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A Grand Day Out!!!

A Grand Day Out!!!


Postby bridget cooper » Tue Oct 09, 2012 2:34 pm

Wainwrights included on this walk: Blencathra, Mungrisdale Common

Hewitts included on this walk: Blencathra

Date walked: 08/10/2012

Time taken: 3

Distance: 10.5 km

Ascent: 700m

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A Stunning few Autumn days in the lakes and finally a day off... So what to do???

Well I haven't climbed my favourite lakes fell for a while so Blencathra it is.... :D

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



Normally I would climb Blencathra via Sharp Edge but Canna, my mountain (and water) Spaniel isn't so fussed :( .

For those who don't know, Sharp edge is the best (in my opinion) grade 1 scramble in the lakes. However the short but extremely exposed and committing ridge (no way to go round the hard bit) is not an easy grade 1, and should be undertaken with caution especially in the wet and only by experienced scramblers. Canna doesn't mind scrambles as a rule , though is always in a harness, but on Sharp Edge she was practically dragged up, as the exposure got to her. Amazing really considering the steep edges she happily runs down to visit a stream... :crazy:

So It was decided that we might as well take in the ambiguous Mungrisedale Common whilst we were out so set off from the small parking area at the base of Mousthwaite Comb.
IMG_0509.JPG
Looking down Mousthwaite Comb



As is shown in the route, we went up Mousthwaite Comb which is a pleasant bowl and an easy climb.

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Looking up Mousthwaite Comb


Pup and I then headed up towards Sharp Edge which as always looks stunning.
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Looking up towards Sharp edge


From here we stayed low and skirted round the bottom and heading to the back of blencathra and a small plateau before contouring on the vague and very wet path to the extremely vague and arguable pointless Mungrisdale Common.
IMG_0522.JPG
Its here somewhere !
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Found it!!!! The Summit of Mungrisedale Common
From here a good path leads up to the back end of Blencathra.
IMG_0528.JPG
The final push to Blencathra


One of the great things about going up this way is that its extremely quiet, not a sole was seen though the Summit was busy...
IMG_0533.JPG
Canna on the summit of Blencathra.


A quick stop at the top marked by an OS ring and quick run down the well marked (and surprisingly grassy in places) path brought us back to the top of Mousthwaite and quickly back to the car and on to keswick for lunch!!!

A grand day out indeed. (Well a morning really!!!)
Last edited by bridget cooper on Tue Oct 09, 2012 2:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: A Grand Day Out!!!

Postby garyhortop » Tue Oct 09, 2012 2:50 pm

A nice wander Bridget and some good photo's too - hoping to do Blencathra soon!!! :D
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Re: A Grand Day Out!!!

Postby ChrisW » Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:16 pm

What a lovely hike Bridget and such beautiful views along the way, the shot of Sharp Edge with pup in the foreground is a real cracker. A grand day out indeed :D
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Re: A Grand Day Out!!!

Postby stevesey » Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:48 pm

and should be undertaken with caution especially in the wet and only by experienced scramblers

Was my first real scramble (after coming up the Halls Fell ridge first and then descending to come back up Sharpe Edge). Was my first trip to the Lakes, but I did have two experienced accomplices and it was cloudy, so no real sense of exposure. Been back Sharpe Edge twice since, once on my own in the sunshine, the second time I was with a less experienced group (not quite so easy to enjoy when you are encouraging others, but great when you can see their sense of achievement).
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Re: A Grand Day Out!!!

Postby simon-b » Wed Oct 10, 2012 7:43 pm

A nice ramble, Bridget. It's good to climb a mountain by a new route. Blencathra was one of A.Wainwright's own favourites, Mungrisdale Common wasn't, so it's good to have got it in the bag.
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