walkhighlands

Blencathra

Wainwrights: Blencathra
Hewitts: Blencathra

Date walked: 10/04/2010

Time taken: 5 hours

Like everyone else this weekend I got excited by the prospect of a sunny saturday so I decided to do Blencathra, as my previous attempt ended in no views what so ever. Left Durham at 4am in the hope of catching a decent sunrise as i started the walk.

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Started to tire myself out way too easily by practically legging it for 15 mins in the hope of getting to the top and the sunrise still being as nice. I then had the choice of ascending via Sharp Edge, or the route to the left of Scales Tarn which would be quicker but far less interesting so i opted for Sharp Edge.
Last time i did this route the rock was wet and there was one section that was flat and like an ice rink it was so slippy. No such worries this time and i was up Sharp Edge in no time. Scrambling on a ridge definitely takes your mind off how tired you are and makes it a much better alternative to the featureless slog up the other path.

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on the way up


Started to get stupidly hot even with just my tshirt on but luckily for me there was still alot of frozen snow at the top still..perfect for rubbing just a wee bit on the arms to cool down.

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closest I think ive got to a cloud inversion


Shortly afterwards reached the summit where there was absolutely no wind, first time thats happened in my relatively short experience of walking. Sat there for nearly an hour taking in the views and eating my rubbish service station sandwich. Was also transfixed by a fell runner running up one of the ridges, how fit you must have to be to do that. Felt like informing him that there is loads of flat ground down at the bottom in case he wasnt aware he was needlessly exerting energy running up a mountain.

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at the top


The perfect weather continued for the rest of the walk. Passed about 20 people altogether towards the end and the carpark was full so made me think getting up at 3.30 was definitely worth it. Not that I'm antisocial or anything, just nice to have all the scenery to yourself now and again.

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Comments: 6


graeme84


User avatar
Location: Durham
Pub: Drovers Inn
Mountain: Sgurr coire choinnichean
Place: Skye
Ideal day out: Ridge walk with a summit camp overlooking the west coast

Munros: 68
Corbetts: 13
Fionas: 12
Donalds: 9
Wainwrights: 22
Hewitts: 12
Sub 2000: 15



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2010

Trips: 1
Hewitts: 1
Wainwrights 1


Joined: May 01, 2009
Last visited: Jan 12, 2024
Total posts: 13 | Search posts