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Great Borne

PostPosted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 11:04 pm
by richardkchapman

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The plan for today was to stick with the 'keep below the snow line' strategy and do two or three more western fells - start with Great Borne, then on to Starling Dodd, and possibly then on to Red Pike. We even talked about maybe (if things were going well) continuing further along the ridge, even though it would be a long walk back.

Unfortunately, things did not go quite to plan.

Started off well enough, if a little late. It's a deceptively long drive from Eskdale round to Ennerdale, and we were fairly slow getting ready, so by the time we parked up at the Bowness Knott car park near the head of Ennerdale Water it was around noon.

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Bowness Knott

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The route we had chosen looked like the easier way up - around the west of the fell and then up the ridge. The path set off diagonally up the fellside, at a fairly stepp but manageable gradient.

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Looking back Bowness Knott looked less formidable from this angle.

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Ahead of us the snow on the corner we were supposed to be climbing was a little concerning.

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We reached the first corner cheerfully enough.

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Gem was enjoying sliding down patches of snow.

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Setting off up the side of Herdus, the snow made the going harder, and we decided to try to go diagonally up beside the snowy patch to avoid it.

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Unfortunately, we ended up having to head straight up the side, at an uncomfortably steep angle. I don't know whether the original path - covered in snow - would have been much less steep, but I suspect it would at least have had more footholds.

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The ascent to Herdus left us all rather exhausted and a little demoralized, and also left Lorraine's knee in bad shape. The original plan of 3 mountains was abandoned, and we decided that Great Borne and Starling Dodd was the most we could hope for (and even those were not 100% certain)

The top of Great Borne was reached without any further drama,

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Views of Pillar from the top were pretty good.

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We set off following the fence down towards the col between Great Borne and Starling Dodd

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Looking back at Great Borne

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Starling Dodd was tantalizingly close from here, but Lorraine's knee was not up to it, so this was as close as we got.

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There was no obvious path from here down to Ennerdale, but we found one in a gully, and followed a stream most of the way down.

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Nice views up Ennerdale towards Pillar as we descended.

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We reached the forest at a gate, and followed a path through the woods back towards the car park.

Some interesting ruins in the forest - not sure what they were,

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Eventually after a mile or two in the forest we emerged on the lake shore

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And so back to the car.

Not the best of days - a bit disappointing to have missed out on the extra summits we had planned, and Great Borne is not a particularly interesting fell, nor was the climb pleasant. But there were some good views, and Ennerdale is very pretty (and not often seen).

Re: Great Borne

PostPosted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 11:59 pm
by ChrisW
Considering the wonderful views throughout that hike I wouldn't have it down as 'not the best of days' :shock: Great weather, fantastic scenery and a little excitement in the snow....this would have to go down a pretty damn fine I reckon :lol: :clap:

Re: Great Borne

PostPosted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 3:05 pm
by yellowbelly
Well done on an improvised route. The path on the ascent ridge covered by snow is much easier but still steep. I too have tried the slope you did and was also exhausted and demoralised :(
You did well to find the path down Clews Gill - it is described in Mark Richards Fellranger book.
An alternative interesting way up is via Rake Beck.
The ruins you passed in the forest are Viking farmstead foundations.

Re: Great Borne

PostPosted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 8:21 pm
by SusieThePensioner
Look on the positive side......weather looked good.......you got out and did a walk........had some great views :D
richardkchapman wrote:but Lorraine's knee was not up to it

How's the knee?