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Following a good few months without a visit to any real hills I decided to bite the bullet and aim high. The North West fells have always been among my favourites so I decided to knock off those remaining on round two. Due to the rocks and scree that are present for a good chunk of the climb up Grasmoor I decided to let Hughie sit this one out. he's never liked them much and has become more and more intolerant of scree as he's gotten older. It's odd walking without him but time moves on sadly.
The forecast was a good one and it didn't disappoint, a truly glorious early spring morning greated me as I arrived on the shore of Crummock Water nice and early. The initial climb was always going to be a slog as occasional wanders in the North Yorks Moors don't really cut it in terms of fitness. Still I find being mentally prepared for something to be difficult often helps and I steadily made my way to the top of Lad Hows, taking in the reflections on Crummock Water, before consuming breakfast with a wonderful vista to enjoy.
Lakeside Road at Cinderdale
Whiteless Pike
Nice reflections in Crummock Water
A greeting by a local
Cinderdale Beck
Simply glorious views already, click for bigger version
Mellbreak
Back down the path
Hazy towards Gable
Rannerdale Knotts backed by the High Stile ridge
Crummock and Loweswater from Lad Hows
Sublime light over RannerdaleBreakfast over I set off on what would be todays most challenging section up the stones and scree to the summit of Grassmoor. It was, I'll freely admit, slow progress and I was unsurprisingly caught by a woman who was far younger fitter than me. We chatted briefly and I couldn't help but notice a sense of concern for the clearly unfit daft old sod trying to clamber up this mountain she no doubt felt but didn't vocalise, presumably out of politeness. Feeling far older than my 50 years I continued my plod inexorably upward before thankfully the gradient lessened and I could enjoy a gentle wander to the summit shelter. My previous visit had been clag bound so it was most welcome to get such a splendid unencumbered panorama to enjoy.
I retreated to a small shelter overlooking Rannerdale to have a break but soon found my peace disturbed by a couple with a family of four kids and a dog who seemed to think yelling, shouting running about and screaming was the thing to do in the hills. Perhaps I should have tried to point to the parents out that making this amount of noise could well end up with somebody who really needed help being ignored or drowned out but decided the inevitable mouthful of abuse wasn't worth it. It's great so many have found a love for the great outdoors since lockdown, It would be nice if the could behave responsibly however.
Next up
On the long and steady trudge
Getting there
Looking over Whiteless Pike to England's highest ground
Looking East
Snow patches on the flanks of Grassmoor
Grassmoor summit
Snack spot over looking Crummock WaterAll the noise saw me leave my vantage point over Rannerdale and move off towards the next target of Wandope. Again this was a clag bound fell on round one so the view was most welcome, as was the nice and easy walk to it following the effort required to get up the Lad Hows ridge.
Grisedale Pike with Skiddaw behind
Some decent patches of snow up here
Cairn on the way to Wandope
Whiteless Pike
Fellsides
Wandope summit
Looking down Sail BeckI didn't linger and made my way to the awkwardly named Birkett of Thirdgill Head Man. Once again, not a top to spend too much time on especially with the wonderfully inviting ridge to the fine summit of Whitless Pike to encourage you onward. It was an excellent traverse, capped by lounging in the sunshine, enjoying lunch and sensational views on the summit. I felt like I could have spent hours sitting up here but unfortunately life doesn't work like that.
Thirdgill Head man
Whiteless Pike and Rannerdale Knotts
On the ridge to Whitless Pike
Crummock and Loweswater from the ridge
Looking back at Thirdgill Head Man
Ridges of Lakeland
Confluence
A Glimpse of Buttermere
Whiteless pike summit view
Back across the ridge from the summit
Buttermere Fells
Looking back at my ascent routeIt’s a fairly steep descent from Whitless Pike down to the col with Rannerdale Knotts and also a busy one with a steady stream making there way upward, looking as red faced as I felt on my way up Grassmoor. At the col things were busier still but fortunately it tailed off as I made my way along the easy ridge to the fine rocky summit perched precariously above Crummock Water. I found a little spot amongst the rocks away from the top and had a final rest for the day reflecting upon what a fantastic walk it had been and how the real world with it's wars, price rises and morally corrupt politicians can be forgotten so successfully for a few hours.
Sadly the world had to be returned to so I set off down the simple but steep walk down to the road and my waiting car.
The Derwent Fells from Whiteless Pike
Rannerdale Knotts from the Descent
Across the ridges to Helvellyn
Buttermere catching the light
Looking back at where I've been
Along the ridge of Rannerdale Knotts
Buttermere Again
Rannerdale Knotts Summit
Crummock Water from Rannerdale Knotts
Looking down on the Lakeside Road
On the way down
A last look at Whiteless PikeSo an outing to remember to start off Lakeland explorations for 2022. Unfortunately not the first of many but only a few so far.
