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This report covers a weekend in Buttermere, climbing Great Gable on one day, and Red Pike and High Stile on another.
Buttermere
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The reason for the title of this report will become clear at the end...
The party was me and my two children and my friend Stuart and his three. Our first objective was Great Gable - we set off from Honister.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
On up through the old tramway cutting -
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Drum House was the natural first stopping point. The skyline is Pillar, Haystacks, High Crag and High Stile.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The kids had a keen appreciation of the industrial archaeology.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
This is an ideal hillwalk to do with children: a start at nearly 1200 feet means less uphill slog, and the path is easy, and easy to follow.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Views to the west widened as we climbed. Ennerdale Water on the left: Crummock Water and Buttermere on the right.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
We were soon heading up towards Green Gable, overtopped by the towering dome of Great Gable.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking across Windy Gap towards Great Gable.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The summit!
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Enjoying a sit down and a chat.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Time for some lunch.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Hiding amongst the summit crags.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The topmost rock of Great Gable. Skyline is Scoat Fell, Steeple, Black Crag, Pillar, Herdus and either Starling Dodd or Red Pike - I suspect the latter, hiding Starling Dodd behind it.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
We descended back to Windy Gap, and then down towards Ennerdale with the aim of picking up Moses' Trod. From this angle it can be seen that Green Gable has some substantial crags of its own.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Looking down into Ennerdale.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Three amigos and Gable Crag.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Nearing Moses' Trod.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
On the way back, another R&R stop.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The last lap...
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Back at Honister Quarry.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Buttermere Youth Hostel was excellent. We especially enjoyed the lake...
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
...the ice-cream
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
...relaxing (near Gatescarth Farm)
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The barn roof paralleled the outline of Fleetwith Pike above.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Some of us enjoyed swimming too -
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The next day we were greeted by bright sunshine: the haziness of the previous day had gone. This is the view from our window looking across to the High Stile range - our target for the day.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The few clouds dispersed...
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Leaving the hostel...
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Haystacks, High Crag and the northern flank of High Stile.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The path to Red Pike leads along the western shore of Buttermere.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Any opportunity to take unnecessary risks was fully exploited.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
I must admit, the grown-ups too were a bit naughty here. There were signs discouraging visitors from climbing up alongside the Sour Milk Gill falls, recommending the well-worn tourist path instead.
We ignored the signs.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
We paid for our misdeeds in the form of a jungly scramble through trees, rocks, thick bracken and thicker heather.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
However, we were rewarded by some rather wonderful views, both close up and far away.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Sail, Scar Crags and Ard Crags peeping out in the distance.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The problem for the younger kids was that the vegetation was often well above their heads. It was a relief to emerge onto higher slopes where the heather was a bit less luxuriant. Which also gave us a nice view of Mellbreak and Crummock Water.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Soon after, we arrived at Bleaberry Tarn where the kids enjoyed blocking the stream with stones and then re-enacting the Dam Busters raid.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
The path from the tarn up to Red Pike is an eroded scar, helpfully stepped in some places but not all.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Run to the summit!
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
At the top cairn.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Another summit shot: a slightly wonky skyline of Robinson, Hindscarth, Dale Head and Fleetwith Pike topped by the Dodds-Helvellyn-Fairfield range.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Setting off along the ridge to High Stile. The backdrop is Broad Crag, Scafell Pike, Scafell and Pillar.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
On the ridge with Bleaberry Combe below.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
On the way up to High Stile summit.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Optional scrambling.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Crummock Water and Bleaberry Combe from thethe top of High Stile.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Pillar
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Setting off for High Crag - skyline is Green and Great Gable, Great End, Ill and Broad Crag, Scafell Pike and Scafell, with Kirkfell and the eastern ridge of Pillar below.however after a few minutes we decided to retrace our steps to Red Pike, rather than end up at the wrong end of Buttermere and having to walk back along the shore.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Descending the eroded path. "Red Pike" is well named.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
First port of call - the Fish Inn.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
While the Dads enjoyed some much-needed refreshment, my daughter drew a postcard of the three High Stile peaks, to inform my wife what we'd done today.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
However, knowing that the first hill was called Red Pike, she was alarmed to spot a real Pike (stuffed) in the glass case above us. We'd been swimming in the lake with those!
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Never mind, half an hour later she was having another go.
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Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr