Ska Fell Pike

 A bit retrospective but 19th August 2022 the four of us Mike, Kev, Dave and I climbed Ska fell Pike. I was feeling a little weak still with long Covid so this was a real challenge this time. 

 It was a long walk, around 9 hours in all and a bit underestimated this time especially the jumping across the boulder strewn area near the top where i wasn't as sure footed as i normally am and also the last step climb that looked a lot steeper than i remembered it. However, although Dave and i had slowed up a bit we were still belligerent that we were going to achieve it and so we did. 

The weather closed in on the top as it normally does but Dave still looked chuffed. As always a perfect day rounded off with a Pint in the Lld Dungeon Ghyl.

The other Y-Garn

We were looking for new walks around Rhyd-Dhu and Y-Garn at the start of the Nantll ridge stood as one we should look at. It was a very dominant structure as as we stood at the bottom realised what a tough ascent we had chosen as it just rose from the floor and just kept getting steeper all the way.

The weather held though and it was a great challenge with no rush. There were a few passed but they looked in a rush to get onto the ridge.

Just as it couldnt get any harder the top leveled off and we walked up onto the top.

We headed out and had a look at the start of the Nantll ridge and it did look superb. However today with wet rock and blowing hard was not the day to go for it but a target for the future. We turned and headed down just in time for a shower of rain, at least we had made it to the top first.

Snowdon Rhyd-Ddu path

After 6 months of Covid lockdown i was feeling a bit sluggish and not sure how i would cope with this challenging ridge walk. We parked in the Ranger path car park and walked to Rhyd-Ddu as we were planning a circular walk back down the Ranger Path. This got me warmed up nicely and the walk in was great, climing all the time and the views improving as you went.

The weather had been great but as we came round on the ridge and the views opened the cloud closed in and we were in for a dose of hail. Typical. However that helped me get my head down and focus on pushing upwards for a bit however there were the odd gaps.

The ridge was fantastic and felt great to be out in the wilds and even with some exposure the cloudy conditions were helping. However as i was 3 quarters across the ridge and the cloud cleared a little i stopped and admired the view and suddenly had a realisation of how big a drop of it was. Its amazing how your legs turn to jelly and you get a feeling that you will fall. I looked up took a few breaths and pushed on to the end just looking at my feet, concentrating and not looking down again. I hadnt experienced that before - must just be getting old!

The push on up to the top was great and i was amazed how empty it was after all the reports of queing and no social distancing. However it was just us and a couple of people making their way up - not much of view though.

It was really cold though and i took my gloves off for a few minutes and suffered the hot aches in my fingers on the way down. As always though on the way up was the using couple in shorts, T-shirt and trainers, i am always amazed how they get away with it.

The Rangers path was great and we got some speed on and as we decended the cloud lifted and again showed us what a fantastic place this is.

New boots and no blisters

As i walked up to Blacks this morning they had just opened the doors and i managed to get a new pair of boots with few shoppers about. If the past was anything to go by then I was almost guaranteed blisters today. I Headed straight off to Blencathra as the weather forecast was for rain moving in this afternoon. It was straight up from the off and for an hour was quite relentless. The cloud then came in and that made it even more relentless.

It was such a shame on the top that there was so much cloud. I was walking so close to the edge and i am sure the scenery would have been fantastic. However made it to the top and just turned around for the decent. I was amazed when i took the boots off - shattered but no blisters - excellent.

It felt like just a tick which i am trying hard not to do so i had a quick look at which hills i want done and there only 8 left for the top 20 in England - There's the next challenge then!

Keswick visit

We had an away day this week with work on the Banks of Derwent water, what a great place to visit.

While i am here i thought i would make the best of it and while everyone headed home, i headed for the top of Skiddaw. It was tough from the start but as i got over the shoulder it started to even out a little before i could see Little Man in front of me. A last pull up to the top and the views were great all down the valley.

I could now see Skiddaw although not quite the trig point yet so pushed on. The wet weather of the week had left and i had great viws on all sides. The trig point soon came up as i reached after the first top and a great view out to sea. The walk down wasn't without it's hassles as my boots decided to give up as the sole on my left became detached and i flapped back into the car park. That'll give me a job to get some new boots for tomorrow - i hope they don't rub and better take the Compede's incase.

Pen y ole wen

As the lighter nights are here now i thought it was about time i got the hill walking going again. When i was planning to go in March and April there was still too much snow about. Well this evening was just what i needed and i set off after work for Ogwen Cottage and had the mountains to myself.

Pen y ole wen is the 7th highest mountain in Wales and have been meaning to do it for ages. Every time i am at Ogwen cottage though i looked at the path directly up and it kept putting me off. However for today i found a route up from the far side of Llyn Ogwen. The biggest mistake i made today though was parking in the car park near the centre as it meant i had to walk down the lake before i started and then the other side returning back. This would have been great if i had more time to appreciate it.

I was a little out of practice and the walk up was hard going. There were areas of real scramble and i was surprised some of the straight up galleys i had to get through, quite technical but the views were great and i was in no rush so appreciated as much as i could could. The top was a little disappointing though as it was quite flat and struggled to get a decent view, i had also forgot my selfie stick so a quick photo and i was heading down.

The return was just as technical but i managed to drop off quite quick. I also realised where i had gone wrong on the path going up and when i looked back i still thought surely that narrow gap isn't a path! When down i thought i would walk along the road path next to the lake to get some speed on. However the light was going down, the lake looked fantastic and i was surprised how many sillouetes of bats i saw picking of flies around the lake edge. What a great way to finish an evening.

LD3000

Work arranged a long distance walk and raised over 8K for Cancer research, great result for everyone. Labelled LD3000 it was about climbing as many of the 4 mountains you wanted. I opted for Skafell Pike, Skafell and Helvellyn along with our team.

After a great night preparing with pasta, beer and Bingo at The Churchill a few people were a bit jaded. If they weren't then the minibus drive up to Skafell didn't help either with us all feeling car sick as we careered around the hairpin bends and over bumps on the way there.

We were the last bus to arrive and was the last group to get going. With groups gone before us then some of the slower people were picked up in our group and we spent quite a lot of time waiting around.

However it allowed us to conceive some energy for later. The weather gradually got worse as we climbed up and when we eventually reached the top the visibility was very poor.

It was then felt that it would be too dangerous to attempt Skafell especially as we had to go up a wet grassy exposed area. Fair play. After a good walk down and a chat to loads of people the 4hrs 17mins was not bad. The minibus drive to Helvellyn took ages and by that time i was feel pretty lethargic.

We took the route up Helvellyn from Thirlmere and it was straight up from the off and never let up. A a group went off in front and Laura and i settled into walking together as the rain got harder.

It was a tough walk and we both dug deep but we made it to the top and down again in 3hrs which felt like a great achievement.