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Another Sunday afternoon walk with Chris and Andrew.
Having been battered by the weather on Beda Fell a couple of weeks earlier, this time the weather forecast was more promising with no rain and less wind. I wanted to do Mungrisdale Common to get it out of the way and if time allowed to climb Blencathra.
We parked by the single track road below Mousthwaite Comb, a parking place used by TM when we walked over Bannerdale Crags and Souther Fell a few years ago.
Booted and away by circa 2pm. The weather was bright and relatively warm for early March.
This time, to even up ourrelative fitness, Chris and I laden Andrew with the rucksack and our 'bits and pieces'. However, it had little effect and he still made it look easy!
- Getting ready for the off
- From the car looking into Mousthwaite Comb
A good path leads up Mousthwaite Comb onto the relatively flat area between Scales Fell and Souther Fell. From here we carried along the path on the south west side of the River Glenderamackin. It has a gentle gradient and a good surface and we made good progress. Sharp Edge came into view and looked impressive. We passed a group of 4/5 adults with a similar number of young children and met 4 or 5 other walkers before having a chat with a man at the head of the valley.
- Near the top of Mousthwaite Comb
- Looking back to the car!
- On the path in the Glenderamackin valley
- Sharp Edge
- Sharp Edge from its northern side
- Looking back down the Glenderamackin valley
As we left him, we deviated away from the main path which either heads to Bannerdale Crags or in the other direction, heads towards Atkinson Pike and then Blencathra itself. Instead we headed due west maintaining our altitude and using the GPS to guide us toward the rounded top of Mungrisdale Common. I've seen many reports that describe the wet nature of this hill and although it wasn't dry per se, it was no worse than I had anticipated.
- Heading west to Mungrisdale Common
We stopped and took in the views; to the south there were some good distant views to the central and southern fells; further west Skiddaw and its outliers were close up; to the north was Great Calva and a distant High Pike; further east was Carrock Fell and Bowscale Fell.
- View from the slopes of Mungrisdale Common north to Carrock Fell and the closer Bowscale Fell
- Summit pose - self timer from the stones that mark the summit of Mungrisdale Common looking south
- Distant central fells
- Skiddaw...
- .... Carrock Fell and Bowscale Fell (the hills not the people!!)
Time was on our side so we decided to take on Blencathra (Chris and I had climbed it a number of years ago but this was the first time for Andrew). A broad and well used path leads from Mungrisdale Common towards the northern spur of Blencathra and as we got higher, we lost the wet, spongey grass and gained rock.
- The northern side of Blencathra
- Looking back to the rounded mound of Mungrisdale Common
The east side of the spur was full of snow. After a bit of huffing and puffing, (not Andrew or Chris (?)
) we reached Atkinson Pike. After a quick survey of the top of Sharp Edge we continued across and up to the trig point at the top of Halls Fell. There were a couple of patched of snow but nothing too bad.
- on the northern spur of Blencathra
- Upwards to Atkinson Pike
- Chris and Andrew looking down onto Sharp Edge
- On Blencathra looking west
- view south down Hall's Fell Ridge
We headed down Scales Fell, initially down a steepish zigzag path but it soon receded to a decent gradient for walking. Over to our left was Scales Tarn and the impressive cliffs below Sharp Edge. We eventually dropped to the path above Mousthwaite Comb and then back to the car.
- The route down Scales Fell
- Sharp Edge and Scales Tarn
- Last view back up Scales Fell to Blencathra
It had been another enjoyable walk, and a good way of making Mungrisdale Common a little more interesting.