Ambleside 2018 (Day 5) - from the Jungle to the Dungeon

[Graeme D]

Our late afternoon in The Unicorn in Ambleside had spilled over into the early evening and that in turn had spilled over into a visit to a Thai restaurant somewhere near a chippie that had been queued out the door and half way down the street.

I had something by the rather interesting name of Waterfall Pork and Dave went for the even more colourful sounding Jungle Curry. It was a close run thing which one was the more evil but I reckon the Jungle Curry just edged it. I had a funny feeling we would both regret our choice in the morning!

As suspected, we were still getting value for money the following morning with Dave in particular putting a severe strain on the plumbing at Quaysiders Apartments and disturbing the early morning peace and quiet across Windermere!

It was my last day before heading back north and it looked like being a scorcher! We decided to head for Langdale and the Old Dungeon Ghyll from where we planned to follow the Cumbria Way north west alongside Mickleden Beck towards Rossett Gill and the Stake Pass.

"Screw the hills! Let's just go in there Robin!"

Heading into Mickleden with a snow streaked Bowfell in the distance

We found ourselves weaving in and out of a pretty steady procession of walkers as we walked along the broad track with the Langdale Pikes towering above us to the right and our route rising before us in front and to the left. Regular water intake was the order of the day, especially for Dave who was in danger of turning into a human prune from the effects of the Jungle Curry!

Pike o'Stickle and Loft Crags

Bowfell and Rossett Pike above the head of upper Langdale

Rossett Pike and Mickleden Beck

At the Rossett Gill - Stake Pass junction in the path, we turned right to gain height and tackle the Rossett Pike ridge from the north from above the high point in the Stake Pass path.

Rossett Pike from the start of the path up to Stake Pass

Robin and Dave leaving the Stake Pass path, Pike o'Stickle and Pike o'Blisco in the background

Ascending to the Rossett Pike ridge, looking towards the summit

At this point I temporarily lost Robin and Dave and wondered whether it was because Dave was experiencing more Jungle Curry related difficulties and Robin was having to hold his bag, so to speak! Turned out it was just that they had taken a lower line than me and had encountered difficult terrain which had forced them to double back a bit before gaining the ridge.

Along the ridge towards the summit which is dwarfed by Bowfell and Esk Pike

Back down Langdale towards the start

Esk Pike, Great End and Allen Crags

The Langdale Pikes above Mickleden

The Langdale Pikes from on the Rossett Pike ridge

Back along the broad ridge

Hanging Knotts on Bowfell from Rossett Pike

Posing on the summit of Rossett Pike

A few walkers or groups of walkers arrived from various directions at the summit of Rossett Pike while we sat there taking a breather, before we headed down to the busy shores of Angle Tarn for the start of the long pull up to Esk Hause.

Angle Tarn and Esk Hause from the descent off Rossett Pike

Angle Tarn

Robin on the pull up to Esk Hause, Allen Crags to the right, Great End in the distance

Looking back down from Esk Hause with the Langdale Pikes prominent to the left, Rossett Pike centre, Bowfell to the right

At Esk Hause, another very busy crossroads in this neck of the woods, we took another breather while taking in the views that had now opened up to the north west over Great Gable and its smaller neighbour, Green Gable.

Great End and the Gables from Esk Hause

A short, stiff ascent northwards then took us up onto the broad, rocky summit of Allen Crags where we met a group of girls bearing all the tell tale signs of a Duke of Edinburgh group. Three DofE leaders out for a bimble in the Lakes can spot the signs a mile away! Turned out they were from Cornwall, and there was us thinking that we were a bit far from our normal patch!

Bowfell and Esk Pike from the summit of Allen Crags

Towards Great End and Ill Crag from Allen Crags

Looking towards Glaramara from the summit of Allen Crags

Robin and the Gables from Allen Crags

A quick retracing of our steps then took us back to Esk Hause from where we set out on the steep, rocky climb up to Esk Pike, with views towards the Scafells opening up with every metre of ascent.

The Langdale Pikes, Rossett Pike and Bowfell from Esk Hause

Ascending Esk Pike from Esk Hause

Back to Allen Crags

Snow patches on Esk Pike


Great End and the Gables


Towards the Scafells from the ascent of Esk Pike


The Scafells and Robin's best side from the summit of Esk Pike


Allen Crags and Glaramara from Esk Pike


Rossett Pike and Bowfell above Langdale from the summit of Esk Pike


Eyes wide shut on Esk Pike

The Pint was now starting to call our names and so we headed off on the penultimate stage of the route, the long meandering walk over to the summit of mighty Bowfell. We were rewarded at Ore Gap with a stunning view down over the remains of a snowfield and cornice and the plunge into the void above Angle Tarn far below the steep rocky buttress of Hanging Knotts.


Looking down on Rossett Pike and Angle Tarn from a cornice in Ore Gap


Back to Esk Pike and Allen Crags


The Scafells


Zoomed


Dave on Bowfell, Crinkle Crags in the background

With Bowfell conquered and Dave now feeling ready and able to once again look a plate of food in the eye, we started the long descent down The Band back into Langdale and a visit to the lengendary hostelry that is the Old Dungeon Ghyll, where a mahoosive plate of rib eye steak, chips and onion rings set me up ncely for the long drive back home to reality!


Start of the descent off Bowfell


Pike o'Blisco and Crinkle Crags


Looking down The Band into Langdale


The Langdale Pikes from The Band


Pike o'Blisco


Pike o'Blisco again - hopefully sometime soon


Langdale


Pike o'Stickle and Loft Crag


Rossett Pike looking a long way away now


Looking back to much of our route through the late afternoon haze


Dinner in the Dungeon - not a Jungle Curry in sight!

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[malky_c]

Looks nice, and somewhat familiar from one of my more recent wanders . Have to say I always avoid the Jungle Curry in Thai restaurants - I can't remember if that is based on my own experience with it or someone else's

[trailmasher]

Great route, great report, great photo's and must have been a great curry

[johnkaysleftleg]

Really not sure about Jungle Curry Great route this one, some great fells and the mist really adds to the atmosphere in the pics.

[Graeme D]

Thanks all. Was a great day (and previous evening)!

Yes, Jungle Curry - not one for the faint hearted! I'm pretty sure it's what Johnny Cash had in mind when he wrote Ring of Fire!