3 Crags and a Knott

Today's walk would take us back to Grasmere and the wonderful peaks that surround it.  Helm Crag (or the Lion and the Lamb) had been on my to-do list for a while so today it would be the last peak of the day after we'd tackled Tarn Crag, Calf Crag and Gibsons Knott ending up at the beautiful Helm Crag but not before a wander over to Easedale Tarn to take some pics. The intention had been to stop off at Rydel Water on the way through for more "mirror like" lake pictures but it was a bit choppy as we drove past so continued to head up to Grasmere.

Arriving early the morning sun was casting all the surrounding hills in a lovely orange glow.  Autumn is truely upon us and the trees are shedding their leaves and will soon be bare and icy as the cold winter winds arrive.  

On the route up to Easedale Tarn we visited Sour Milk Falls.  A series of tumbling water down the hillside was a very pretty sight indeed.  Veering from the path we followed the falls up the side taking every opportunity to capture the water cascading down at its very best.  It was a lovely climb up through the rocks staying very close to the water as it made its way down and a much more interesting route up instead of the designated path.  As the official photographer's  photographer it was an ideal opportunity to get a good shot :)

Easdale Tarn was next on our agenda as we made our way through bog and grassy areas.  It was a good job that there had been a hard frost the previous night or we'd have perhaps needed full waterproof gear as even with the frost some of the boggy areas were still a bit wet....oops!  On the way up to Easedale Tarn we were on the path then off the path, through bog and we must have crossed the river about 4 times picking our own individual route up the mountainside which was much more fun however that wouldnt be our only "off piste" moment of the day as we approached Easedale Tarn and saw the scrambly rock fissure scarring the side of Tarn Crag we never knew then that this would be our way up. 

The wind was getting up now and we'd been relatively sheltered on our walk up but were now exposed to icy blasts which meant hats and gloves back on and jackets zipped up.  Time for a drink and something to eat so we had a quick lunch stop 1 behind a big rock which seemed to be actually in the river.  The temperature and wind meant that you couldn't sit for long before the chill set in so after a bit of fruit a nibble on some nuts and a drink we were up and moving again to continue round the Tarn to the other side where we'd start the climb up to Tarn Crag. 

The sky was fantastic as clouds were moving in and out all the time, obscuring the blue and causing waves and ripples of white fluffy cloud.   The views of surrounding mountain ranges were coming into view and we could start to pick off areas we'd been previously and areas we'd still to target.  So many hills and so little time.  I could easily spend the rest of my days between here and Scotland......now where did I put that lottery ticket!

The climb up to Tarn Crag was steep, rocky, slippy and sapped every ounce of strength I had.  At the bottom, you look up and think.  This is going to be tough but I can do this.  One foot in front of the other and that's all it takes.  You know that from the bottom what you see isn't exactly what you're going to get.  It will be steeper, it will be harder and the top that you see isn't the real top, its hiding behind after more steep climbing but you do it, you take that first step up the seemingly impossible because you can and because the elated feeling once at the top is like no other feeling in the world.  The sense of accomplishment is indeed a good feeling.  So up we went.  Taking our time, zig zagging on the very steeps bits so not to loose our balance and sometimes using both hands and legs but we got to the top in one piece and with smiles still firmly affixed.  Leg muscles aching but recovering quickly it was an exhilerating part of the day. 

Up a the top of Tarn Crag it was now very windy.  The little pools of water near the summit were still iced over and the grassy areas were frosty.  The temperature must have been minus something and the air bit into our faces.  The summit touched we hunkered down in a sheltered area for a bit of refuelling.  I was glad I'd brought my thermos and enjoyed a quick drink of something warm and refreshing.  After our snack stop it was back on the path to follow the contour lines round the hill over the back to the route that would lead us to Calf Crag and the rest of the day's targets.

Oooh it was starting to get busier now, people piling onto the path from all directions.   All sorts of people young and old, some that said hello and some that just grunted and some that didn't acknowledge you at all which wasnt nice.....

Plenty of ups and downs on the way over to Calf Crag and then over to Gibson Knott but full of anticipation for what was to be a particularly exciting part of the day...Helm Crag with its lion and lamb rock formations as well as the infamous Howitzer (the true summit) which I am choosing to call the Wurlizer (no reason, it just works for me!).

The sky still filled with fascinating clouds framed the still magnificent views.   As we made our way round to Helm Crag suddenly the path appeared before us and you couldn't help but feel excited as you saw it snake its way up the hill.........on we go.

The Howitzer.  A lovely piece of rock, just waiting to be climbed so that I could say I'd bagged the true summit of Helm Crag but alas, today, it was not meant to be.  There seemed to be a few ways up through the rock and each of them, once attempted, brought me right back to the moment when I slipped off the bad step over at Crinkle Crags and my attempt was aborted.  I never realised until this moment how much that fall had affected me and its funny because the scar on my knee from that earlier fall had been itchy for the past few days.  Its as though it knew that I'd be faced with this dilemma today.  At the end of the day my legs are just too short for some of the climbs and I just can't seem to balance on small 1" wide bits of rock with the confidence I used to.  That bad step has a lot to answer for and goodness gracious me one day I'll tackle it and then be back to tackle the Wurlitzer.......I was angry and annoyed at myself at what seemed to be a simple 1, 2, 3 steps up through the rocks to the top but my mind just wouldn't let me.  I don't think I've ever been in a situation like that before and it took me a few mins to come to terms with the fact that I wasn't going to be doing that part of the climb today. 

So I settled for taking pictures of the still very stunning scenery around (no, I dont want to go up the lion lol!).  This walk today had been excellent.  The early enchantment of the waterfalls, the steep and rocky climb up the south face of Tarn Crag, the boggy bimble around to Calf Crag, the dodging of people and ups and downs over to Gibson Knott and then the drama at the Waltzers....Wurlitzer....Howitzer!

It was at this point the pub was mentioned and looking down to the road I could see it. The earlier disappointment was quickly forgotten and there was a sudden spring in our step.  The zig zag path down off Helm Crag had had some recent conservation work done but it was a good path and before long as we came down through the zig zags we were almost at level ground again.  Over to our right we could see the waterfalls of earlier in the day now cast in a different light and we easily found the road that would lead us back to the car.

Another day of sunshine and summits and memories created.  A day of ups and downs with some surprises and funny moments thrown in along the way.  I do so enjoy the Lakes and please whoever is in charge of the weather can they at least give us 1 dry weekend day throughout the winter for us to play with, thank you very much :-) xx