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Yesterday had been fine in the south but the northern fells had been shrouded in cloud until midday, as we set off early in the mist we hoped today would turn out the same. We parked up at Gale Road where a local said it would be clear on Skiddaw, kitted up we set off into the mist at 7.30am.
Visibility was quite poor as we slogged up the pathway before cutting up Whit Beck, a slighter climb that led to the fence line which led to Lonscale Pike.
- Towards Lonscale
We were soon on Lonscale Fell and the gentleman seemed correct as we could look across to Little Man in the clear.
- Skiddaw Little Man
But by the time we had taken a few photo's the mist was rolling in like an old Hammer Horror film
- Lonscale summit at 715m
We retraced our steps to the top of the beck and then followed the fenceline, it was getting thicker
- Midway to Jenkin Hill
We crossed Jenkin Hill and met the path at the gate that takes you to the summit and misses out the Little Man, it was so dense here we had a quick drink and cereal bar but all of a sudden it was clear again. Time to tackle Lesser Man, a quite steep path.
- Skiddaw Lesser Man
halfway and the view up
- Lesser Man
and the spectacular view down with the island of Blencathra
- Towards Lonscale, now in cloud
As we reached the summit we had spectacular views of the inversion
- Summit of Lesser Man at 815m
- View to Little Man
Time to move on to Little Man,our second Wainwright and still in the clear
- Little Man summit at 865m, Skiddaw behind
- View to Skiddaw
As we made our way to the Skiddaw plateau we looked back to Little Man and the encroaching cloud
- View back to Little Man
- Superb as cloud crashes into Little Man
As we walked onto the summit plateau and its many cairns we didn't know this wasas clear as it was going to get
- Towards the summit trig point
- Skiddaw summit at 931m
We had a small break hoping the mist would lift but as it was quite cold we retraced our steps while making the final decision, I would go down the slate scree to Carlside and my husband would go back down to Gale Road for the car, he would then drive around to the Ravenstone Hotel. I set off in the pea souper and found it very steep down the scree with regular checks on the satmap,
- Scree to Carl Side
I found Carl Side and after retracing some yards I was on the ridge, NO VIEWS at all.
- Carl Side Tarn
It was quite easy to folow the ridge, a few people were coming the other way, not many photo opportunities but there was a Finland flag on Ullock
- Ridge below Ullock Pike
- Ridge
This was a great walk, hubby was chuffed to get to the summit and I had flown solo in not too good conditions, a good day all round, oh and those inversions