Sun 12 Nov 2017
(For a full index of the walks, please click here)
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Wild Boar Fell
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The initial forecast
for the area east of the Howgills had been for sun all day with a cold north
wind. We decided to have a go at Wild Boar Fell before the days got too short
for such a long, high walk, but typically the forecast changed on the evening
before to 'perhaps some sunny intervals in an otherwise grey sky'. Well, we'd
had several such forecasts and they'd been totally wrong, so we wanted to 'give
it a go'.
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The first of the Angerholme Pots
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Arriving near
Aisgill we found the sky was blue and the sun was shining - except for hill fog
right over the top of Wild Boar Fell! With some doubt in our minds we put on our
boots and set off at around ten for the track under the railway arches by
Aisgill Farm. We began to follow the intake wall
northwards, keeping a wary eye on the cloud above the crags. Gradually the fog
dissipated, and in contrast yet again to the grey skies forecast, we had lovely
sunshine for about 95% of the day - and a very strong cold wind!
We stuck by the wall until we spied to our left above us the first of the fences encircling
the deep holes known as Angerholme Pots.
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The fencing is certainly necessary
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I wonder how many sheep have been lost here
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We persevered in spite of the face-chilling wind and soon came to the rising shelf which led
to the wall on the north ridge. It's surprising how quickly a rest and a bite to eat out of the
cold wind can revive one. I felt up to continuing, as from here the wind would
be a help rather than a hindrance, and we continued up to The Nab.
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A good view from our snack stop
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The nab viewed against the sun
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What views! particularly along the cliff and down to the
valley and over to Mallerstang Edge. We took photos and then continued on over
the cliffs to the shelter and the standards where the strong wind made it
difficult to stand while taking more photos.
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Was it cold?
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Silly question!
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Looking south along the edge from The Nab
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The tall cairns half way along the fell
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The Mallerstang Valley
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We then turned our attention to visiting the summit
shelter, way over to the west. The top of the fell is nearly a perfect plateau,
almost as wide as it is long. The path to the OS column appeared surprisingly little
trod. The stone-built column there is beginning to crumble.
There was a clear path going south, so we took it, but
after a few minutes Andrew mentioned that AW's route was supposed to be guided
by a series of cairns and we had seen none. The apparently flat surface of the plateau
lowers further west, and after a few more yards past some old workings we saw
the end of the line of cairns just to our right. We then came to the south end of the fell top, and saw
Swarth Fell below.
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Swarth Fell - looking easy to negotiate...
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The descent, now we were in the lee of Wild Boar Fell, was
relatively easy and we continued past
the tarn and began the pull up to the new summit. We were assisted at our backs by the wind
but it was bitterly cold, so after the obligatory Banzai moment we rested in the shelter of some
rocks and had a short snack.
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On towards Swarth Fell Pike. Pike??
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Carrying on then, in the same strong wind which seemed even
colder, along the flat link to Swarth Fell Pike we were aware that time was
slipping away. The summit cairn was on the west side of a fence so we crossed
the stile to record our visit. It was at this moment that my camera battery
failed. Changing to a new one was difficult as my hands were almost senseless
in the freezing wind. Somehow I managed it, nearly losing the spent battery in
the grass.
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Swarth Fell Pike summit
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Both of us had had enough hanging around in the cold so we
re-crossed the fence and in our hurry to get out of the direct blast immediately
started along a clear path due east. This descended very abruptly to the valley
- we ought to have followed AW's map south and then curved gradually round
which would have been more comfortable.
The pathless descent we chose was not AW's and was steep, very
wet, and slippery. By now my feet, hitherto warm and dry, had become rather wet
but there was no way of avoiding the soggy ground. A recently erected fence
appeared to be an obstacle, but Andrew suggested using a gate just beyond a deep
groove, which later proved to be excellent navigating as we had gained the north side of Far Cote Gill. We managed to pick up a faint path heading straight down on easier
ground through an area of new tree planting.
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Wild Boar Fell from Far Cote Gill
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We made it to the quarry opposite which we had parked that
morning and as we were picking our way gingerly down the rocky slope above it I
noticed a small bedraggled flower in the wet grass - a primrose! We crossed the road to the car just turned
four o'clock, six hours and seven and a quarter miles after starting the walk.
We were only just in time before dusk threatened to make navigation on a
pathless fell side very unpleasant.
I had wanted us to visit Sand Tarn, down below the western
side of the fell, which I had enjoyed doing in June 2000, but conditions and lack of
time precluded it. It will still be there for a pleasant summer walk - maybe
from the western side.
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An early primrose
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