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Sharp Edge

PostPosted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 12:46 pm
by pamfox
Day Two - Souther Fell to Bowscale Fell, with a Sharp Edge in the middle!

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Surprisingly, I didn't feel bad at all from the day before. My feet had took a bit of a pounding because they get really hot. I definitely need some cooler boots for the summer. Today was going to be hotter so sorry feet.
We managed to get one of the last two parking places and set off up Souther Fell. It wasn't as steep and gruelling as yesterday which I was grateful for. It was quiet setting off from here.
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Great Mell Fell and Little Mell Fell

The walk up to Scales Tarn and Sharp Edge was long from here and seemed to go on forever. I couldn't wait to start on the ridge but I won't deny that I was a little bit apprehensive. I'd been wanting to do Sharp Edge for ages and today was the day. Yikes.
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There it is

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We were starting to see a lot more people as we got nearer to Scales Tarn. A lot of them went straight down to the tarn for a rest and some grub.
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Scales Tarn, a beautiful spot for a rest

It had been a long walk up and I was well ready for a rest at this point, but really looking forward to going on Sharp Edge as we got nearer.
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Simon and Emily on their way

Further up this path someone had written "It's scary" on a flat rock. Ha ha quite funny. It didn't put me off though.
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Well it is definitely sharper than Striding Edge but not as bad as I thought.
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I tried to take photos that showed how steep it was but they were rubbish.
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There were a few awkward bits that would be dodgy on a wet, slippery day but i was really enjoying being there. Even the scramble onto Blencathra wasn't that bad. It was good fun in fact. It was a great feeling getting onto Blencathra and we had a bit of a rest. We could see good old Skiddaw. It looked completely different from here, not the pointy mountain I always think of it as being.
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Sharp Edge doesn't look too bad from this side

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It looks worse from this side

Our next stop was Atkinson Pike. From here we could see Hallsfell Ridge which looks a great way onto Blencathra.
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Hallsfell Ridge

Three more Wainwrights to go. The two days walking had caught up on me and my feet were sore with a couple of blisters, despite slapping the blister plasters on. I've walked miles in my boots with no trouble, so I was surprised that they had suddenly started to cause problems. It was a long trudge to the summit of Mungrisedale Common, where I tried to cool my feet down. Don't think it helped much :( From there we made our way to Bannerdale Crags and then Bowscale Fell.
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Bowscale Fell?

There was still a lot more of Mungrisedale Common to trudge over before a steep, dodgy descent, scattered with scree. I managed to land on my backside, just the once, sticking my hand in some gorse at the same time.

Thanks for planning the walks Simon and kicking my backside. I do need the training, and the weekend was exactly that.
Thanks for doing the driving Emily. It was a busy drive back after two days walking, so much appreciated.

Would I do Sharp Edge again? Definitely yes, just not in wind, rain, snow or wellies.

Re: Sharp Edge

PostPosted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 2:16 pm
by simon-b
What a day that was Pam. Thanks to you and Emily for the company, and well done to you both for conquering Sharp Edge. Nice to see you both taking on the crest of the ridge. Now let's have some pics where the star of the show wasn't behind the camera...

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It was a successful weekend and we all achieved our targets: you bagged 11 new Wainwrights, I got my direct ascent of The Nab, and Emily topped up her suntan.

Re: Sharp Edge

PostPosted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 5:56 am
by ChrisW
Another cracking day Pam (blisters aside) great photos too, congrats on conquering Sharp Edge :clap: :clap:

Re: Sharp Edge

PostPosted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 10:37 am
by pamfox
ChrisW wrote:Another cracking day Pam (blisters aside) great photos too, congrats on conquering Sharp Edge :clap: :clap:



Thank you Chris. I'd been a bit nervous about it but it was so much easier than I thought. Simon picked a great day to do it because the weather was perfect and the rocks were bone dry.

When I look at some of the reports from Scotland they make me wonder why I ever worried about Sharp Edge! :crazy:
People have done some amazing walks and it's great to read about them on here :)

Re: Sharp Edge

PostPosted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 12:22 pm
by simon-b
pamfox wrote:When I look at some of the reports from Scotland they make me wonder why I ever worried about Sharp Edge! :crazy:
People have done some amazing walks and it's great to read about them on here :)


You've nothing to worry about when it comes to Scotland either, Pam. Those distances, ascents and times we all managed over the weekend show we are definitely fit enough for our Skye plans.

Re: Sharp Edge

PostPosted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 7:49 pm
by HalfManHalfTitanium
A wonderful report of a great route over a great mountain and some very likeable lower hills too.

Reminded me of the day long ago when I set off from Mungrisedale intending to go only to Bannerdale Crags, but the weather turned out so nice and everywhere was looking so gorgeous that I couldn't resist, ended up doing Sharp Edge and Blencathra and then Bowscale Fell as well...

I think your photos definitely do the place justice!

Tim

Re: Sharp Edge

PostPosted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 9:35 am
by johnkaysleftleg
Well done Pam :clap: I may one day have a wander along Sharp Edge.

Re: Sharp Edge

PostPosted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 9:21 pm
by pamfox
HalfManHalfTitanium wrote:A wonderful report of a great route over a great mountain and some very likeable lower hills too.

Reminded me of the day long ago when I set off from Mungrisedale intending to go only to Bannerdale Crags, but the weather turned out so nice and everywhere was looking so gorgeous that I couldn't resist, ended up doing Sharp Edge and Blencathra and then Bowscale Fell as well...

I think your photos definitely do the place justice!

Tim



Thank you. The fact that you just nipped onto Blencathra via Sharp Edge and then Bowscale Fell just cos it was nice weather makes me ashamed of all the times I said I was knackered.

Re: Sharp Edge

PostPosted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 9:27 pm
by pamfox
johnkaysleftleg wrote:Well done Pam :clap: I may one day have a wander along Sharp Edge.



Thanks Anthony. I'd love to go back on it one day. It was my favourite part of the two days walking and was over so quickly. So much fun :)

Re: Sharp Edge

PostPosted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 11:03 pm
by Alteknacker
Great report! I had no idea about this area, and if your pics are anything to go by, it's really good! And much closer to me than the Highlands.

Now transferred to that "to do" list!!