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Lank Rigg
Ell & I watched a film last night called Dangerous Method about Yung & Freud and there psychological interpretations of Keira Knightly's dreams & hang ups.
A sinilar argument boiled within myself this morning. My body claimed that it was a far better idea to stay in bed after the rigours of a very hard week where my head obsessed with bagging another Wainwright or two (I don't think obsessions too strong a word either after having completed 184 of them).
My body ruled for over a good hour whilst the head kept niggling until around 9 o'clockish when I forced myself out of bed, picked up the pre packed bag and jumped in the car.
Damson & I headed up the west coast towards Calder Bridge then hooked right towards Ennerdale Bridge parking in a small layby by the side of the bridleway heading to Lank Rigg.
The weather held for the first section towards the base of Whoap and Damson was enjoying her run about on the icy expanses of grass and bog. We headed up the nose of Whoap first to the left of Lank Rigg with a plan on taking the higher of the two routes round the valley containing Whoap Beck.
Lank Rigg (right) & Whoap (left)
View towards Grike from flank of Whoap
Heading to Whoap summit
Iron Crag & Caw Fell from Whoap
Lank Rigg from Whoap
From Whoap I was contemplating heading for Iron Crag and maybe as far as Caw Fell or Haycock when the rainclouds snuck up on me from behind and forced me to change my mind. After protecting the backpack and donning my new fleece hat we dropped down to a little col heading over to Lank Rigg. The climb was fairly easy from this point and the summit was reached in good time. Damson had her normal photo on the trig point (she seemed happier on this one than on High Pike a couple of weeks back) and almost jumped into my arms as I went to help her down.
At foot of Lank Rigg
Looking back down Whoap Beck
Damson on Lank Rigg summit
Damson showing her bald knees on Lank Rigg
Ready to jump ??
The ground had been pretty wet for most of the trip so far but the worst was yet to come as we descended back towards Calder River over Kinniside Common. The lower reaches of the fell were true bogland and well over the top of my boots on many occassions. Crossing the river was to be the wettest bit though. We traversed the river edge back up to meet our original entry point trying to get across without success. After getting so wet in the bog I ended up just wading through the river in the end (up to my knees with Damson paddling along beside me.)
I have never been so glad to get back to the car and get out of the rain and some of the wet gear. I think Damson felt the same as she ran straight to the fire on reaching home and hasn't left it since.
Glad this is ticked off as I don't imagine I'll be up that way again very soon.