~The Langdale Pikes~
4th October 2014
Summit of Harrison Stickle
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
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A later start than usual, leaving the NT car park at 15:35hrs, earlier in the day there had been heavy rain. So timing was good and the beck was in spate, in spite of the recent dry spell.
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The Hydro-Electric Plan
All we need is rain, then. Seems like a good idea to me, I seem to remember that the bank of the ghyll here was in danger of collapse, so all the work should leave things in a tidy condition.
Lingmoor Fell
Normally on the early morning ascents this view is spoilled by low, direct sunlight, so it's a pleasant change to see things clearly.
Molly The Collie
is now nine months old
Stickle Ghyll
After the turn, pedestrians can walk up on either side, but on the right-hand side you have to do a bit of a rock scramble. This is one of my favourite quarter miles of Lakeland scrambling!
Pavey Ark
Pavey Ark is our first target in what will be a fairly typical Langdale Pikes walk. Time is on my mind and I planned a three hour excursion. 40 minutes so far, which is brisk by my standards.
Stickle Tarn
The walk on the path around the tarn is delightful. This photo tells you it has been raining; it tells you it's late in the day (shadow); it tells you it's sunny and it tells you I'm here.
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Bright Beck |
Easy Gully |
Crossing Bright Beck can be a challenge after heavy rain, but not too hard today. Easy Gully is a tough route up from the tarn, an alternative to Jack's Rake. I've never failed on Jack's Rake, but couldn't get up Easy Gully last time. And I think it was the last time!
Far Eastern Fells
From the top of Pavey Ark.
Windermere
I think that those of us that enjoy fellwalking and, in particular the Langdales, can be thankful that Windermere absorbs so many tourists and day-trippers. Enjoy the ice creams and water fun, we have fells to climb.
Pavey Ark
Who knows when and where all the names came from? One thing is for certain, the appeal of the Lakeland mountains is enhanced by fine, often less-than-obvious fell titles.
Harrison Stickle Summit
That completes my original plan, but with time to spare, we head off to Pike O'Stickle. Nineteen minutes later ...
Pike O'Stickle Summit
Loft Crag
Our final destination will be Loft Crag, shown here with Lingmoor Fell in sunshine further away.
Harrison Stickle
Sunlit Harrison Stickle wearing the shadow of Pike O'Stickle.
Loft Crag Summt
With the proud peak of Pike O'Stickle close at hand; Great Gable standing tall further away.
Dungeon Ghyll
Crossing the initial trickle to Dungeon Ghyll, we head down the flank of Harrison Stickle with DG deep in the gully (right).
Lingmoor Fell
Nearly back to valley level, the moon just visible above Lingmell Fell.
Erosion in Stickle Ghyll - April 2010
This is how Stickle Ghyll looked way back in April 2010, hopefully when the builders have finished the Hydro-Electric Scheme, it will look a lot better.
Walkers: Me and Molly the Dog.
Time taken: 3hrs 20mins hours over a distance of about 6 miles.
Route: Classic Langdale Pikes circular: Stickle Ghyll, Stickle Tarn, North Rake up to Pavey Ark. Across to Harrison Stickle, into the combe and up to Pike O'Stickle, back to Loft Crag and down via the east side of Dungeon Ghyll.
Weather: Cooler than of late, plenty of sunshine.
Didn't see a soul from Pavey Ark summit to the close of the walk.
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2014 ©
Take me back to the start ....