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Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, and a Wildcamp

Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, and a Wildcamp


Postby BethAtTheHug » Wed Sep 15, 2010 6:37 pm

Wainwrights included on this walk: Bowfell, Crinkle Crags

Hewitts included on this walk: Bowfell, Crinkle Crags (Long Top)

Date walked: 30/08/2010

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I felt it time for another wildcamp, and hopefully a good walk the next day. I knew there was plenty of scope for camping anywhere around Red Tarn, and pretty much onwards up to Crinkle Crags from my walk a few weeks ago, then in thick cloud and rain. The weather forecast was for clearing skies overnight leading to possible ground frost in some valleys and high temperatures the next day. Sounded ideal.
The journey up the A1 and across the bottom of the Dales was a little tedious and with my not-so-early start it was late afternoon by the time I got to Three Shire Stone at the top of Wrynose Pass. With everyone off back home for the day, or indeed the end of their weekend I didn't have any trouble getting a parking space.


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Cold Pike


I stopped at Red Tarn with a view to camping but it was a wee bit early to set up and nowhere really inspired. It looked a bit boggy for a start. So with a little bit self-encouragement I set off, left at the head of the tarn and up the path heading for Crinkle Crags. The evening was fabulous. I really couldn't have wished for better weather.

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Not the hardest of navigational exercises

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Jake, Dog of the Mountains!

Jake was having a lot of fun. Muddy puddles to drink out of. Smells to sniff. Sheep to watch. My overnight pack felt heavy, despite only being about 10 - 11Kg, I was unused to it, so I was taking my time. No point in hurrying.

Just after Great Knott there is an open plateau area, looks quite boggy, and then before the 834m top there are a few little hollows and knolls. It was on one of these that I decided to pitch my wee hoose. Not quite on a summit, nor hiding too far in a hollow, just a nice place to sleep.

The surroundings were just gorgeous.

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Spot the hot air balloon...

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Even a cup of 'blackcurrant flavour' herbal tea tastes good up here

After looking round for a bit, and taking far too many photos, it was time for supper. I had stopped off at my local Tesco for supplies of roast chicken, amongst other goodies, which I shared with Jake and cooked up some pasta.

It was starting to get a wee bit chilly so retired to the tent and wriggled into my sleeping bag complete with my PHD down jacket on still. Cosy, but a bit too warm so I soon ended up taking it off. Dozing until around 11pm I got up for last wees, before really intending to sleep. Lots of stars were out but I didn't hang around as it was pretty cold.

Waking at first light - just after 5am, I dozed a little longer and got up. Time was 5:23, and as I opened the tent...

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Sunrise!

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...and a fantastic inversion. I was above the clouds!

The clouds were racing along the valley floor and spilling up and over the more rounded hills. Some jagged tops were poking out the sea of cotton wool. Fab. More cuppas were consumed before I did much other than take photos.

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It's probably like being on the summit of a hill in the middle of winter, looking around at the snow capped peaks, watching your laboured breathing slowly catching up, condensing in the cold air. It's no good looking at photos thinking isn't that pretty. You've just got to see it, experience it, for yourself.

So onward. The morning sun was warming up and it promised to be a cracking day. After breakfast we headed on up to Crinkle crags. The cloud harassed us for a time, closing in around us so we didn't always get decent views.

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Atmospheric though

I didn't go over all the Crinkles. I bypassed a couple. Clambering over the boulders with the full pack got to me a little, my knee was fine but my ankle which I'd aggravated in the North York Moors was reminding me of it's presence.

We also bypassed the 'bad step' by traversing left at the base and ascending a loose rocky path. I just didn't like the look of the step itself, it would have been very tricky for Jake, and I didn't fancy the grassy bits to the right of the step as a slip would have been sub-optimal.

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Shelter Crags, with Bowfell in the cloud

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Looking down to, I think, Langdale

I made it over, or round, or whatever, the last of the Shelter Crags, and looked at Bowfell. Now that is a mountain! Rocky path, pointy top, and just above 900m.

