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This week I had wednesday and thursday off from work and luck was on my side as Wednesday was supposed to be almost perfect conditions (as far as I’m concerned anyway), clear skies with little wind and a nice chill to the air. The rest of the week practically everywhere in the UK was forecast to be bad weather so I thought I’d get a big walk in and start around sunrise time. After very much enjoying 37lumleyst’s Coledale Round report I decided to do an almost identical route.
Left the house at 4.30am and was walking by 6.15am. I ended up taking my ice axe as it was completely dark when I started walking and I had no idea what the conditions were like on top. The only problem with starting so early for me is that I always want to be as high as possible for the sunrise so I end up legging it up the hill and being exhausted after 5 minutes. Got on to Barrow in pretty quick time.
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- Derwent Water and Helvellyn range
Decided to give Outerside a miss even though it was originally my plan to go up it. I didn’t think it would offer me too much more in terms of views so I pushed on up to Causey Pike. Skiddaw demanding your attention all the time on the way up.
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- Skiddaw
The view was brilliant in all directions from Causey Pike. Skiddaw and Blencathra were lit up orange by the morning light and the hills looked great to the south with a fine covering of snow.
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- Causey Pike summit
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- South to Scafell range in distance
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- The day ahead
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- View back to Causey Pike
A few ascents and descents later and I was on the other side of Crag Hill with Grasmoor in view. The soft snow was great to run down, apparently I was doing 15km/h according to the my GPS, If I’d kept that up through the whole route I would have finished in about 1hour 45.
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- Grasmoor
The walk up to Grasmoor was so easy and the developing views of Buttermere and the Scafell range were brilliant.
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- up to Grasmoor summit
The view from Grasmoor summit may be my favourite Lakeland view so far. Buttermere lake in the middle, Haystacks providing the backdrop to it, Great Gable towering above both of them and the Scafell range poking up behind them all. Had difficulty photographing it with the sun directly behind it.
Retraced my steps and down to Coledale Hause to begin the ascent of Hopegill Head.
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- View back to Coledale Hause
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- View to Whiteside
Up until this point I hadn’t seen a single person all day until 4 tiny yapping dogs come running up the western path of Whiteside and start harassing me for my ham sandwich with a very apologetic owner. The bulk of Grasmoor providing a good view down towards Crummock Water.
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- Grasmoor and Crummock Water
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- View back to Hopegill Head
Again retraced my steps, and along to Grisedale Pike where it was getting quite busy so decided to push on and finish the walk. Nice views down towards Keswick and Derwent water.
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- Grisedale Pike and Keswick
Overall I just about hit my comfortable limit in terms of walk length for the day, so very pleased with how it turned out.
