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I worked this route out using Wainwiright's descriptions and thought it would be a relatively easy day out. Oops!
The initial ascent to Stickle Tarn reminded me of the tourist path to Scafell Pike. Unrelenting. By the time I reached the tarn I was in thick fog and headed east towards Blea Rigg. Visibility was about 20m so it was a complete PITA trying to find the summit amongst all those pikes. I eventually reached what felt like high ground and found a family with a Wainwright book arguing about whether or not they were on the summit. The clagg lifted for a few seconds and there, just 100 yards away, was another summit cairn that looked higher so we all headed for that. I'm counting it as bagged.
I took a good look at the map and compass and headed through the peat hags towards Sergeant Man. I reached the summit, still in thick fog and headed north across the wet stuff towards High Raise. Peering through the mist I spotted the summit cairn and took a slight deviation right. As I approached the cairn it lifted its head and looked at me. It was a sheep. Hey, ho. I looked at the map and decided to turn west in an attempt to meet the path, which I did. High Raise summit, a flask of tea and a chicken and cheese roll were conquered within a few minutes.
On leaving High Raise I looked at the map (the most distant thing I could see) and set off back along the path that I had ascended by. 20 minutes later I was back at Sergeant Man
- 180 degree turn and back to High raise - I then found the path to Thunacar Knott and set off into the mist. Just as I reached the depression between High Raise and Thunacar Knott there was a huge waft of wind and all of a sudden there was no fog. High Raise, Sergeant Man and Thunacar Knott were all visible. I fumbled around in the bag for the camera, turned it on, pointed it and - woosh - fog. Bugger. Trudge, trudge, trudge through the wet stuff and in no time I was at the summit of Thunacar Knott. Then - woosh! all the fog was gone. The Langdale Pikes were dead ahead and looked quite scary but I marched on hoping to get to Harrison Stickle before the fog returned. I did, and bagged the three Pikes plus Pavey Ark in the sunshine.
Pike o Stikle reminded me of An Stuc. A great little scramble up and down at significant altitude. PoS is probably more exposed on 3 sides than AS but the scramble on the accessible side is quite similar.
When I reached my final summit, Pavey Ark, the fog suddenly reappeared. I set off to the north west looking for the path but didn't find it so I headed down into Bright Beck. Just what you need after 6 hours of walking in fog, crags and bogs - a descent from 650m with no path and zero visibility
An hour later I reached Stickle Tarn and re-joined the path. 350m down the stone steps wasn't the best part of the day but it had to be done.
This was a hard walk. The fog didn't help but I can't help thinking it would be a challenging round even in clear weather.
So that's another 8 bagged, and I've got 3 days to go
