Dressed knots and squeaky shoes !

Today brought us to Windgather Rocks for our first venture into outdoor rock climbing.  We've been members of the Manchester Climbing Club since the beginning of the year and finally we get to test what we've learned on real rock and what an experience that turned out to be.

2 instructors, 2 nice ladies and Chris and I met at the foot of the rocks and after a brief introduction whilst hoping the rain would stay off we popped our shoes and harnesses on and we were ready to go.

The first climb looked tricky as it had a chimney type element at the top of it but for me I couldn't even get onto the rock.  The first decent foothold seemed too high up and I was instantly thrown into a world where I'd have to trust 5mm width of rock and my lovely evolve shoes which would keep me pinned to the rock.  Hand holds were different and there were very few grips where you felt you had a good hold.  Infact we learned very quickly how to use the rock by twisting our hand in crevices to give us more support but it was tough.  Not having pre determined hand / foot holds was a new experience and just trusting your feet and equipment was taken to a different level.

I made it to the top of the first climb even though there were moments when I was convinced I couldnt go any further.  A little bit of coaching from one of the instructors and I found myself going higher and further up the rock much to my surprise as anyone else's.

The second climb seemed a tad easier, there wasn't the enclosure of the chimney structure that forced your body outwards but there still were some tricky bits to overcome and again with the help of the instructor I was thrilled when I touched the caribiner at the top.

A few more times up different routes and my hands were aching, shoulders aching but a nice level of self satisfaction at having acomplished something really cool (well in my book anyway)

The evening soon drew to a close as a cold wind started biting as the sun went down behind the clouds.  What it did give us was the most fabulous sunset and rays threw themselves over the rocks making them look like something out a hollywood western.

Great evening, great company, great instruction..............Lets do that again and Soon ! 

Lakes Day 3 - Forced Gowbarrow

*** No pictures in this blog entry as my camera was not playing ball ***

Our last day of Bank Holiday Camping in Glenridding and after packing up the tent we headed up Ullswater towards the National Trust Car Park for Aira Force. The plan was to have a wander up to the waterfall and then onwards and upwards to Gowbarrow Fell, another wainwright to tick off the list.

Car parked and boots on we ventured up through the beautiful forested area with all sorts of trees throwing light all about and giving the feel that you were in some magical mystical land.

Unfortunately I wasn't feeling very magical and mystical and had no energy whatsoever.  My legs felt like lead and I think the past few days were catching up with me.

The falls were beautiful and we didn't hang around as we had a wainwright to bag.  Following the map we made our way up and out of the waterfalls and wooded area onto the soft ground of the hill.  The main path was up the side of a wall but true to form we took the harder route and went straight up for a bit.  It wasn't that steep but it certainly made things interesting.  I think I saw a stoat!

Soon enough we met with the path by the wall and continued up that until we reached a newly laid path of rubble and rocks.  There seemed to be a lot of work going on with the paths as big bulk bags of rubbly stuff were dotted around and the good news was I'd found my legs and some extra energy from somewhere and started to enjoy this walk.

Up a little bit more and we saw the trig point which indicated the summit and what a lovely summit it was.  A nice trig and 360 views from Blencathra right round all the fells in the area.  Stunning!

Back down the path it wasn't long before we were back at the waterfalls and had time this time to stop and watch as the water cascaded down all the beautiful rocks.

The sun even decided to come out then and before long we were back at the car and heading for home.

9 wainwrights, 3 hewitts, 1 force and mouse and a wee stoat and it was a brilliant Bank Holiday Weekend.

Lakes Day 2 - Beautiful Beda

*** No pictures in this blog entry as camera kaputt! ***

Day 2 of our Bank Holiday Camp in Glenridding would take us up a previously missed hill - Beda and then over to Steel Knotts.  Again the weather was particularly kind to us and it didn't seem as cold as the previous morning.  To start our day we had a wonderful breakfast in the Glenridding Village Hall where there was a Sunday Big Breakfast to raise funds for the hall. It was like stepping back in time with village hall benches and chairs and cups and saucers but the breakfast was fantastic and the lady in charge was charismatic to say the least.

So after our feed we were off and about again from the campsite and up and over the pass between Plaice Fell and Angletarn Pike.  The path was fairly apparent and flanked the mountainside, raising gently from the valley below.

It wasn't long before we could see Beda Fell in the distance and the undulating ground that would get us there.   Beda itself was a lovely walk up and the views as with any high walk were wonderful.  The High Street Range to our right as was The Nab.  Plaice Fell to our left and Hallin Fell with its peculiar pillar top right in front.

Beda was lovely.  A nice top with a cairn to boot on another wee peak and a lovely path down into the valley before the gentle traverse round the flanks of Steel Knotts before turning back and following the path up to the summit. A lovely big piece of rock on the top which was a bit airy but fun to get on top of after a nice gentle wander over some flattish ground then a steep path right up to the top.

After being blown about by the wind a bit we ventured over and down the path that would lead us back to Howtown to catch the boat back to Glenridding but not before we'd stopped off for a wee drink in a local bar.

