Fantastic day out on a classic Lakeland route. Unfortunately couldn't manage the scramble up Yewbarrow at the end of the walk ran out of time but it looks a fantastic route next time perhaps.
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Mosdale Horseshoe Via the High Traverse
Mosdale Horseshoe Via the High Traverse
by ChrisG » Sun Aug 11, 2013 6:15 pm
Wainwrights included on this walk: Kirk Fell, Pillar, Red Pike (Wasdale), Scoat Fell, Steeple
Hewitts included on this walk: Kirk Fell, Pillar, Pillar - Black Crag, Red Pike (Wasdale), Scoat Fell
Date walked: 10/08/2013
Time taken: 12
Distance: 17 km
Ascent: 1753m
3 people think this report is great. Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).Last edited by ChrisG on Tue Aug 13, 2013 5:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Mosdale Horseshoe Via the High Traverse
by ChrisW » Sun Aug 11, 2013 11:55 pm
Thats a damn good round Chris, I wouldn't have had the energy for any more never mind the time
Lovely atmospheric shots as always 


Re: Mosdale Horseshoe Via the High Traverse
by AJNicholls » Mon Aug 12, 2013 12:21 am
Hi Chris, did the same walk on the same day as you. (Plus Kirk Fell East Top, which Ibex and me missed by accident back in May.)
Good day out, shame about the occasional shower. The clag dropped down quite thick when I was descending Red Pike, otherwise I'd have been tempted by Yewbarrow also. Will save that for another day.
Good day out, shame about the occasional shower. The clag dropped down quite thick when I was descending Red Pike, otherwise I'd have been tempted by Yewbarrow also. Will save that for another day.
Re: Mosdale Horseshoe Via the High Traverse
by ChrisG » Tue Aug 13, 2013 5:25 am
AJNicholls wrote:Hi Chris, did the same walk on the same day as you. (Plus Kirk Fell East Top, which Ibex and me missed by accident back in May.)
Good day out, shame about the occasional shower. The clag dropped down quite thick when I was descending Red Pike, otherwise I'd have been tempted by Yewbarrow also. Will save that for another day.
We missed the east top this time didn't know there was an east top till i got home and ticked them off. We must of come off at the same time as we came down Red Pike in thick clag also.
Re: Mosdale Horseshoe Via the High Traverse
by AJNicholls » Tue Aug 13, 2013 11:33 pm
ChrisG wrote:AJNicholls wrote:Hi Chris, did the same walk on the same day as you. (Plus Kirk Fell East Top, which Ibex and me missed by accident back in May.)
Good day out, shame about the occasional shower. The clag dropped down quite thick when I was descending Red Pike, otherwise I'd have been tempted by Yewbarrow also. Will save that for another day.
We missed the east top this time didn't know there was an east top till i got home and ticked them off. We must of come off at the same time as we came down Red Pike in thick clag also.
Yep, Ibex and me didn't spot the extra top on Kirk Fell until too late either. Note there's one on Yewbarrow too when you go back.

Re: Mosdale Horseshoe Via the High Traverse
by simon-b » Tue Aug 13, 2013 11:48 pm
A good route, Chris. It seems there were a few of us on Red Pike that day! Some people rate Yewbarrow as the most difficult of the Wainwrights, so it's worth saving for good weather. I was lucky on Saturday, having made an early start, so I reached Yewbarrow in clear conditions. A tough little hill, but exhilarating. Something for you to look forward to!
Re: Mosdale Horseshoe Via the High Traverse
by ChrisG » Thu Aug 15, 2013 7:14 pm
I'm really looking forward to the challenge of Yewbarrow, I'm ok at ups but not as good on the downs. So which way should I do it?
Re: Mosdale Horseshoe Via the High Traverse
by simon-b » Thu Aug 15, 2013 8:22 pm
ChrisG wrote:I'm really looking forward to the challenge of Yewbarrow, I'm ok at ups but not as good on the downs. So which way should I do it?
If you're going to take on Stirrup Crag, then it sounds like you'd be more comfortable climbing it than coming down, Chris.
Now you've done Red Pike, you could, of course, do Yewbarrow on its own, missing Stirrup Crag altogether. There's a new path from Wasdale Head to the summit ridge on the Bell Rib (south) side of Yewbarrow's top, which bypasses Great Door - this should also make descent by that route more easy (on Saturday I came down by Wainwright's classic route visiting Great Door, but that involves quite a rough descent).
I noticed that work is being done on the new route I mentioned to improve that path. That gives me mixed feelings - Yewbarrow is supposed to be hard; one of the things that makes the 214 a challenge!
Re: Mosdale Horseshoe Via the High Traverse
by ChrisG » Thu Aug 15, 2013 8:43 pm
I think when I do it I'll do the classic route up and down. But it's nice to know theres a bit of a chicken run if the downward scramble proves to much. Although I have to say I've managed what Ive set out to do so far. I like to scramble But i'm not the best with open exposure.
Re: Mosdale Horseshoe Via the High Traverse
by AJNicholls » Sat Aug 17, 2013 9:19 am
I did Yewbarrow yesterday, up the South side then down the North side followed by a long scree descent towards my spiritual homeland of the pub at Wasdale Head. Really quite enjoyed it. It feels a bit exposed in places, but what's more of an issue is that some of the scrambly bits are relentlessly steep and awkward to get a foothold on. I was glad I was just aiming to bag this and nothing else yesterday as it gave me time to make a steady ascent and descent.
The South side has a lot more loose rocks than the North side by the way.
All told, this has to be one of my favourite fells. I'd have been tempted to do a Trip Report, but my preferred report title of "Dr. Yewbarrow or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Scramble" was apparently too long.
The South side has a lot more loose rocks than the North side by the way.
All told, this has to be one of my favourite fells. I'd have been tempted to do a Trip Report, but my preferred report title of "Dr. Yewbarrow or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Scramble" was apparently too long.

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