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A post-Christmas walk in perfect snowy conditions!
We parked at the Old Dungeon Ghyll (free for National Trust members). Our original plan was Scafell Pike, so we got an early start. As we ascended the slopes of Rossett Gill, the early morning walk-in along Mickleden had its reward - a view back of the morning light on the Langdale Pikes.
IMG_1084 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
We then plodded up the last few steps of Rossett Gill over the watershed. I was surprised to see no ice on Angle Tarn. In the distance, Great End peeped out through the clouds.
IMG_1113 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
On the shores of Angle Tarn.
IMG_1129 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
IMG_1137 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking onwards towards Esk Hause and Great End. The snow on this section of the walk slightly slowed our progress, so the (ambitious) plan to reach Scafell Pike was abandoned. We prefer a relaxing scenic walk, not a route-march - and I knew that, in these snow conditions, the boulder fields from the top of Calf Cove to the summit of the Pike would be very time-consuming.
IMG_1158 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
On the bulge of Tongue Head there were some nice small ponds alongside the path. This is the view from one of them across to Clough Head and the Dodds.
IMG_1163 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking back from another pond towards Bowfell.
IMG_1167 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The view down into Langstrath.
IMG_1172 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking ahead from near Esk Hause towards Pillar and Kirkfell, between the craggy slopes of Great End and Great Gable.
IMG_1174 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The Esk Hause wall shelter. As Wainwright points out, the shelter is not at the true Esk Hause, which is the head of Eskdale. Rather, it is located in the shallow dip between Esk Hause and Allen Crags.
IMG_1180 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Clouds on Great and Green Gables.
IMG_1185 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Skiddaw, Keswick and Derwentwater from Esk Hause.
IMG_1187 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
A wider view.
IMG_1188 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Walkers descending towards Borrowdale.
IMG_1190 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking south from Esk Hause towards Duddon Sands and the sea.
IMG_1191 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
We started to walk up the northern ridge of Esk Pike, from where we had a view of the north-western fells.
IMG_1203 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
From a little higher, we had our first view down into upper Eskdale. This Eskdale side of the Scafell range is, I think, one of the grandest places in the Lake District but is little-known compared to many areas.
IMG_1229 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The view from the summit of Esk Pike of the Dodds, Helvellyn and Fairfield ranges. The highest summits of the High Street group can also be seen on the right-hand skyline.
IMG_1241 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Scafell Pike and Ill Crag from the top of Esk Pike. Scafell Pike's huge summit cairn can be seen.
IMG_1251 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The view in the opposite direction from the same spot - the Langdale Pikes, and the Howgills in the distance.
IMG_1254 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Ripples in the snow near the top of Esk Pike, with Harter Fell and Black Combe in the distance.
IMG_1256 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking across Ore Gap to Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Grey Friar and Dow Crag.
IMG_1260 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Great Dodd, Ullscarf and Langstrath. The prominent ridge in Langstrath is Eagle Crag and Sergeant's Crag. On the slopes below Sergeant's Crag there is a curious cluster of spots which must, I guess, be sheep (can be seen by clicking on the Flickr image).
IMG_1267 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking south from Ore Gap.
IMG_1272 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Stickle Pike, Harter Fell, Green Grag and Black Combe from Ore Gap.
IMG_1280 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The north-eastern fells and the top of Bowfell Buttress.
IMG_1289 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
We could see dramatic clouds gusting around the Scafells, which made us quite glad we hadn't gone there - we might have had no summit views! Below the tall cloud, the vertical face of Scafell Crag and the dip of Mickledore can just be seen.
IMG_1294 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The last few steps to the summit of Bowfell.
IMG_1292 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Bowfell summit.
IMG_1298 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The view south from the summit to Eskdale, Black Combe, Devoke Water and the sea.
IMG_1315 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The clouds cleared a little from the Scafell range.
IMG_1340 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
We set off downhill - target was the Hikers' Bar in the Old Dungeon Ghyll! We had a final view of the sunlit Langdale Pikes, the lines of their volcanic strata from the Scafell Caldera paralleled by the Flat Crags slabs. The extraordinary geology of this area is well described at
http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/GCRDB/GCRsiteaccount9018.pdf .
IMG_1346 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The last light of the day on Blencathra.
IMG_1350 by
Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
