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Been desperate to get out lately. Its been 3 weeks since Scotland when I was on Sgiath Chuil, Meall Glas and Ben Challum but it seemed longer. Been checking MWIS lately to try and find a decent day so I get out for the first time this year. Friday morning was forecast wet and cloudy with the day changing around midday to drier but cold. Thoughts about what route to take were affected by the recent Cumbrian deluge so I thought I would do a route where the paths were predominantly rocky and thus less likely to be boggy. I decided to do Scafell Pike via the Corridor route. Its a hill and route I've probably been on 30+ times over the years buts its always a good route to keep the fitness levels up.
With the forecast in mind set off a bit later than normal and got to Seathwaite around 09.45hrs after a bit of a to do with a farmer and his landrover on the road down from Seatoller to Seathwaite. It was raining on arrival so waterproofs were on from the start. I'm always stuck on what to wear underneath waterproofs as I hate walking in them especially uphill so opted for a Helly Hansen polyester vest with the cagoule on top. Hat was on straight away and gloves after about a mile. I rarely wear a hat and gloves even less as I tend to walk warm but the driving rain and wind were freezing my fingers. The gloves stayed on all day.
Set off along the track to Stockley bridge then up the trade route up to Styhead tarn. At this stage I could see that the snow level was down to around 1300 feet and the cloud not much above it. Stopped for a brew at the stretcher box using the box as shelter and then set off on the path before turning off at the start of the Corridor route. The snow was lying at the start but was wet and no problem to walk in. The rain continued turning to sleet and occasional hailstones as I climbed. I brought my ice axe but intentionally left the crampons in the car after studying picture's during the week. Reached the rock step which was no problem being full of wet snow and then around the path at the top of Piers gill. The snow as I climbed stayed wet turning a bit firmer around the col on Lingmell. From there it was a 700 feet up into the clouds to the top of Scafell Pike, with the snow turning a bit firmer underfoot.
Snow depth on top of Scafell Pike was around 2". The wind was around 20 mph gusting to 40mph. Temperature was around -3 and visibility down to 50 metres. Donned a spare jacket but didn't hang around much on the top due the conditions. Got the ice axe out to drop down to the col to Broad crag but didn't really need it as the snow was soft enough for foot placement. Went back via Broad crag, Esk Hause ,Sprinkling tarn and Styhead tarn getting back to the car at 4.15pm.I normally do Great end as well but gave it a miss on this occasion. Dropping down to the valley it seemed that the snow around the Scafell range area was around 1600 feet but in the rest of the lakes around the 2000 ft mark.
A good short winters day for the first of the year
Towards the clouded over Scafells
The ground just after the rock step the Corridor route
Piers gill
The route down to the top of Piers Gill
Lingmell through the clouds from the shoulder of Scafell Pike
Not much visibility on the top slopes of Scafell Pike
Summit shelter Scafell Pike
Sprinkling tarn