Day 2 was wonderful, the weather held for us and the walk was lovely.  We did, for most of the day have a good view of "The Nab" which we missed before and would return to do another day.

Lakes Day 1 - St Sunday's Crag Sorted !

Bank holiday weekend camping in Glenridding meant that we had 3 days to play with and the plan for day 1 was to take in the summit of St Sunday's Crag along with a few others of course.  Starting with Arniston Crag, Birks, St Sunday's crag, Fairfield then coming down via Hart Crag and Hartsop Above How.  A full day out indeed.

We walked from the campsite, which was nice, after a breakfast of porridge for me and beans and sausages for Chris.  Camping isn't camping unless there are beans and sausages involved.

We made our way up to the little craggy summit of Arniston Crag in good time and the weather was decent. Not sunny and a bit of a bite in the wind but not too bad all round.

The next stop was Birks and what a boring summit that was.  A steepish slog up the side of the mountain and a flattish grassy plateau like summit.  But it was a tick and a tick that got me closer to my 100th Wainwright.

St Sunday's Crag was a pleasure to walk.  A mixture of gravel path and craggy scrambly bits made the upward journey much more pleasant.  It was hard work and the biting cold wind, if it got you, tore right through you.  Good job we had layers as the previous nights camping had left me chilled so I was feeling it more than usual.

After a bit more effort we reached the summit and it was quite busy on that route today.  The views were as always spectacular and we could see clearly the remaining route of the day.

We didn't hang around long on the top but started on the downward path that would take us down and up the side of Fairfield.  A quick bite of lunch (meats and cheeses) and the discovery of some odd garments and we were on our way up the beautiful path that clambered through rocks and big steps up the side of the hill.

The top of Fairfield was confusing.  So many cairns at a similar altitude.  Which one was the top?  We touched every one just to be sure.

Across the summit of Fairfield we could see the other horseshoe leading down into Ambleside but we were taking a left turn before that over to Hart Crag and our route downwards.

Quite a nice path down, nothing too taxing.   A nice bit of scrambly bit and a decent path.  A perfect end to a perfect day and before long we were back at the road and pulling our tired legs along towards the pub.

Hurrah for the White Lion.  

Ben More (Isle of Mull) the long route with the tasty ridge !

It was billed as probably the most difficult walk I'd ever done and it didn't disappoint on that score.  Before we even got near the flanks of Ben More we'd done a days walk and been up and down 2 peaks but never the less it was a hill that tested and challenged as only those beautiful mountains can........

Up early we left Tobermory and headed down to Grulin where we'd start the walk up to Ben More.  We could see the summit, as we could for most of the day, but knew that we wouldn't be anywhere near its top until later in the afternoon.

 Car parked and bags packed we headed up the path from Dhisaig that would take in Ben More via A'Chioch and Beinn Fhada.

The first part of the walk took us through some boggy ground as we rose higher and higher up the side of the first peak (nothing tickable just a vehicle for getting you closer to the ridge of Ben More)

There were more false summits on this hill than I've ever known and it was a hard and steep slog up but the views made up for all that.  Clear blue skies, a bit of haze but full sun.  Perfect.

It was almost lunchtime when we reached what seemed to be the top so we stopped for a snack break.

The next section would take us up the Graham of Beinn Fhada before heading right towards the steep and rocky slope that we would have to get up and over before we even got to the tasty ridgy bit.  By this point I really didnt think I had the fitness in me to get up and over this beastie and it was messing with my head.  Of course I could do it, only the previous weekend I'd been up and over Tryfan and the Glyders in Wales and they were just as steep in parts.  I'll put it down to having an off day but kept putting one foot in front of the other and made steady progress.

We did infact make quite good progress.  There was a fear that this long walk would take longer and we'd be out as the sun went down but we were motoring on and up and over the last peak before Ben More we were presented with a glorious sight.  A rocky precipitous ridge that looked brilliant.  Scrambly bits and ledgy bits and it all seemed incredibly tempting.  There were several bypass routes below the top ridge and we opted for one of those as after feeling a bit dizzy earlier (probably from the sun) I didnt want to risk it.  I'll be back though.

Like all good ridges it was over all too quick and the final "very" steep bit was the last bit of ascent for the day.  This was airy, rocky and very exposed and a delight to climb through.

This route took us right to the summit and some suprised faces from people (with handbags !!!) who'd come up the "tourist" route and wondered where on earth we'd appeared from.

The summit was flat and rocky and we enjoyed a cadbury's cream egg at the top as it was Easter Sunday. A nice man from Staffordshire took our picture and we made our way over the plateau to the route down.

 After an hour or so of boring shale zig zags we followed a stream as it flowed down the side of the hill remarking at its little pretty waterfalls and having a bit of a splash in the water as the afternoon sun bore down.

It was a right turn then, off the path to take us round the base of the mountain taking us back closer to where the car was parked.  It was a slow and laborious tramp through bog and grass but before long we'd reached the road and was on the final march back to the car.

Faces sunburned and extra water taken on board we had had a great day.  As usual it was full of challenges, scardy bits, funny bits, good bits, bad bits but most of all another munro was conquered!