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It wasn't too bad descending to Three Tarns and then back to Bowfell, despite the now hot sun. I just took my time and plodded on. Just as I got the summit I spied a string of ATC lads coming up the ridge from Angle Tarn. Chatting to them they had camped overnight at the Tarn, all 20 or so! I felt sorry for one lad who was struggling in the heat, and with obvious fitness difficulties. He had an officer with him giving encouragement, and did eventually make the summit.

I dropped down a bit, away from their noise, before stopping for lunch.

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Bowfell summit

Reading the Wainwright guide he recommended descending to Oxendale via The Band, rather than Hells Gill, and that was pretty much my plan. I like doing a circuit rather than an out-and-back walk, and some of the other options I didn't fancy. So after a bite to eat we set off thatta way.

The Band has nothing nasty, I just found it long, tedious and hard on the legs. I had to take a wee knee break a few times. There were cracking views of Crinkle Gill, Hell Gill and Mickle Door to make up for it though.

I crossed over Oxendale Beck at the footbridge and up the steep path heading back to Red Tarn.

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Looking back to Bowfell, The Band, Hell Gill...

It was very welcome relief when the Tarn came into view and I got to the path cross roads. Stopping, I took off my boots and socks and sat on the grass for a while. I'd earned a little break and the last of my Bourbon Creams.

I had contemplated camping another night, however I'd misjudged Jake's food again and not brought enough for him. He had got through 2 normal day's rations and was obviously after more. And I'd not really got enough pasta for me, let alone sharing with him. So, as it was still only late afternoon I'd continue to the car and head home. I had Irn Bru waiting for me in the car, I could hear it calling... honest! Then Fish and chips from Ambleside was the next priority, which I shared a little of with Jake!

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Red Tarn
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BethAtTheHug
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Re: Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, and a Wildcamp

Postby GarryH » Wed Sep 15, 2010 7:03 pm

Excellent report Beth and beautiful photography. :thumbup:
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Re: Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, and a Wildcamp

Postby mountain coward » Thu Sep 16, 2010 2:35 am

Some great photos there! Yep, that's Langdale below you in the pic - you can see Pike O' Blisco (the pointy one) on the right of the pic...

You were very brave leaving a car at 3 Shire Stone - I'd worry about boy racers destroying or stealing it up there I think! They're bound to spend a lot of time driving over the passes...

You'd have had to lift your dog up the bad step unless he/she could fit/wriggle under the chockstone boulder. You'd also have quite a job getting up it with a full pack yourself I would think so you did right to go round really...
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Re: Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, and a Wildcamp

Postby BethAtTheHug » Thu Sep 16, 2010 10:21 am

3 shire stone seems a bit too out of the way for the boy racer brigade, but I know what you mean. I didn't leave anything in it!
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Re: Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, and a Wildcamp

Postby mountain coward » Thu Sep 16, 2010 9:49 pm

Well I've never been up at 3 Shire Stone in an evening but it's the kind of place young lads like to show off their driving 'skills'. I'd just worry they'd nick my car more than break into it... I've slept in my car in places like that and had trouble with yobbos overnight sometimes.
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Re: Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, and a Wildcamp

Postby gaffr » Fri Sep 17, 2010 1:42 pm

Looks as if, that is if I am seeing correctly, that someone else favours a tent that is designed/made? in this country. I have used one of these for a few years and have used it at around 2,000 mtrs. but have never tried it high up with the wind blasting through. :)
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Re: Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, and a Wildcamp

Postby BethAtTheHug » Fri Sep 17, 2010 2:06 pm

Parking at 3 shire: I wasn't worried about the car not being there as modern cars are quite hard to steal without the keys - immobilisers/etc, but it being broken in to. And there wasn't that much I could do about that without parking somewhere else with 'issues'.

As for the tent, it isn't a TN, it's a Hilliberg Akto. I don't think I could get Jake and I in a Laser Comp!
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