Sharp Edge for Breakfast
Wainwrights: Blencathra
Hewitts: Blencathra
Date walked: 08/07/2018
Time taken: 3 hours
Distance: 8.3km
Ascent: 725m
It was a righteously early 5 am start this morning for a quick (no traffic) drive over to the Lake District and a short scramble up Sharp Edge. The circuit down via Hallsfell ridge adds an entertaining and, if you follow the ridge line, an airy descent. All done and home in time for lunch. I have to say both of these are a relative breeze in the dry but completely different propositions in the wet - the slick, polished stone on Sharp Edge is lethal in the wet, and I have turned around at the slab step the last two times I have tried it.
I was back to the car by 10 and home for lunch, nice little breakfast round!
- The footpath crossing the field half way along from Scales towards Comb Beck doesn't seem to be in use anymore - I climbed over the gate anyway and climbed steeply up to the main footpath along the northern edge of the fields.
- On the main footpath just above Scales, looking over to the central Lakes.
- Nearing the top of Mousethwaite Comb.
- The path traverses across the north flank of Scales Fell, Sharp Edge comes into view.
- The laid stone ladder leading up the side of Scales Beck.
- Inky-black Scales Tarn, from the bottom of Sharp Edge.
- There are some airy bits on the lower section of the Edge, but they're relatively straightforward and can be avoided on the right.
- Looking back down from above the two polished slab sections - the first to traverse around the small pinnacle and the second just starting up from the step down off the pinnacle - both can be hellish in the wet, but are fine in the dry.
- The middle section of the scramble up the slope from the end of the ridge - it looks a lot worse than it is.
- The view back down Sharp Edge with Scales Tarn below.
- Panorama from the summit plateau, looking over towards Cross Fell and the Pennines.
- Cairn on Hallsfell top, looking along the saddle towards Knowe Crags.
- Contemplating the descent - Hallsfell ridge.
- The ridge has some airy steps if you keep to the ridgeline, but with sure footing in the dry it is straightforward and feels better than the heavily eroded paths that snake down either side. Here looking back up the ridge from half way down.
- View towards the central fells.
- Back down to the main footpath for the tromp back along to Scales - which always turns out to be longer than you'd expect.
- This little rock step on the footpath just above (west of) Scaley Beck catches many people out - polished and tenuous in the wet.
I was back to the car by 10 and home for lunch, nice little breakfast round!
Click to mark this as a great report. Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Glenfinnan to Inverie the hard way
Munros: Garbh Chioch Mhor, Ladhar Bheinn, Luinne Bheinn, Meall Buidhe (Knoydart), Sgurr na Ciche, Sgurr nan Coireachan (Glenfinnan)Date walked: 08/06/2018
Distance: 69km
Ascent: 6525m
Comments: 2
Views: 675
Ben More Circuit in the dry
Munros: Ben More (Mull)Grahams: Beinn Fhada
Date walked: 06/06/2018
Distance: 14.3km
Ascent: 1320m
Views: 540
Yet another fine winter day of 2018 - and a cautionary tale
Wainwrights: Great EndHewitts: Great End
Date walked: 25/02/2018
Distance: 13.4km
Ascent: 898m
Comments: 5
Views: 799
Epic swim in deep snow on Ptarmigan Ridge
Date walked: 20/01/2018Distance: 11km
Ascent: 845m
Comments: 7
Views: 916
Best walk I never want to do again!
Hewitts: The CheviotDate walked: 07/01/2018
Distance: 21km
Ascent: 1069m
Views: 748
Scafell Pike on the quiet side
Wainwrights: Great End, Scafell PikeHewitts: Great End, Scafell Pike
Date walked: 19/11/2017
Distance: 15km
Ascent: 1091m
Views: 660
Autumn in the borders
Donalds: Windy GyleDate walked: 08/10/2017
Distance: 15km
Ascent: 503m
Views: 515
Great Gable via Sphinx Ridge scramble
Wainwrights: Great GableHewitts: Great Gable
Date walked: 24/09/2017
Distance: 16.4km
Ascent: 1147m
Views: 1135
Kinlochourn to Glenfinnan
Date walked: 30/08/2017Distance: 71.3km
Ascent: 3528m
Comments: 4
Views: 1178
-
johnbythell
- Activity: Mountain Walker
- Mountain: Ladhar Bheinn
- Place: Knoydart
- Ideal day out: Ridge walks/scrambles
- Munros: 8
- Filter reports
- Trips: 6
- Distance: 137 km
- Ascent: 11382m
- Munros: 7
- Grahams: 1
- Hewitts: 3
- Wainwrights 2
- Trips: 4
- Distance: 117.7 km
- Ascent: 6269m
- Donalds: 1
- Hewitts: 3
- Wainwrights 3
- Joined: Sep 04, 2017
- Last visited: Jan 25, 2019
- Total posts: 21 | Search posts
