Return to Rosthwaite (successfully)

[The English Alpinist]

No argument this time. The Tarn at Leaves down there.

On this, my second to last walk of my campaign to walk all the Wainwrights in one winter, I was having a second attempt at Rosthwaite Fell. I went over it (or thought I did) on March 5th in a whiteout en route to Glaramara. The latter definitely was summitted succesfully, but as for Rosthwaite, I just couldn't be sure. I passed a cairn that day which I thought might be it (either Bessyboot or the Cam, the 2 recognized summits), but the Tarn at Leaves which I was expecting to prove my position never materialised. Mystery - until today! It turns out that this one had been a far bigger miss than the other two I went back to do on Saturday (Dollywaggon and Angletarn Pike north). Yet Rosthwaite was the one I most thought I might have hit correctly.

Here I went again. Approach from Seatoller.

Up alongside Dry Gill - the correct side of it this time!

Higher up Dry Gill.

My ascent last time (March 5th). Wrong!

Early on the way up today, I soon began to suspect my mistake of last time. I had crossed over Dry Gill and started following the more obvious-looking path on the other side. This was coupled with a basic compass error of reading SW instead of SE. Travelling on an 'upside down' map this is so easily done (well, I think it is). Both routes lead on to Glaramara, but the one I took last time totally bypassed Rosthwaite Fell proper, going over a subsidiary ridge, Thorneythwaite Fell to be exact. This and the fact the terrain up there is a confusing array or rocky hillocks everywhere, and that last time it was in snow and mist too, gives me all the excuse I need for that massive miss! Today's first sighting of the Tarn at Leaves was satisfying indeed. The positions of the two featured summits in Wainwright - Bessyboot and Rosthwaite Cam - were obvious at sight by then.

Eureka. The Tarn at Leaves, this time found.

Not Rosthwaite - Thorneythwaite!

The cairn was Thorneythwaite Fell!!

The view north from Bessyboot.

On Bessyboot, looking south at The Tarn at Leaves and Rosthwaite Cam and Glaramara.

Just to prove I was there!

That's what I wanted.

Went over both to be sure. Rosthwaite Cam - the one on the right I reckon.

Rosthwaite Cam (90% sure).

Looking north from The Cam.

Descent .

Back down to Borrowdale.

Back at Seatoller.

All that remains to be done!! :-D :-)

A job well done today, a mere 2 and half hour walk. Despite a rail and two bus journeys to get there, I was on the return bus from Seatoller and back in Keswick by 3.30 pm and enjoying being a restful tourist for a couple of hours. I'll be back there at the end for this week for the final leg. Luckily I've got Friday and Saturday available for it, because the forecast looks lousy for Saturday. It's looking like a Good Friday finale! Can't quite believe it. I don't think I will believe it until I'm sitting down in Castlerigg Stone Circle, where I'd started all those weeks ago on October 31st. It's been a long haul. Not quite there yet!

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[nigheandonn]

You've got a soggy Friday ahead of you - should have done that when everything was still frozen! Some lovely views, though. Congratulations on pushing through - I just stay away in the winter!

I didn't *think* you'd found Bessyboot the first time, from what I remembered, but it all looked so different in the snow that I couldn't really tell. Better to be sure, I suppose

[The English Alpinist]

You've got a soggy Friday ahead of you - should have done that when everything was still frozen! Some lovely views, though. Congratulations on pushing through - I just stay away in the winter!

I didn't *think* you'd found Bessyboot the first time, from what I remembered, but it all looked so different in the snow that I couldn't really tell. Better to be sure, I suppose

Thanks for the encouragement, and no I definitely didn't find Bessyboot the first time. I reckon I was about a mile away!

[johnkaysleftleg]

Nearly there TEA, Rosthwaite fell is a strange one, quite why he picked Bessyboot rather than the fine summit of Rosthwaite Cam is anybodys guess. I'd consider a canoe for your last few, unless your blessed by an unexpected drop in temperature.

[trailmasher]

Well done you and as JK said, hope for a very, very, hard frost on your last outing because you'll need it

[The English Alpinist]

Well done you and as JK said, hope for a very, very, hard frost on your last outing because you'll need it

Damn. It sounds unanimous. Maybe some wellies or those things fishermen wear to stand in a lake up to their waist.

[ChrisW]

That hill looks a damn sight better this time around TEA, I'll bet you're glad you went back now It's been a fantastic blog to follow over the winter and I'll look forward and cheer you on all the way to the close out on friday, well done mate...All that remains is one small step for an alpinist, one final TR for the readers

[dav2930]

Honour to you for going back for those; I reckon you knew, deep down, that something had gone amiss in that whiteout first time round. Don't think I would have attempted to locate Rosthwaite Cam in those conditions. Last time I was on Great End I wanted to bag Broad Crag and Ill Crag, but didn't bother due to whiteout conditions - just couldn't have been sure enough of locating the actual summits.

I expect by now you've completed your campaign; I look forward to reading your concluding report. It's been an epic adventure to follow

[The English Alpinist]

Honour to you for going back for those; I reckon you knew, deep down, that something had gone amiss in that whiteout first time round. Don't think I would have attempted to locate Rosthwaite Cam in those conditions. Last time I was on Great End I wanted to bag Broad Crag and Ill Crag, but didn't bother due to whiteout conditions - just couldn't have been sure enough of locating the actual summits.

I expect by now you've completed your campaign; I look forward to reading your concluding report. It's been an epic adventure to follow

Indeed I AM glad I went back! And yes it's now completed. Thanks to each of you for your interest and encouragement. I'm not done on here yet, but I won't be attempting anything epic! Just the odd walk I think - in summer. I'll be happy just following everybody else's blogs for a while now!!