and we were soon
at the platform along with all the others, including some noisy
Russians.
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| Banzai! Andrew attains the summit! |
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| Satisfaction! |
As
it was not new to me, I missed Andrew's emotional mood
at being on England's highest mountain at last. It would have been
better without the crowds. We ought to have had a walk around the top,
too, for the views. It all passed without much elation for me, but
obviously Andrew was feeling it and I was glad.
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| The summit plaque |
The summit plaque reads: In perpetual memory of the men of the Lake District who fell for God and King for freedom peace and right in the Great War 1914-1918. This summit of Scafell was given to the nation subject to any commoners rights & placed in custody of the National Trust by Charles Henry, Baron Leconfield 1919
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| Hello fans! |
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| Looking towards the south peak |
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| Looking west to Scafell above Mickledore |
On the way back Andrew went over Broad Crag, and also visited Ill Crag, and then we trekked to the top of Great End, so adding another summit to Andrew's collection.
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| Seathwaite Fell from Great End |
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| Great End's summit is a jumble of rocks |
We made an attempt to locate the top of Cust's Gulley, but it was already a quarter to five and we were still far above Esk Hause. We were therefore very late descending to Mickleden, and although the stepped path from Rossett Pass didn't appear as uncomfortable as last year, when we reached the valley I was almost exhausted. I felt really raw, and how I managed to cover the last section along the valley and the road to the car I don't really know. It was half past nine when we reached it, too late to stop at Stickle Barn for a meal: anyway I doubt if I could have eaten one. Instead we drove to Ambleside hoping for chips, but both shops were closed. (After all, this is Britain, catering little for tourists even on a Bank Holiday weekend!) There was a new Tesco shop in the main street and we both bought sandwiches, and I a bottle of milk - which proved to be just the right sort of drink to coax my stomach back to feeling normal.
A very long, tiring day; a good day, resulting in joy for Andrew, and the realisation of a body's endurance limits for me.
