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Eleven Sweet Years

Eleven Sweet Years


Postby johnkaysleftleg » Tue Jun 13, 2023 7:50 pm

Wainwrights included on this walk: Harrison Stickle, Loft Crag, Pavey Ark, Pike o'Stickle, Thunacar Knott

Hewitts included on this walk: Harrison Stickle, Pike o' Stickle

Date walked: 29/09/2022

Time taken: 5

Distance: 8.9 km

Ascent: 845m

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A final catch up report from 2022 of a fantastic autumnal wander around the Langdale Pikes. I hadn't actually walked the Pikes in over 11 years which seems mad but It's probably my propensity for avoiding honey pots that led to this exile. A glorious late September day saw a reasonable amount of people in this most magnetic of Lakeland locations but certainly nowhere near the numbers who can simply overwhelm and ruin these places during the summer.

I decided to head for Thorn Crag first off in near perfect conditions with my fairly early start ensuring the path wasn't so busy. The views were fantastic with just enough cloud and whisps of clag to give some great photogenic conditions.

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National Trust car park at New Dungeon Ghyll

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Out onto the fell

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Towards Blea Rigg

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Towards Mickleden

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Wiggly wall and Pike O'Blisco

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Across to Side Pike

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Looking back along Langdale

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Light and shade in Langdale

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Cairn around Mark Gate

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Cloud on the Crinkles

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Harrison Stickle

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A very moody Bow Fell across Mickleden

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The Band

I arrived on Thorn Crag and had breakfast untroubled by other walkers who were ignoring this particular pike for some reason. Fed, watered and rested I made my way along to Pike O'Stickle via Loft Crag accompanied by some atmospheric conditions which just kept on getting better. It was quite cold at this height and the simple scramble up the back required a bit of care due to some ice on the rocks. Conversely the grassy platform on the other side of the summit was sheltered and felt blissfully warm in the sunshine as I watched the clouds shape the landscape of one of Lakelands finest views.

If I'm honest I could have stayed for hours and happily had a nap in the sun but the delights of Thunacar Knott :lol: were calling so off I went.

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Harrison Stickle from Thorn Crag

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Pike O'Stickle and a shy Bow Fell

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Pike O'Stickle again

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...and a close up

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Loft Pike and Gimmer Crag from Pike O'Stickle

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More drama

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A distant view of the Skiddaw Massif

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Bow Fell now clear of cloud

Thunacar Knott is a bit of none event but It has some nice views on the journey to it and some attractive rocks on the summit, not a place to linger however so off I trotted in the general direction of Pavey Arc. Once I had reached the summit I moved a little closer to the edge and had lunch with a view of Stickle Tarn. A truly marvellous spot. I decided during lunch to head down the route above Dungeon Ghyll as I hadn't been that way previously, First I had to traverse the fairly rough path to Harrison Stickle for my final summit.

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Thunacar Knott

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Stickle Tarn from Pavey Arc (phone pic)

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Harrison Stickle

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Pavey Arc and Stickle Tarn

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Bowfell with Pike O'Stickle

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Langdale from Harrison Stickle

I scrambled my way off the summit and made my way down the dramatic path above Dungeon Ghyll. Sights down the ghyll are excellent and this airy traverse makes for a fine way of the fells. Only issue I had was an ignorant moron who seemed to think everyone wanted to hear rave music while walking in the fells via a speaker hanging off his pack. I bit my tongue and waited for him and his mate, who were both old enough to know better, passed and moved out of earshot. Sounds of nature soon returned and it was a leisurely stroll back to the car park to finish a wonderful walk that was over far too quickly.

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Over Blea Tarn towards the Coniston Fells

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Top of Dungeon Ghyll

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Upper Dungeon Gyhll

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Path above Dungeon Ghyll

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White Crag

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Langdales Pano - Click for big version

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Almost down

Well that was 2022 in the fells, a few highlights but far too few outings. I’m currently attempting to make 2023 a little more active.


Wednesday Morning Walk Hike.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

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johnkaysleftleg
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Posts: 3344
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Joined: Jan 28, 2009
Location: County Durham

Re: Eleven Sweet Years

Postby Pointless Parasite » Mon Jun 19, 2023 8:44 pm

Great report as always JKLL :clap: . Some incredible photos, especially the one captioned 'Light and shade in Langdale' which looks like a miniature model of the landscape.
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Pointless Parasite
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Posts: 537
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Location: Lyon

Re: Eleven Sweet Years

Postby johnkaysleftleg » Thu Jun 22, 2023 12:47 pm

Pointless Parasite wrote:Great report as always JKLL :clap: . Some incredible photos, especially the one captioned 'Light and shade in Langdale' which looks like a miniature model of the landscape.


Many thanks PP, I am prone to take close up photos of sunlit valleys :D
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johnkaysleftleg
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 3344
Munros:25   Corbetts:11
Fionas:11   Donalds:3
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:172
Wainwrights:214   Islands:8
Joined: Jan 28, 2009
Location: County Durham

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