Crinkle Crags

[johnkaysleftleg]

Any round of the Wainwrights will involve much trudging up benign grassy slopes to visit small piles of rock in the middle of nowhere. Nowt wrong with this of course; it gets you fit, it gets you out of the house, it's better than working, it's better than worrying about stupid football teams and you do get nice views from time to time if the weather allows.
For all that is good about the benign grassy slopes most fell walkers love rock; be it cliffs to stare down, (or up), knolls to wander over or around, or best of all, crags to get your hands dirty on, making you feel like a child again as you scramble inelegantly upwards while imagining you're climbing real mountains.

It would be easy to head for these honey pots first and fill your boots to the brim but then the endless miles of grassy slopes might seem just that little bit less attractive without Lakeland's best high ground to provide adventure and exhilaration from time to time. It was with this in mind that certain fells have been ignored, despite their obvious charms, on our journey so far but when Grace specifically asked if we could climb Crinkle Crags it seemed like as good a time as any.

Rather than the traditional walk including Bow Fell I decided to combine the Crinkles with Pike O'Blisco and Cold Pike. The route up Blisco is on an excellent made path, very sympathetic with surroundings, before the final craggy pyramid is climbed with many simple but enjoyable scrambles. Pike O'Blisco is a grand rocky summit just like a fell or mountain should be, perfect place for lunch and to enjoy the views.

Pike O'Blisco by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

The band from the valley floor by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

The Pikes of Langdale by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

The Langdale Pikes by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Pike O'Blisco's South Summit by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Crinkle Crags from Pike O'Blisco by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Pike O'Blisco by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Grace on Pike O'Blisco by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

It's a simple descent down to red tarn before gaining height via the broad path to Crinkle Crags. Once the slopes to the south eased we headed off over largely easy ground to Cold Pikes summit tors. It's a nice summit but in this company it is somewhat overshadowed. We didn't linger long before heading off up the soon to be upgraded path to Crinkle Crags.

Crinkle Crags by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Cold Pike by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

With Crinkle number one climbed (a Hewitt in it's own right) the bad step came into view. Given that it is so easily avoidable, either by the clear path to the left or by the grass and boulders to the right the name isn't really appropriate, however due to the status granted by AW it is somewhat a right of passage to the summit of the mountain. I must confess that it did look a bit intimidating and the scramble up was a little out of my comfort zone but overall it was good fun. Hughie probably didn't agree as he was unceremoniously hauled up on the end of his lead before Grace and an under pressure Nicola managed to clamber up the obstacle. Crinkle Crags summit was reached minutes later and we had hot chocolate and coffee and took in another wonderful panorama. It was at this point that my battery on my camera gave up the ghost and with me forgetting to charge my spare it was camera phone from here on out.

The (not so) Bad Step by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Crinkle Gill by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Grace on Crinkle Crags Summit by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Bowfell and Crinkles from The summit by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Looking down Mickle Door by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Hughie checks out one of the Crinkles by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

Nicola and Grace with the Scafells behind by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

We weaved out way along the ridge visiting the remaining Crinkles and the Hewitt of Shelter Crags completing the entertaining traverse of this superb mountain. The Band was chosen as a descent route given it's steady slopes and a nice relaxed walk back to the car was a fine way to end the day. This walk certainly lived up to its billing with both Pike O'Blisco and Crinkle Crags becoming instant faves. The day was finished off by a certain stupid football team winning at Old Trafford for the first time since before I was born.

Langdales from the Band by johnkaysleftleg, on Flickr

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[MarkyMark10]

Nice report and great photos. I have Crinkle Craggs including Bowfell on my list for the summer. Do you think I am being over ambitous? Doesnt look too far from the picture but could be deceiving.

[johnkaysleftleg]

Nice report and great photos. I have Crinkle Craggs including Bowfell on my list for the summer. Do you think I am being over ambitous? Doesnt look too far from the picture but could be deceiving.

Thanks Mark. If you do this route and leave Cold Pike out you can always see how you feel at the three tarns. A there and back to Bowfell from here isn't too far.

[clivegrif]

Oh thats a good walk! Have done that very same route (but did include Bowfell at the end).

Really enjoyable read, and surprise, surprise your pics are a lot better than mine were - so I'll nick this report as a reminder instead!!

...and I do believe a certain Mr Gus Poyet has been sighted walking on water.

[johnkaysleftleg]

Oh thats a good walk! Have done that very same route (but did include Bowfell at the end).

Really enjoyable read, and surprise, surprise your pics are a lot better than mine were - so I'll nick this report as a reminder instead!!

Thanks Clive, you're too kind

...and I do believe a certain Mr Gus Poyet has been sighted walking on water.

...and for his next trick

[L-Hiking]

Wonderful part of the world, Carol and i have enjoyed a few weekends staying at the new dungeon and many happy hours spent on the surrounding tops.

Great pictures as always

[Ibex]

You even manage to take great photo's on a camera phone. Like the one of Grace on Crinkle Crags, with Bowfell in the background.

When me and AJ did Crinkle Crags we had awful clag, so missed out on a lot of the views. Will have to go back to it on a nice day.

Closing in on your 150 now.

[simon-b]

A superb round, Anthony. Well done to all of you for getting up the bad step with Hughie. The last time I took on that obstacle, I was coming down; I don't think I would have fancied that while hanging on to a Westie.

Superb views, which still look impressive in your photos, despite the fact they're so familiar to me now.

[johnkaysleftleg]

Wonderful part of the world, Carol and i have enjoyed a few weekends staying at the new dungeon and many happy hours spent on the surrounding tops.

Great pictures as always

Cheers Geoff, remarkably this was only our 2nd visit to Great Langdale, almost criminal.

You even manage to take great photo's on a camera phone. Like the one of Grace on Crinkle Crags, with Bowfell in the background.

When me and AJ did Crinkle Crags we had awful clag, so missed out on a lot of the views. Will have to go back to it on a nice day.

Closing in on your 150 now.

Thanks Ibex, I must admit I'd have been happy to do the same walk again the next day, highly enjoyable. 150 will have to wait for a bit as we won't be wainwright bagging for a few weeks and are heading to Skye at the end of the month.

A superb round, Anthony. Well done to all of you for getting up the bad step with Hughie. The last time I took on that obstacle, I was coming down; I don't think I would have fancied that while hanging on to a Westie.

Superb views, which still look impressive in your photos, despite the fact they're so familiar to me now.

Thanks Simon, no way we'd have got Hughie up there without his harness to haul him up with. Saw several dogs around the bad step and all of them appeared to be of the same mind i.e. That can't be the right way!
I can imagine returning to Crinkle crags time and time again, a really fine fell.